The goal in treating a cut is to stop the bleeding, prevent infection, and promote healing. Direct pressure over the cut with a clean bandage is usually enough to stop bleeding from a small cut. A slightly large wound may need to have the two edges of the cut pushed together and mended with a butterfly bandage. If the ends can not be brought together stitches are needed immediately. A wound should be cleaned by wiped outward, rather than inward, to prevent infection. A sterile bandage should be placed over the wound. If there is excessive bleeding refer to the section on bleeding. An abrasion is an injury to the upper layers of the skin only. An avulsion is a tearing of the skin. A laceration is caused by sharp objects that leave an uneven cut. An incised wound is a clean cut. A puncture wound is a deep, narrow hole cause by a sharp, long object. A crush injury is one which a part is smashed by a heavy weight.

Materia Medica

Aconite (1): Useful in the early stages of wounds when there is a sudden onset fever, heat, dryness, and thirst. The patient is restless, fearful and panicky. Predicts that they will die. This remedy may then be follow by another remedy specific to the wound.

Arnica (2): Useful in wound where the injury has the nature of a bruise more than an open wound. The parts are brown and blue and the edges of the wound can be well united. Prevents shock, infection, and pain in severe cuts, especially when concomitant to other traumatic injuries such as crush injuries and bullet wounds. It can be given immediately on injury and followed by Calendula and other remedies as needed. Removes the emotional shock or grief associated with accidents.

Calendula (3): The remedy is useful in incised and lacerated such as a deep gash in which the two sides can not be perfectly united and where flesh or skin comes off in pieces. Blooding and serous infiltration of cellular tissue in open wounds. Torn and jagged looking wounds that are very painful. Great tendency to start and twitch with nervousness. This is the best routine remedy in cuts to prevent infection and promote rapid healing. Use the remedy internally in potency and external in tincture on the wound.

Hypericum (2): Wounds form a thrust, cut, bruise or tearing asunder. Violent pains far around the wound and up through the limb. Reputed to be useful in the early stages of tetanus. Indicated in spasms of small children after every slight injury. Good for injuries to area that are rich in sensitive nerves such as fingers and toes. Splinters and thorns, esp. if pain travel along nerves. Lacerations that are intolerably painful and show involvement of the nervous system. scratches that are extremely painful. Cat scratch fever. Crush wounds. Gun shot wounds. Use internally and externally. They are worse < jarring, cold, and touch. In puncture wounds after Led. if there is extreme sensitivity and the pain moves upward.

Ledum (2): Wounds inflected by sharp instruments, puncture wounds which feel cold to touch and to the patient. Reputed to prevent tetanus. Useful in penetrating wounds to the palms and soles (pains travel upward, Hyper.). Painful splinters and thorns. The patient feels cold even during a fever. The patient feel cold yet wants to be uncovered, and is worse < heat, Better > cold applications.

Phosphorus (2): Even small wounds that bleed very much, but the blood coagulates after leaving the body. Wounds heal but then break open again. Bloody discharges. Refer to Bleeding. (Lach, no coagulation).

Staphisagria (3): Injuries from sharp cutting instrument, clean, incised wounds. Injuries from knifes, glass, or other objects that cause clean cuts. Surgical incisions, esp. after abdominal operations, post operative lesions that do not heal. Discharge from the wound is greenish in color. The individual is hypersensitive to the pain. They are worse < touch and better > warmth. Can be used internally and externally.

Repertorium

Wounds in general - Api.s, Arn., Ars., bell., CALEN., Echi., HYPER., Lach., LED., Phos., PYROG., rhus-t., Staph., Sul-ac.

Black - ars., Lach.

Bleeding - Arn., Lach., PHOS. (refer bleeding)

Bloody, open - CALEN.

Bluish - Apis, Lach., Led.

Cold - LED.

Crushed - arn., echi, Hyper., staph.

Festering - Apis., Ars., calen., echi., led., Pyrog..

Lymphangitis - Apis, Bell., bufo, echi., Lach, pyrog., Rhut-t..

Offensive - Calen, Pryog.

Painful - Apis., Arn., CALEN., Hep., HYPER., led., STAPH.

as if bruised , in morning - calen.

open - Hyper.

picking at it - calen.

proud flesh, stinging, purplish - lach.

suppurating, before - Hyper.

Septic - Apis, ars., Calen., HEP., echi., Hyper., Lach., led., PYROG.

Shock, preventative, if shock is present refer to shock - aco., Arn.

Suppurating - arn., Bell., Bufo., CALC-S., Calen., Led., SIL., Staph.

Disclaimer: This information is supplied for educational purposes only. It is not for the treatment of any individual person or disease. If you are suffering any particular complaint please consult a physician or call emergency services.