Feeling great to find that these articles on Homoeopathy are being received well, this write-up is prepared on the troubles suffered by the bedridden and debilitated patients, in addition to their original sickness. The other two articles dealt with EYES and UTERUS & Menstrual disorders. Bedsores and ulcers of the skin are a common feature to those who remain in one position always. This is just for sharing the knowledge and should not be considered as prescription to any conditions.

A BEDSORE is an ulceration of the skin, with all the underlying tissues getting infected and dead. It is due to the pressure on those areas of the skin that supply blood to nourish and detoxify the skin, owing to the lying down of the person. The involved area first becomes dark in color, skin gradually breaks down and an ulcer opens up. Prevention is much preferred, as there will be other serious disease conditions involved, which do not allow the bedsores and ulcers to heal completely.

Homoeopathic remedies have been of much use in both preventive care as also curative effects for ulcers, wounds on the skin and bedsores. Some of the effective medicines are:

1. ACIDUM HYDROFLUORICUM: It is the medicine developed from Hydro Fluoric Acid. It appears as almost colorless, mobile and fuming liquid with pungent odor. It works and acts upon the lower tissues. It is very useful for old aged patients with weak, distended blood vessels, associated with bedsores and deep ulcerations.
2. APIS MELLIFICA: This is Honey Bee poison, which has many medicinal values. It acts especially on the outer parts of the skin and cellular tissues. When there is swelling and edema, surrounded by watery red hue, with extreme sensitivity to touch, associated with STINGING pains, soreness, and heat from the bedsores, APIS acts as a perfect cure and remedy.
3. GRAPHITES: It is commonly known as ‘Black Lead’, which occurs as a black grey, soft gelatinous solid. This could be used as a preventive, when the skin just appears to crack with an unhealthy look. It also helps to cure dry skin with ulcers that discharge sticky fluid.
4. CALENDULA OFFICINALIS: Commonly known as MARIGOLD, this is a hairy annual shrub, found in India. It is a wonderful antiseptic and skin healing agent that could be used in dressing wounds and ulcers of the skin. It is used in bedsores that produce acrid discharges.
5. HEPAR SULPHUR: This medicine is developed by the founder of Homoeopathy, Hahnemann, using calcium sulphide. This has a great healing power in the treatment of ulcers. When bedsores, carbuncles, and ulcers develop at the site of injury, with sensitivity of the surrounding skin, which gradually becomes insufferable pain associated with fever, the remedy works as a perfect cure.

In addition to these medicines, proper hygiene and changing the position of the patient frequently helps in preventing the occurrence of bedsores. Using padding and rubber rings to diffuse the pressure of body weight over bony protrusions of the body also helps. Mild massage using alcohol rub to increase superficial blood circulation also is useful in preventing bedsores. Specially made air-mattresses and water-beds are available for helping the debilitated and bedridden patients.

In the next article, another part of the human anatomy and its related homoeopathic remedies are discussed. Please feel free to ask questions in the comment box.