Top 7 Natural Homeopathic remedies for Treating Chilblains

Chilblains are small, itchy swellings that appear on the skin due to exposure to cold or humid conditions over a period. The tissue gets inflamed, and the symptoms of damaged capillary beds in the skin are usually visible. This condition affects the extreme parts of the body that are more susceptible to cold, like the fingertips, toes, nose, ears, and heels. Chilblains rarely cause any permanent damage and tend to heal within weeks with proper precautions. Chilblains are also known as perniosis or chilburns.

Homeopathy is a natural science for treating health conditions and it offers the best treatment for cases of chilblains. Homeopathic remedy for chilblains is a completely natural, non-intrusive, and safe treatment method. Made of natural substances, homeopathic medicines are used to get rid of chilblains fast. These medicines help in magnificent relief in swelling, redness of skin and its attending symptoms of itching, burning, and pain.

Homeopathic medicines treat the root of the problem to give complete cure in chilblains cases. Homeopathy helps to boost an individual’s immune response to fight the complaint of chilblains and restore the body to its healthy state. Initially, the homeopathic medicines bring relief in troublesome itching, burning, swelling and afterwards, the condition resolves gradually. Homeopathy is helpful for acute cases of chilblains as well as to treat tendency of getting recurrent chilblains.

Homeopathy takes into consideration the characteristic signs and symptoms in every case of chilblains to finalize homeopathic medicine. This individualized homeopathic treatment aids complete recovery in cases of chilblains. A complete course of homeopathic treatment under the supervision of a homeopathic doctor is required for entire cure.

Homeopathy does not recommend the use of any skin ointment in chilblains cases. It rather gives oral medicine to help heal the complaint by working on the internal body. This treatment works at a deeper level rather than superficial. This is what leads to cure and not just suppression and temporary relief.

Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines for Chilblains

The top recommended homeopathic medicines for managing chilblains are Agaricus, Petroleum, Pulsatilla, Abrotanum, Sulphur, Nitric Acid and Nux Vomica

1. Agaricus – For Chilblains with itching and burning

Agaricus is the top-grade homeopathic remedy for chilblains. It is used to treat common symptoms of chilblains, like a burning sensation and intense itching on fingers and toes. The affected person may feel as if their hands are frozen. There is redness and swelling of fingers and toes. A sharp, prickling pain may also be felt.

When to use Agaricus?

It is an excellent medicine to manage chilblains with intense itching and burning on fingers and toes with redness and swelling.

How to use Agaricus?

It is available in different potenices from low (like 30C) to high (like 200C, 1M). To begin with,  one may use this medicine in 30C potency one to two times a day.

2. Petroleum –  For Painful Chilblains

Petroleum is a homeopathic remedy used to treat chilblains where there is a lot of pain. The parts affected by chilblains itch terribly and feel like fire.  Inflammation usually appears. Both hands and feet may be affected.

When to use Petroleum?

This medicine is very effective for chilblains of hands and feet attended with marked pain.

How to use Petroleum?

One may take this medicine in 30C potency once or twice a day. For using its high potencies like 200C, one needs to consult a homeopathic physician.

3. Pulsatilla – For Chilblains With Heated Sensation And Bluish Swelling

Pulsatilla is a homeopathic remedy for chilblains attended with heated sensation and a bluish swelling. There is itching and throbbing pain is also felt. The warmth of bed increases itching and pain.

When to use Pulsatilla?

This medicine is highly recommended to manage chilblains when there is marked heated sensation and bluish swelling.

How to use Pulsatilla?

This medicine can be used in 30C power one to two times a day.

4. Abrotanum –  For Chilblains That Are Itchy 

Abrotanum is a well-indicated homeopathic remedy for chilblains where the condition is accompanied with itching. There can be associated coldness of the fingertips. Next, there is presence of prickling pain in the fingers.

When to use Abrotanum?

Abrotanum is suitable to manage itchy chilblains with coldness of fingertips.

How to use Abrotanum?

Abrotanum 30C can be taken once a day.

5. Sulphur –  For Chilblains Having Tendency Of Pus Formation

Sulphur is an effective medicine for chilblains that have a tendency to form pus. The affected part is red and swollen. The skin becomes thick in the affected portion. One feels itching on the skin that gets worse from the warmth of the bed.

