Homeopathic approach for head injury

Head injury is very commonly seen in children. Head injury is also called as brain injury or traumatic brain injury. Trauma due to fall, or any mechanical force that causes injuries to the brain is referred as ‘brain injury’ or ‘traumatic brain injury’. Head injury can be a small bump over the head due to fall or it can be severe brain injury affecting the life of a person.

Traumatic brain injury is very different than soft tissue injuries, or injuries to other body parts. In brain injuries, one moment a person is fine while another moment life has abruptly changed. Injury to brain do not heal like other injuries and it has serious consequences than injuries to other body part. Some of the consequences are mental dysfunction, seizures, or even death. Hence it is important to treat it immediately and cautiously with continues monitoring of the vitals.

          Types and Causes of head injury

Traumatic brain injury are mainly cause either due to violent blow or blunt force over the head causing contusion, or sharp object penetrating the skull such as bullet causing deep damage to the brain. Head injury can lead to concussion to the brain where a person may feel little dizzy with a loss of vision and balance for a while.

A mild trauma to brain can cause mild or temporary dysfunction of the brain cells, while the severe brain trauma can result in bleeding due to torn tissues, bruising, and leading to long term complications or death.

Types of head injuries, sign and symptoms

Mild injury to brain usually produces following symptoms:

    1)      Brain injury is considered as mild if loss of consciousness and /or confusion and disorientation
            is shorter than 30 minutes.

    2)      Physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and drowsiness.

    3)      Cognitive problems like headache, lack of memory, difficulty thinking, attention deficit and
            mood swings.

    4)      Sensory problems like blurring of vision, ringing in the ears, change in the taste and lack of
            ability to smell. Sensitive to light and sound.

    5)      Most of the time MRI/ Cat scans are normal.

    6)      Often it is an overlooked injury.

Severe injury to brain produces following symptoms:
    1)      Severe brain injury is associated with loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes

    2)      Memory loss for more than 24 hours

    3)      Persistent headache and vomiting

    4)      Loss of coordination, numbness or weakness of fingers or toes.

    5)      Convulsions , inability to awaken from sleep

    6)      Dilatation of pupils of eyes

    7)      Clear fluids draining from eyes and ears.

    8)      Cognitive problems like slurred speech, aggressive or unusual behavior, profound confusion    
           and comatose condition.

                   Treatment

Any brain injury, either mild or severe, requires immediate medical attention and treatment. Homeopathy works well mainly in case of mild injury to the brain. It does not mean homeopathy does not yield good result for severe brain injuries. In case of severe brain injuries it is important to first provide an emergency treatment to the patient, once the patient recovers homeopathic management would be useful to recover the patient from the trauma. Some of the research studies shows the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for mild traumatic brain injury.

Selection of homeopathic remedies are based upon the individualization and totality of symptoms (symptoms similarity). This approach will not only help to manage the head injury symptoms but will also achieve the complete state of health. A qualified homeopath will address the underlying cause if head injury and regain the disturbed vital force and susceptibility through the correct remedy.

                     Common homeopathic remedies for head injury

Following are some of the common homeopathic remedies useful in head injuries: 

·         Arnica

Arnica is the most common remedy and should be the first remedy to think of in head injuries. Arnica is well known to rapidly heal mechanical and blunt injuries. Arnica is useful when there is sore and bruised feeling at physical and/or mental level. Here we will consider the feeling at physical level only. Arnica is not only useful for superficial bruises but also useful in severe brain injuries too.

Arnica can be prescribed when a child falls from bed over the head or hits the wall with a bump over the head. It will heal the bruises and relieve the pain immediately. Along with Arnica, externally, compress the affected part with ice pack so that it does not swell further.

Arnica works well in concussion of brain, even in compression of brain due to skull fracture or effusion of blood in the cranial cavity or in case of hematoma, however these severe brain injuries demand surgery in order to obtain immediate relief and permanent relief. Personally I have not seen complete cure from Arnica in serious brain injuries.

Dose: Depending on the acuteness of the case, repeat the dose. If the pain and bruises are severe repeat Arnica 30C or 200C, 4-5 times a day until the symptoms subsides.

Following rubrics will help to understand the remedy. 

Rubrics from Synthesis repertory 8.1:

Generals – Convulsions – brain – commotion of the ; from

Generals – Convulsions – injuries from – head of

Head – injuries  of head, after

Head – Pain – injuries, mechanical

Head – Concussion of brain

·         Cicuta

When the well-known remedy fails to act, the time comes to think out of the box. Cicuta is one of the remedy to think of in head injury.  Cicuta is mainly indicated when the functioning of brain is paralyzed with complete loss of consciousness. Person gets convulsions, or epilepsy from concussion of brain. The convulsions of Cicuta are the most violent and are often accompanied by bizarre distortions. There is a state of unconsciousness or a dull dream like state following convulsion continuing for a long period of time, even a whole day.

After head injury, a person goes into mental retardation and frequent convulsions. During convulsions, frightful contortions will be seen in such patients, like head drawn backward, biting of tongue, strabismus (crossed eyes).

Dose: Cicuta can be given in 30C potency with less frequent repetition.

