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Homeopathic Remedy for Scar Healing

Scars are formations of fibrous tissue created by the body to repair skin and other tissues. Sometimes scar tissue forms into adhesions--bands of scar tissue binding together dissimilar tissues--and can cause serious complications, which must be diagnosed and treated by a licensed physician. More often, scars are merely unsightly. Many people have tried homeopathic treatment to help heal scars. If you like the idea of a holistic treatment that tries to recruit your body's own defenses to heal itself, talk with your doctor to see if a homeopathic remedy could be right for you.

  1. Scar Tissue Features

    • Most wounds cause some degree of scarring. Scar tissue differs from the skin it replaces, and usually does not function as well. Sweat glands and hair follicles do not grow back in scar tissue, and it is less flexible than the original tissue. Sometimes, collagen fibers formed by the body to make scars are overproduced, and cause hypertrophic scars. These are red, raised lumps. It may also form keloid scars, which are raised scars that keep on growing, but are benign and non-cancerous. Scars can form adhesions in many locations throughout the body, including the abdomen, pelvis, bowels (where they can cause intestinal blockage) and the heart, where they can affect cardiac function. Many scars, however, are completely harmless and are only a cosmetic problem. Medical techniques to remove scars include steroid injections, needling, pressure garments, dermabrasion, and laser surgery.

    Homeopathic Remedies

    • When treating a scar, homeopathic practitioners may take into account the scar's location on the body, the tissue color and texture, and the injury that caused it. For hard, stony, very white scars that itch, the doctor may prescribe calcarea fluorata, which is made from oyster shells and used homeopathically for promoting tissue elasticity. If your scar is from a burn, the doctor may prescribe causticum, a potassium compound. For surgical scars that are itching or burning graphite may be recommended, which is a form of carbon prized for its ability to relieve eczema. If your scar causes constricting pains, phytolacca might be prescribed, which is made from the pokeberry plant. For scars that are ulcerated or oozing, the doctor might advise silicea, made from quartz. Other remedies to heal your scar include arnica, made from a mountain plain, and thuja, from white cedar.

    Precautions

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, homeopathic remedies taken under the supervision of a trained professional homeopath are considered safe and not likely to cause adverse reactions. However, there is sometimes a temporary worsening of existing symptoms, a phenomenon homeopaths call aggravation. Homeopathic remedies don't normally interfere with prescription drugs, but you should still consult with your physician before using them.

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