When to use Sulphur?

Sulphur is highly preferred to deal with cases of chilblains where pus formation also occurs.

How to use Sulphur?

Usually its 30C potency is recommended in most of the cases. Sulphur 30C can be taken once a day only, not more frequent than that.

6. Nitric Acid – For Chilblains With Cracks On Skin

Nitric Acid is of great use to help cases of chilblains with cracks on affected skin. There is swelling and itching in chilblains as well. Redness is well marked along with pain.

When to use Nitric Acid?

Its use should be considered for chilblains with cracks along with red, swollen skin.

How to use Nitric Acid?

Nitric Acid can be taken once a day in 30C power.

7. Nux Vomica – For Chilblains With Bright Red Swelling

Nux Vomica is beneficial for chilblains with bright red swelling of the skin. Besides, itching and burning is felt. Bleeding with cracks on the skin may also appear.

When to use Nux Vomica?

Nux Vomica is useful for cases of chilblains with bright red swollen skin.

How to use Nux Vomica?

Nux Vomica 30C can be administered once or twice daily.

Causes of Chilblains

Chilblains are usually considered to be an idiopathic condition which means there is no particular cause behind it. The most common reasons that are thought to cause this condition are as follows:

It can be related to body’s abnormal reaction when an individual is exposed to a cold or humid environment, followed by sudden rewarming. The superficial blood vessels become narrow when exposed to extremes of temperature. These usually expand to their usual size with slow, gradual and steady warmth. But if sudden rewarming of the affected part occurs, the blood vessels expand quickly. This leads to an increased blood flow which the superficial blood vessels cannot handle. The blood then leaks out into the surrounding tissues, resulting in itchiness and swelling.

Chilblains can be hereditary too; a positive family history can be a risk factor.

A long-standing history of chronic chilblains indicates a disorder of the connective tissue.

Chilblains: Risk Factors

There can be many risk factors involved in the occurrence of chilblains, like:

Environmental factors, which are usually noticed in people living in extremely cold or humid areas.

Seasonal changes, moving from warm weather to cold, like during the months from November to April.

Poor blood circulation in an individual makes them susceptible to chilblains, as it may lead to an increased sensitivity to the changes in temperature.

Autoimmune diseases like Lupus cause swelling in the body’s tissues and the affected people become more prone to develop chilblains.

Raynaud’s disease is a condition in which the small arteries that supply blood to skin becomes narrow, resulting in decreased blood flow to the affected area. It usually affects the blood supply to fingers and toes. People who suffer from Raynaud’s disease are more susceptible to develop chilblains.

Gender: Women are more likely to get chilblains as compared to males.

Body weight is another risk factor; people with low body weight are more prone to developing chilblains.

Clothing or shoes that are too tight, worn in cold, damp weather can hinder the blood circulation and predispose a person to develop chilblains. Also, not wearing sufficient warm clothes in extremes of weather can increase one’s susceptibility to chilblains, especially on the parts exposed to the cold or dampness.

Chilblains: Symptoms

The most common symptoms of chilblains include:

Color change on the affected area of the skin
The condition can lead to the affected areas of the skin turning red or blue, or it can cause patchy discoloration. Changes in color are usually visible through naked eyes. These color changes occur as a result of the body’s abnormal reaction towards repeated exposure to extreme temperatures. Erythema, with blanchable redness of the area, may also occur.

Swelling
Swelling may occur as a result of an accumulation of leaked blood in the surrounding tissues. The blood leaks from the capillaries when sudden rewarming happens after exposure to cold or humid conditions.

Pain
Pain is a common symptom experienced by people suffering from chilblains. Pain due to chilblains can range from mild to moderate to severe. It may be a sharp, tearing, prickling, throbbing or dull, aching pain in the affected parts.

Itching
An individual can experience an irritating or uncontrollable itching sensation in the affected part as a result of chilblains. Usually, this itching occurs when the affected area becomes warm.

Burning
A burning sensation usually occurs as a result of underlying nerve damage in the area affected by chilblains. Nerve damage also leads to tingling and numbness in the affected part, which feels like a burning sensation.