Homeopathy is well known for its dynamic ability to relieve suffering in cases of physical injury. Arnica, for example, is the first homeopathic remedy many people know of, and its effectiveness in reducing bruising, swelling and bleeding after injuries is well known, even among those who may not otherwise be aware of homeopathic medicine.
Less well known is the power of homeopathy in cases of emotional first aid, including emotional shock, stress or the emotional impact of physical injury.
Here are brief pictures of some of the key remedies for emotional first aid. Choose the remedy which best matches the way you or your loved one is experiencing the acute emotional shock. If self treatment does not relieve suffering quickly and you remain concerned, or if the emotional trauma is longer term or more serious, please consider professional care. You can contact me here for advice and appointments: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/
Aconite
Aconite is a useful remedy for emotional shock or fright, where the person’s response is sudden acute anxiety or panic. They become restless and agitated, even to the point where he or she is sure they will die. An Aconite state may come on, for example, after a frightening experience (eg being involved in or witnessing an accident), even – or perhaps especially – where the response to the fright seems out of proportion. Aconite can also be helpful where physical pain renders the person suddenly panicky, anguished and restless.
Arnica
Arnica will help in cases of emotional as well as physical trauma. Sometimes a person’s response to an emotional shock will be to act as though they are fine, even when clearly they are not. They prefer not to be approached and do not seek support or comfort following an emotional shock. This type of trauma response is an indication for Arnica, and Arnica will help the person begin to process the shock and come to terms with what has happened.
Ignatia
Ignatia may be helpful in cases of acute emotional shock or fright, where the person’s response is spasmodic and changeable. They will typically experience the sensation of a lump in the throat or tightness in the chest. The person who needs Ignatia will respond fitfully, sometimes keeping their feelings in, sometimes with outbursts of anger or sobbing, or these responses may alternate. They may sigh frequently.
Staphysagria
Staphysagria is a remedy frequently used in professional care for the long term effects of abuse. In first aid and acute care, it can be helpful where an individual feels abused, mistreated or insulted, but suffers in silence. The pent up anger can result in physical symptoms in some cases, for example, a headache after a quarrel where the person felt unable to speak their mind.
Phosphoricum acidum (Phos ac)
Phos ac is useful in cases of emotional shock or acute distress where the main response is one of withdrawal. The person becomes listless and indifferent. They may have difficulty in concentrating, and find it difficult to collect their thoughts. There is a marked tendency to loss of appetite, and Phos ac is noted as one of the main remedies for loss of appetite from grief.
Stramonium
Stramonium is an important remedy in the treatment of post traumatic stress. In many such cases it is important to consider professional care to support the individual towards recovery. Indications for Stramonium include intense fear, most notably of the dark, and the person will typically have a strong need for company and light. A Stramonium state may come on after a life threatening incident, or after witnessing violence. The person may have a fear of violence, and may also exhibit violent aggression. It is also one of the main remedies for night terrors in children.
Coffea
Coffea is a remedy for the acute effects of excitement, fright or grief. The key indication is hypersensitivity – senses are exaggerated and acute, emotional reactions are heightened. For example, the person may be irritable or tearful from minor things that would not usually affect them, or they may have rapidly alternating emotional reactions – from tears to laughter to sadness. They may be highly sensitive to noise, touch and smells, and pain may be felt especially intensely. Sleeplessness is common, typically from racing thoughts, and they also wake easily from the slightest noise.
Gelsemium
Gelsemium is a useful remedy where facing a stressful or frightening event leaves the person feeling weak and unable to cope. They are immobilised by the fear of it, and typically experience heaviness in the limbs, along with trembling and dizziness. They can become listless, wanting to lie down and be left alone. Gelsemium is also one of the main remedies for diarrhoea from emotional stress.
Chamomilla
Chamomilla is a remedy which can be useful in acute conditions brought on by anger, or accompanied by anger or irritability. The person is extremely sensitive to pain, which they find unbearable. They do not wish to be touched or consoled. Chamomilla is one of the main remedies for sleeplessness from pain. While often thought of as a remedy mainly used for teething in infants, it can also be very useful in acute conditions in older children and adults, where the symptoms match.
Argentum nitricum (Arg-n)
Arg-n is useful in cases of acute emotional distress, where the person’s response is to become anxious, hurried and impulsive. They may appear restless, nervous and panicky. It is a remedy often needed in those facing stressful events, and like Gelsemium, can be helpful for diarrhoea from emotional stress. The key difference is that Arg-n will be more indicated where the person is tense and agitated, whereas Gelsemium is more likely to be helpful when the person feels weak, heavy and shaky.
If you would like to consider professional homeopathic care, you can contact me here for advice and appointments: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/
Thank you Karen.
I was drawn to Homeopathy for the soul many years ago.
Your article on Emotional first aid and the 10 remedies is wonderful.
Thank you.
Hi Fiona, thank you for your kind comment – I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed the article. Best wishes, Karen
Thank you for this information. !
Hi Cindy, so glad you found it useful. Best wishes, Karen
Thank you, Karen Leadbeater, very usefull information. We, me and my son, diagnosed with PTSD and dimentia, now added stress and anxciety, depression because of current status condition. Your sugestions should help us. Thank you!
Dear Tina, thank you for your question. I’m sorry to hear this – it sounds as though you and your son are in a very difficult situation. I would very much like to help, but would need more information about the circumstances, and the specific symptoms you are experiencing – homeopathy succeeds where there is a clear and individual pattern of symptoms to match to a suitable remedy. You would be welcome to get in touch with further details. Best wishes, Karen
Thank you for the info, Karen. Great summary!
