A bruise is an injury. It can be caused by a blow from or a collision with a blunt object and it often resulted into damage to the soft tissues beneath the skin. Here, the skin remains intact and unbroken, but the underlying tissues and blood-capillaries are injured causing extravasations of blood into the tissues. There is swelling, pain and a blue-black discoloration of the affected part as symptoms.

The possibility of a serious damage to internal organs such as in case of blow on the head, the chest or the abdomen or of internal bleeding must be considered. Even though there is little sign of injury on the surface. An increased pulse-rate distressed breathing, severe vomiting or progressive deterioration in the general condition is danger signals. These actually warrant urgent skilled attention or hospitalization.

When treating a bruise, the remedy that should spring to the mind first, is Arnica. Arnica montana is prepared from a plant called the `leopard`s bane` that grows wild in the mountains. It is observed that if a sheep or a goat falls down the hillside and hurts itself, it instinctively nibbles the leaves of this plant. Dr. Hahnemann was the first to test Arnica scientifically. While `proving` the remedy, volunteers reported a sore, bruised feeling in the body, as if after a bad fall and a sensation of `shock`. According to the law of similars, the symptoms that Arnica produces in healthy people are the symptoms that Arnica can cure.

Therefore, when treating a bruise, immediately a dose of Arnica 200 can be given to overcome shock and initiate healing. Thereafter, Arnica 30 should be given in every fifteen minutes for very severe pain. It can also be given in every three to four hours for moderate pain till considerable improvement occurs.

If the pain is very severe or if it shoots upwards as happens when nerve-rich parts like fingers, toes or the spine are injured, Arnica may be replaced by Hypericum 30. Hypericum is actually called the Arnica of nerves, and is prepared from a plant called St. John`s wort.

In case there seems to be an undue delay in the disappearance of the bruise and, especially, if the injured part remains cold and numb, it would be a good plan to change to Ledum 30, thrice a day. The correctness of the medicine can be judged if cold applications to the affected part seem to relieve pain considerably.

In case of a blunt injury to the eye, again Arnica helps. Alternatively, Aconite 30 which is also called as the Arnica of the eye can be used. However, many eminent doctors have suggested Symphytum, Hypericum or Ledurn for eye-injuries. There are various ways to use these remedies. If there is injury to the eyeball from a tennis ball, or an infant sticking its fist into the mother`s eye, Symphytum 30 can be used in such case. If the injury, however, is immediately above or below the eye and causing a black-eye Arnica 30 would do the work. Ledum is distinguished by `better from cold-applications` and Hypericum 30 is for the injury that is excessively painful.

In this motorized age, blunt injuries to the head are becoming increasingly common. Any head injury must be taken seriously. It can be regarded as important even if after such an injury the patient has been able to walk or seemingly has no complaints. Headaches, bouts of vomiting or inexplicable changes in pulse, breathing, behaviour or consciousness, could be the signs of injury to the brain or blood-vessels in the skull. This is an emergency calling for skilled medical or surgical intervention.

Immediately after a head injury Arnica 200 should be given without seeing that the person is conscious or not. Thereafter, Arnica 30 should be given in every 30 minutes. Five to six such doses should help the person a lot. If there is mental confusion and other signs of a disorder of the brain viz. rigidity of the neck, dilated pupils, muscle-twitching or convulsions, Cicuta 30 can be given in every two hours till relief is obtained or further specialized help is available.

Natrum sulphuricum 30 is useful in the case when headache or other symptoms persist. A few doses of this remedy may clear up symptoms and restore well being in a surprising way.