Burns & its Homoeopathic Management – Pawan Satyanarayan Chandak

Burns
& its Homoeopathic Management
Pawan Satyanarayan Chandak

A burn is a tissue injury from thermal heat or cold
application or from the absorption of physical energy or chemical
contact.

Burns are classified as follows.

Scalds –

Result from
partial-thickness or deep dermal skin loss.

Fat burns –

Usual
full-thickness skin loss.

Flame burn –

Patches
of partial and full thickness.

Electrical burns –

Full thickness with deep extensions.

Cold injury –

Ice
formation, tissue freezing, vasospasm.

Friction burns –

Heat plus abrasion.

Ionising radiation –

Early tissue necrosis, late or tissue dysplastic change.

Chemical burn –

Inflammation, tissue necrosis, systemic effects.

Burn depth depends, in thermal injury upon:

-The temperature of the burning agent.
-The mode of transmission of heat.
-The duration of the contact.

Superficial burns :

The have the ability to heal themselves by
epithelisation above. Epidermal burns look red, are painful, blisters
are not present, and they heal rapidly without sequel. Superficial
dermal burns are, blistered and painful they should by epithelisation
within 14 days without scarring, but sometimes leave long-term
pigmentation changes.

Deep burns :

These have lost all adnexal structures and if left
can only heal by second intention

with scarring they may be blistered and have a
blotchy red appearance with no capillary return on pressure and absent
sensation on pinprick.

Effect of burn injury :

Local effects

Tissue damage –

cell necrosis or direct cell
rupture.

Inflammation –

cellulitis.

Infection –

by Beta haemolytic streptococci,
Septicemia, Bacteremia.

Regional problems in burns :

Circulation –

Damage to limb vessel in high
tension electrical burn causing oedema and leads to venous obstruction.

Systemic Effects :

Fluid loss.

Multiple organ failure of renal or hepatic function or heart failure.

Inhalation injury – inhalation of products of combustion or a hot
gases causes thermal burn to various part of upper respiratory track and
chemical burn to the bronchial tree and lungs.

Systemic complications –

occurs in association with burns such
as Curling’s (gastric or duodenal) ulcer that may result in acute
haematemesis, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary
embolism, septic complications.

Clinical Features / Effects of Burn Injury :

Pain –

immediate, acute and
intense in superficial burns. Little pain in deep burns.

Acute anxiety

– severe at the time of injury.

Fluid loss and dehydration

– tachycardia from fluid loss

Local tissue oedema

– superficial burns with blisters and
deeper burns develops oedema in subcutaneous spaces.

Special sites

– Eyes may be involved in explosion injury or
chemical burns and nasal airway, mouth and upper airway in inhalation
injury.

Coma.

Management :

General Management :

First aid

Stop the burning process.

Cool the burned surface immediately for 20 minutes.

Emergency examination performs the order of priorities in the
management of a major burn injuries.

A – airway maintenance

B – breathing and ventilation

C – circulation

D – disability, neurological status

E – exposure and environment control – keep warm.

F – fluid resuscitation

Homoeopathic Management :

Materia medica

Aconite (2) –

use immediately
after the accident to counteract the nervous shock or when reaction has
taken place, and there is dry, burning heat of the skin, heat hot and
painful, face is red, pulse hard, frequent and contracts. There is great
restlessness, panic and fear of death.

Arnica (1)

– Helps prevent sequel :

Such as shock after severe, deep burns and prevent septicemia.
Inflammation of skin and celluler tissue with extreme tenderuess and
pain. Pattend does not want to approach and tell every one present they
are all right and wants to be left alone.

Arsenicum (3)

– Deep burns with
vesicles and infected flesh that turn black showing tendency towards
gangrene, Inflammatory swelling, with burning, lancinating pains.
Infection from dead tissue remaining in the wound great anguish and
restlessness, changes place constantly. Fents death and being left
above. Thinks it is useless to take medicine. Prostration which may seem
out of proportion with the situation colic after severe burn.

Calendula (2)

– This remedy is
useful for minor superficial burns caused by fire or the sun. Calendula
also prevents gangrene and promotes granulation as well as prevents
disfiguring scars. Prevents loss of blood and excessive pain. It is a
good remedy to use to promote healing after specific acute remedies have
removed the shock, pain and immediate symptoms. Use this remedy
internally in potency and externally as a lotion.

Cantharis (3)

– If used early it
will prevent the formation of blisters. This is the most used remedy for
scalds, burn and sunburns with vesicular character, blisters and
superficial ulceration. Small blisters coalesce to form large blisters.
Burns and scald with rawness and burning > by cold applications,
followed by undue inflammation. Tetanic or epileptiform convulsions
followed by coma. Extensive burns cause a renal complication. Patient is
< by touch, approach and > rest. Use internally and externally in
lotion.

Carbolic Acid (1) –

Useful for the
ill effects of deep burns as well as old burns do not get well. Chemical
burns and scalds. Intensely sympathetic, thinking of complaints
aggravate them.

Rhus tox (2) –

After burns and
scalds with vesicles, bullae (large blisters), Pustules. The burns are
extensive burn more superficial although there may be erysipelas with
typhoid like symptoms, sensorium become cloudy.

Sol. (2) –

This remedy is made
form potentised sunlight. It is useful in sun burn both as a preventive
in those who are extremely sensitive to the sun and as well curative in
overexposure. May be useful reducing the amounts of UV radiation in the
skin.

Urtica urens (3) –

For simple
burns involving the skin, superficial burns. Intense burning and
itching. Useful is chemical burns caused by poisonous plants use
internally and externally.

Repertorium :

BURNS, in general – Acon., Arn., ARS., Calen., CANTH, Carb-ac,
Caust., Rhus-t., Sol., URT-U.

Ailments from burns – Carb-ac, Caust., Pic-ac.

Black, deep burns turns gangrene – ARS.

Blisters :

Bullae (large blisters) – Rhus-t.

Prevent from arising – CANTH, Kali-m.

Small vesicles colesce to form large blisters-Canth.

Chemical burns – Caust.

Mind :

Anguish and restlessness, changes place constantly – Ars.

Fears death – Acon., Ars.

Fears alone, and being- Ars.

Nervous shock- Acon.

Panic shock – Acon.

Shock after severe, deep burns- Arn.

Sympathetic, intensely, thinking of complaints aggravates them –
Caust.

Useless thinks it is, to take medicine – Ars.

Old burns do not heal – Carb. ac., Caust.

Prevents :

Infection and promotes granulation – CALEN.

Disfiguring scars – Calen.

Superficial burns that burns and itch intensely- Urt-u.

Source :

1) 23^rd edition of Short practice of Surgery – Bailey
& Loves Page no. 189 – 199.

2) Gems of Modern Homoeopathy by Dr. J.D. Patil & Dr. P.S.
Chindak

3) Homoeopathic therapeutics by Dr. Samuel Lilienthal

4) 6^th edition Repertory of Homoeopatic materia medica –
Dr.J.T. Kent

5) Clinical materia medica – by Dr. E.A. Farrington

Copyright
© Pawan Satyanarayan Chandak 2005