I wonder if there are any homeopathic remedies for isolated cases when, for example one is attacked verbally and tends to defend oneself emotionally, loud words, fast breathing….(unable to stay rational and calm due to the verbal attacks which are on purpose to get a response, trigger the other person)? Any suggestions?
Hi Emma, thanks for your question. The example you give describes a person being attacked verbally and being unable to remain calm and rational – on the face of it this sounds very normal (it is hard to remain calm and rational under such circumstances), and would perhaps not need a remedy, unless the person is left with physical or emotional effects from the trauma of the incident. A homeopath would look at the way each individual person is affected, and prescribe on this individual response. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Karen
If I remember correctly, Natrum Mur comes from salt and helps people like me cry. I need a good cry as I bottle stuff up and it needs to come out. Is there a better homeopathic remedy for this?
Hi Liz, Natrum mur is one of a number of homeopathic remedies which corresponds to suppressed emotions. There are deeper reasons why an individual may have a tendency to suppress their feelings, and taking a remedy based on this single indication may not necessarily be the right one for you. The match of a chronic remedy to your whole symptom profile allows the body and mind to engage with healing at the deepest level. While you are welcome to try Natrum mur if you feel moved to do so, you may have a deeper healing response by working with a homeopath on the deeper issues. Best wishes, Karen
this differentiation of different kinds of fear is very clear and so useful. When i read Ignatia, i had an image of my little one. Meanwhile, even long time ago, i had also found Ignatia as appropriate according to the description of an Indian homeopathic practitioner.
What about post-traumatic stress disorder due to a car accident, without physical damage, but the trauma and anxiety of the event remains? What homeopathic medicines can be considered?
Hi Luciano, the remedies in this blog post are among those indicated for post traumatic stress following a car accident – the remedy should be matched to the emotional experience of the individual. If the traumatic event was in the past rather than recent, it is advisable to see a homeopath for professional care. Best wishes, Karen
I benefited a lot from this great helpful article . Thank you so much. May God bless you.
So glad you found it helpful 🙂
Thanx for information can you prescribe medicine for a person who feels everybody thinks that he is worthless and people make fun of him.He feels he could have been at top of ladder anywhere in sports if his parents had not intervened. Pl suggest
Hi Sunita, in this situation I really do advise professional support. It will not be a case of one remedy to fix the situation, but a course of treatment with a homeopath and a series of remedies to address the low self esteem and lack of confidence from the root cause. Best wishes Karen
Hi, which remedy could you suggest for feeling anxious when meeting up with friends and family for a meal or cip of tea even, resulting in having to visit the bathroom constantly with diarrhoea. I have become very nervous now as it keeps happening. Using nerve hypnotherapy 6 week course, half way through. Had colonoscopy to rule out any gut issues. Following a low fodmap diet also. In middle of house move and keep myself to myself all the time, listening to nice music and painting. (I’m a professional artist) and have no problem meeting members of the public at shows etc, but get worried if I think I’m going to be in company for longer periods.
Hi Gail, thanks for your question. This sounds like a chronic long term problem rather than first aid – as such you would do best to work with a homeopath so they can match the whole symptom profile to suitable remedies. In the short term, here are the main remedies indicated in anticipatory anxiety with diarrhoea: Argentum nitricum, Gelsemium, Arsenicum album, Phosphoricum acidic, Dioscorea, Podophyllum. If you are unable to see a homeopath, you could read up on the profiles of these remedies and consider trying the one that matches your symptoms most closely. Adhere to minimum dose principles, and do not continue with a remedy if it is not helping. Best wishes, Karen
It’s an excellent article, thank you very much!!
I would like to ask you the following: In the case of a teenager, who lived a breakup and that his partner ignores her, and did not speak to him again, for no apparent reason. Is there any remedy to help her restore her self-esteem, and her taste for life?
Greetings from Mexico!
Hi Adriana, thank you for your kind comment about the article! For emotional support, homeopathy can be very helpful. The choice of a suitable remedy for restoring self esteem and appetite for life, will depend on the exact feelings the young person is experiencing, so it is difficult to advise further without knowing more about the personal feelings involved. Did you look through the remedy profiles listed in the post, and did any of them seem to match this person’s experience at all? I suggest you look again at Ignatia and Phos ac, as these are often indicated after a break up. You might also read up on Natrum mur and Aurum, especially if they are withdrawn and keep their feelings in. Please also consider seeing a homeopath or counsellor for emotional support if you are concerned for their well being. Best wishes, Karen
Would you recommend something for holding the stress and tension in the face and jaw? My dentist would love it, and me too!
Hi Ann, in long term conditions homeopathy works by matching your symptom profile and history. Thus treatment for physical tension would vary according to the individual. You could consider working with a homeopath for professional care. I might also suggest you consider cranial osteopathy or myofascial release. Best wishes, Karen
thank you! your suggestions and thoughts make sense.
Hi
Would you recommend any remedy for the fear of disease and death. Especially fear of cancer.
Hi, thanks for your question. Acute concerns can be addressed in this way – they are acute in the sense that they have a clear recent cause and are (in the main) self limiting. For example, anxiety or fright following an accident, or acute grief following a bereavement or other kind of loss. Knowing the circumstances and the way the person experienced it, and has responded subsequently, gives useful clues to a homeopathic remedy that will help to restore their well being. With what I assume is a longer term fear of disease and death, rather than a recent onset one, it is not so straightforward. This is because longer term emotions are part of a wider profile that includes your personal history and family background, and it is only in the context of this that a suitable remedy can be found for each individual. There are over 300 homeopathic remedies listed in the literature for fear of serious illness and fear of death, and it is only in an individual context that this can be understood. Best wishes, Karen