The current issue of Homeopathy Today (National Center for Homeopathy) has a wonderful article on the use of Gunpowder remedy. It is often helpful for wounds (including bites), especially ones that are infected, that are slow to heal, or as a preventative. But with the caveat that it is not for all wounds, of course. Which left me wondering which ones.

Wim, are you familiar enough with this remedy to give me a better sense of when I wouldn't use Gunpowder on a wound, especially one that is already infected or might be expected to become infected?

I think I had a situation recently where it would have helped a friend, but I didn't think of it and I don't yet have it on hand. The cause of the small wound was never determined. Looked like small punctures (maybe by a cat's talons). It became somewhat infected, red and inflamed and was very itchy and painful. Looked to me just like Apis at first, but Apis had no effect. Took a very long time for this area to heal and the infection to clear up. The article didn't mention itch as a symptom. Would that counterindicate Gunpowder?

Thanks! And I hope your lovely bride is fully recovered from her fall.

Hello Dillweed,

Ann is doing much better now ! Thanks !

As for the remedy Gunpowder (Black Gunpowder), this remedy is used for wounds with septic suppuration and is used for both treatment and as a prophylactic. Itch doesn`t counteract this remedy, as far as I know. It can be used for people and animals. I sometimes advise this remedy for emergency shelter cases etc. and it has proved its efficacy in the treatment of various conditions of a septic or toxic nature, for example abscesses, blood-poisoning, infected wounds and deep-seated septic cellulitus. It should also be considered as an additional remedy alongside those others which relate to blood-poisoning.

It`s usually used in (very)low potencies, e.g. the 3x.

In some countries gunpowder is given to children for worms (lumbrici chiefly) with much success.

I`ll give you a good website on Gunpowder :

Please see : http://www.ewildagain.org/Homeopathy/gunpowder.htm

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Thanks, Wim, that's a good aricle.

You`re welcome ! (Of course there are some more uses for Gunpowder, such as leech bites, maggot infestations etc.)

W.

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

Yes Wim, it is really a good one to put into my homeopathic files!
Living in the mountains we run across wounded critters sometimes. This should come in handy.

Julie

That article talks about using 200c Gunpowder. I'd like to have some for my first aid kit for horses. What should I order to have on hand?

Wim - Sounds like you need to get some for your hedge hogs in the garden too-those nasty maggots!

Hello Sarah,

Generally speaking, the 6c and 30c (of all remedies) are usually best to have at home.

As for hedgehogs this usually goes as follows :

On my garden door :

Hedgehog : Knock, knock !

Wim : Who`s there ?

H : Hello Wim .....I`m Thorny Jimmy....don`t you know me ?

W : No, my prickly friend.... but what can I do for you ?

H : Well you see....I`ve been stupid and was fighting again with Spiky and I got some nasty wounds now and I`m afraid I`ll suffer from maggot infestation soon.

W : OK...Jimmy....come in for some tidbits and treatment...you silly critter..

etc. etc...... Now you know Sarah why maggot infestation won`t occur in our garden....haha !

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

OK Sarah,

Now I tell you a true story, which I told on other forums before.

My children and I have a great many animals, partly because of the fact my son-in-law and my daughter live on a farm. My daughter is also a teacher of English and a homeopath for animals.

We have horses, pigeons, dog, cats, talking grey parrots (with red tails), peacocks, ducks, geese, chickens goat, sheep, goldfish in the pond, etc.

But the majority of animals I treat are pigeons. I`m very fond of fancy pigeons with their big crops and beautiful colours. I treat even more than a hundred every year in my pigeon house, apart from the many pigeons owned by others !

I`ll explain how this is possible.

I have a number of pigeons who are trained to bring (i.e. to lure)stray or wounded pigeons to my pigeon house.

Every time I see a stray/sick/hungry pigeon who has lost its home for some reason I release one of my trained pigeons and this pigeon will fly to and fro time and again to show the stray pigeon where my pigeon house is and then I can easily catch it, feed it and treat it.

So thanks to my trained pigeons I can save many birds every year !

Wim

__________________
Homeopath for people and animals.
(Sorry, Wim no longer works here.)

It sounds like the gunpowder would be good to have on hand. I wish I had learned about homeopathy long ago! We have a barnyard full of animals too and it sure sounds like something to have on hand for the critters here and the strays that come along.

We used to have the fancy pigeons when I was younger. They were a lot of fun to watch.

Love the hedgehog story! I sure wish we had them instead of these prairie dogs!

Wim, I got to thinking - what is the best way to treat a bird? Dissolve in water and squirt it into their mouth?
Thanks!