Studied Homeopathic Remedies

• Topical Combination Homeopathic Remedy containing Arnica montana, Calendula, Hamamelis, Aconite, Belladonna, Bellis perennis, Chamomilla, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purperea, Millefolium, Hepar sulphuris calcareum, Mercurius solubilis, Symphytum, and Hypericum
• Oral Homeopathic Remedies: Arnica, and a combination of Arnica, Rhus toxicodendron, and Sarcolactic acid
• Traditional Homeopathic Remedies: Hypericum, Belladonna, Arnica, Symphyrum, and Rhus tox

Although vigorous exercise is one of the most important steps toward good health, it can also have “side effects,” ranging from muscle soreness to injury. While these adverse consequences of exercise can be minimized by graduated training and careful activity, problems may develop anyway.

Homeopathic treatments (especially topical creams) are quite popular for such sports-related conditions, and, as we shall see, they have shown some promise in studies.

Scientific Evaluations of Homeopathic Remedies for Sports-related Injuries

There is some evidence to support the use of homeopathic creams for the treatment of sports injuries.

However, studies of oral homeopathic remedies for exercise-induced muscle soreness have not been promising.

Traditional Homeopathic Treatments for Sports-related Injuries

In classical homeopathy, there are many possible homeopathic treatments for sports injuries, to be chosen based on various specific details of the person seeking treatment.

If you have an injury that is very sensitive to touch and you would describe the pain as shooting, violent, tingling, or cutting, and you feel worse at night and in the cold, then you may match the symptom picture for homeopathic Hypericum. Note: an injury with symptoms like these suggests nerve involvement, indicating an urgent need for physician examination.

If you feel worse when exposed to motion, drafts, and heat, and during the afternoon, and if you are experiencing spasms, shooting pains, tearing sensations, jerking, trembling, swelling, redness, and heat, possibly with cold extremities, then you may fit the classic symptom picture for homeopathic Belladonna.

If you have a sprain with a great deal of swelling and inflammation of the soft tissue around a joint, the homeopathic remedy Arnica might be recommended. Arnica is also commonly used as a remedy for exercise-induced muscle soreness.

If you have an injury to a bone, cartilage, or tendons, and if touch, motion, and pressure all aggravate you, while warmth helps you, you may fit the symptom picture for homeopathic Symphytum. Many homeopathic practitioners use Symphytum after Arnica if deep pain or soreness remains after the initial soreness has cleared.

If you have stiff, painful muscles brought on by straining, overlifting, or getting wet when already hot and perspiring, and if your muscles seize up with rest but loosen with exercise and heat, then you may fit the traditional homeopathic indications for Rhus tox.

Other Natural Options

For herbs and supplements that be useful for sports injuries, see the Sports Injury article.

For a thorough explanation of homeopathy, including dilution of therapies, see the Homeopathy Overview.