If you are like most parents, your children are involved in one or more sports much of the year. And if your children are like most children, sports injuries are common.

Can homeopathy help with uncomplicated injuries?

You bet.

Here are just three homeopathic remedies that should be in every home remedy kit – Arnica, Ledum and Ruta.

Arnica: Most consumers have heard of Arnica and know that it works. The full remedy name is Arnica montana and it’s made from a flowering plant found mostly in Europe. Arnica is a remedy par excellence for blunt trauma injuries to soft tissue. If your son or daughter plays soccer, for instance, blows to the upper leg (quadriceps muscle) are common and can cause much soreness and bruising. Arnica, taken as soon after the injury as possible, will minimize pain and swelling as well as discoloration - allowing your athlete to return to the field quickly.

Ledum: Known in homeopathy as Ledum palustre, this remedy is made from the plant wild rosemary. This homeopathic remedy is a great option after a blow to the eye – particularly if the area around the eye becomes blackened. It can also be used to effectively clear up long-lasting discoloration after an injury – particularly where Arnica has failed to return the skin to its natural color.

Ruta: Known in homeopathy as Ruta graveolens, this remedy is made from a plant called Rue. This one is wonderful for bruises to the bone – the kind that result from a blow to the bone that can occur when a shin bone is kicked hard (think soccer again). Many people make the mistake of using Arnica for all sports injuries only to find that in some cases it’s ineffective. If your athlete has great soreness on a bone after a blow to that bone – think Ruta first.

Dose with either a 30C or 200C potency to start - placing one pellet under the tongue or one pellet in water, stirring vigorously and taking teaspoon doses as needed. Always cease dosing when relief begins and only redose if symptoms again worsen. As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of an injury as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available in that it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but can actually stimulate the body to start to heal itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as remotely using Skype. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet