HEAD INJURY: COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT
Acupuncture lessens healing time and trauma associated with concussion and head injury. Cranial osteopathy may help some sufferers, as can reflexology (for calming down muscle injuries and broken bones). Where there is a coincidental neck injury any of the manipulative medicines may be appropriate.
An aromatherapist might suggest the anti-depressant oils bergamot, clary sage, camomile, geranium, jasmine, melissa, neroli and ylang ylang, used in any of the usual aromatherapy forms (baths, vapourisers, massage, etc). You might also try some of the anti-inflammatory oils in the same way – marigold, camomile or myrrh.
Basil leaves can be steeped in boiling water and drunk as a tea. Basil oil can be massaged into the temples. Bach flower remedies (especially the Rescue Remedy) can help with emotional problems that might follow, and lead to further headaches. A homoeopath would have to prescribe according to very specific symptoms, but cicuta or nat sulph are two possible remedies.
According to complementary practitioners calcium and magnesium are nature’s tranquillisers, and supplementation may help some sufferers. Music and dance therapy is useful, following healing of the injury. Relaxation therapies and the Alexander Technique both claim to help post-accident suffering, by facilitating quicker recovery and dealing with tensions and stress. Obviously, any of the post-operative or post-illness suggestions offered in Chapter Nine will be useful.
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