·         Hypericum

As discussed in the previous chapters, Hypericum is a great remedy for injuries to the nerves and spine.  Hypericum can be thought for fractured skull following head injury resulting in convulsions and loss of memory. Hypericum is usually followed by Arnica. ⁴

Dose: For acute problems, prescribe Hypericum 30C or 200C pills for 3-4 times a day.

·         Natrum sulphuricum

It is a deep acting remedy and widely used as a specific remedy for head injury. This remedy acts well when mental symptoms are taken into consideration along with physical complaints. Natrum Sulphuricum is one of the most important remedy in suicidal patients from, whether from grief, or head injury or other organic causes. Hence suicidality or suicidal thoughts after head injury is an indication of this remedy. Generally Natrum Sulphuricum patients are very responsible people, and have great sensitivity like weeps from hearing music.

Natrum Sulphuricum is primarily useful in after effects of concussions. Hence this remedy is more effective in mild brain injury and to some extent for severe brain injury.  Confusion, mental dullness, depression and convulsions after head injury are one of the important aspect of this remedy.  For old history of head injury Natrum Sulphuricum works to a great extent.

Headache with photophobia after head injury is also indicative of Natrum Sulphuricum.

Natrum Sulphuricum can be administered orally in the form of pills in 30c dose 2-3 times a day.

·         Helleborus

Helleborus is indicated when after injuries and blow to head, especially when there is stupefaction of brain and mind is completely blank. Hahnemann described the state of stupefaction as ‘ where with sight unimpaired, nothing is seen very clearly,; with hearing perfectly sounds nothing is heard distinctly.’   Mental dullness and poor concentration is marked.

It works well in head injury when a person will answer slowly with great effort; his memory becomes so weak that he can hardly remember what was said to him; goes into depression with suicidal tendency.

Dose: Helleborus can be taken in 30 C potency orally 2-3 times a day. Depending on the acuteness of the complaint, it should be prescribed. Personally I have seen only one dose of Helleborus 30C working for significant amount of time. Usually frequent doses are not required.

·         Hyoscyamus Niger

Hyoscyamus patient experiences excitation of nervous system after head injury or concussion to brain. Excitation of nervous system is in the form of delirium, mania with rage, restlessness, cursing and or exhibition of other inappropriate behavior.

Gestures, chore-like; restless fingers; muttering; etc, shows the delirium stage of hyoscyamus. Hyoscyamus is indicated if patient develops convulsions, with excitation of nervous system.

Lascivious mania is common aspect of Hyoscyamus where he/she uncovers the whole body, and sings obscene songs. Mania with ridiculous gestures. Convulsive jerks of single muscles, or sets of muscle with long lasting muscle spasms.

Vision gets affected too. Dimness of vision; object looks red as fire, or too large or appear smaller. Speech is difficult and confused. Paralysis of tongue. All these effects on head, vision and speech are after effects of head injury and concussion to brain.

Dose: Hyoscyamus can be prescribed orally in 30c or 200c potency, three times a day.

·         Cuprum Metallicum

Cuprum Metallicum is another remedy useful in after effects of head injury, however this remedy is occassionally used for head injuries. Cuprum is specific remedy for seizures and epilepsy after concussion of brain.

Cramps and spasms with epilepsy which develops after head injury is the striking indication of Cuprum Metallicum.

Delirium is of violent character where the patient bites; and loquacious delirium. Convulsion with blueness of face and lips, and froth at mouth. The convulsion is followed by deep sleep.

According to Vithoulkas, Cuprum metallicum patients has intense emotions or impulses which are strongly suppressed. In order to maintain control over strong emotions, patient rigidly closes down every expression. Hence this suppression comes out in the form of spasms and convulsions.  Even though it seems head injury is the main cause for convulsions, deeper case taking will help you understand the patient clearly. Hence Cuprum Metallicum may not be the first remedy of indication in head injury.

Dose: Cuprum metallicum can be given in 30c pills for 1-2 times a day.

·         Stramonium

Head injury causes violent jerks in Stramonium patients. Behavior of Stramonium patient is very similar to Hyoscyamus, only difference is the degree of violence and fear of violence. Stramonium is highly violent than Hyoscyamus. The rage is uncontrollable and impulsive and comes in an outburst as convulsion. These patients are equally fearful too.

Stramonium can be wisely used in severe brain injury. It is may not be your first choice of remedy in head injury. However it can be the best remedy to complete the cure.

Dose: Stramonium can be given orally in 30 C potency, 1-2 times a day.

       I       Conclusion

·         Head injury is also referred as brain injury or traumatic brain injury. Trauma due to fall, or any mechanical force cause injuries to the brain.

·         The brain injury is mainly cause either due to violent blow or blunt force over the head or sharp object penetrating the skull. Such violent trauma leads to contusion, concussion to brain or fracture of skull. Brain injuries are commonly seen in athletes like football players.

·         Mild and severe brain injuries requires immediate medical treatment to avoid further consequences.

·         Homeopathic remedies work very effectively in mild head injury. In severe kind of head injury, homeopathic remedies may or may not work effectively.