The use of arnica in parturition has been referred to and its success for “after-pains” has led to its being given by routine after labour, where the labour has been long or in older woman in their first pregnancy. Where the tissues are rigid, arnica should be given before and after delivery. It will ease the pains, induce restfulness, relieve retention of urine if present and, if given early, will assist in preventing puerperal sepsis. It is very useful where the movements of the child in utero are felt excessively.
Respiratory System.-Chest pains, either sharp stitches or dull aching like a bruise or like rheumatism, traumatic or otherwise, are benefited by arnica, especially if worse from motion or form coughing; their presence on the left side would support the choice of the remedy.
A dry cough, worse in the morning, from tickling beneath the sternum and shaking the whole body suggests arnica, and the remedy has been praised for whooping-cough where each paroxysm is preceded by anticipatory crying (in children). The sensitiveness to touch may be present in these case. Pleurodynia or even pleurisy with arnica generalities will be helped or cured by it, possibly also a certain stage in septic pneumonia with low muttering delirium.
Skin-The pronounced irritant effects of arnica on the skin have led to its use in erysipelas and acute eczema; and it has always been a favourite remedy for crops of small boils, especially where they are very painful but do not mature well. In anomalous skin irritations, combining different kinds of rash in the same (acute) case, often called gouty, arnica is invaluable, and also for an irritable rash of small vesicles or pustules on an inflamed base,. situated on the nape and in adjacent hairy scalp. For gouty pain in joints with inflamed skin and sensitiveness extending to a distance, where the patient is very nervous of being approached, arnica should be given.
Nervous System.-Arnica does not correspond to any definite nervous disease, but it has been used with success for pain in the spinal column, with tenderness, especially in the cervical region or between the scapulae, and “stitches” in dorsal region extending to the right axilla, and worse on movement. It has been given after cerebral haemorrhage to expedite absorption and limit extension of resulting paralysis, and is said to be more useful in left-sided cases.
Fever.-Its use in malarial fever has been mentioned. If there is chilliness and shivering with a dusky, red, hot face and head, the rest of the body cool, the chilliness being worse on the slightest uncovering (as by moving in bed), coupled with a general bruised feeling and some offensive sweat, worse at night, arnica may be given with some confidence of benefit. It is not indicated in typically regular types of intermittent fever, but may become valuable again in the typhoid states already dwelt upon as developing in malignant malaria.
Eyes.-Blurred vision, after injuries or due to over-strain of accommodation, and not due to errors of refraction, indicates arnica. Retinal and subconjunctival haemorrhages may require it.
LEADING INDICATION.
(1) Results of almost any form of injury to almost any tissue or organ.
(2) A sore, bruised sensation in any part of or all over the body in many diseases, traumatic or spontaneous, preventing lying still in bed.
(3) Sharp superficial shooting pains, “stitches” in any part of body or limbs.
(4) General sensitiveness of parts and of nervous system, fear of being touched or approached.
(5) Heat of head and dusky face with coolness of body.
(6) General weakness, going on to prostration.
(7) Tendency to stupor with loss of sphincter control in typhoid states.
(8) Oozing of thin dark blood from capillaries, after injuries; or from mucous surfaces in low states of system; after parturition, &c.
(9) Crops of boils and dermatitis.
(10) Promotes absorption of recent inflammatory effusions and extravasations of blood.
MODALITIES.
The modalities of arnica are not very strongly marked.
The left side has symptoms in temple, chest and false ribs, fingers, half the pubic eminence, hip, tibia, outer side of foot, little toe, &c.
The right side has symptoms in half the head, in brow, cheek, back, wrist, hand, thumb, calf, outer malleolus.
In the morning.-There are headaches on waking and later when out walking, pain in the spine on rising, chilliness; dry cough.
In the evening.-Yawning and rheumatic pains are produced.
At Night.- There are headaches like a nail boring into the head; diarrhoea; involuntary stool and urination (while asleep or unconscious).
AGGRAVATION:
Walking going upstairs (headache); movement (vertigo, soreness of eyelids, stitches in chest); spinal pain (on rising or bending head), wrist pain, various pains are worse from inspiration.
AMELIORATION:
Movement (sore feeling from lying on one part, but the relief is only temporary)
There is not general heat modality, but radiant heat aggravates headache and hot applications do not relieved abdominal pain.
Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,