Top Homeopathics for Hiking, and We Made It to 11,500+ Feet!
- Sarah
- 9 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Hiking has been an essential part of our homeschool curriculum for many years. Through hiking, kids can learn how to do hard things, gain an understanding of the natural world and different ecosystems, enjoy the restorative powers of nature's beauty, and get plenty of movement, fresh air, and sunshine (for Vitamin D).
Sometimes, there are bumps or bruises, insect bites, or fatigued muscles along the way, so I like to bring along a few homeopathic remedies just in case.
Scroll below for info about:
Top 5 homeopathic remedies for hiking
Extra remedies for high altitude, allergies, and asthma
Important notes on dosing, handling, and carrying your hiking remedies
Bringing it all together: how we used homeopathic remedies to hike to over 11,500+ feet
Top 5 Homeopathic Remedies for Hiking
Remedy | Uses | Notes |
Arnica montana 30c and 6c | Bumps and bruises Fatigued muscles Shock from injury | For relatively simple hikes, Arnica is often the only remedy I take along. Arnica can be used in the middle of your hike as a pick-me-up if you're getting fatigued or your muscles are getting tired. Arnica taken at the end of your hike can help with fatigue and preventing muscle soreness. For very long hikes, I take along Arnica in both 30c and 6c potency. You can read more below on how I use both potencies in those situations. |
Sprains, strains, and pulled muscles Poison ivy and other itchy allergic rashes, especially when there is improvement from applying warmth | Injuries that will respond well to Rhus tox tend to exhibit the "rusty gate" phenomenon, where they feel worse on initial movement after rest, but tend to feel a bit better with continued movement. Rhus tox can be taken immediately after a sprain or strain and can be alternated with Arnica as needed. | |
Ledum palustre 30c | Deep bruises and puncture wounds Sprains and strains Bee stings and insect bites, especially when there is a pale center surrounded by redness | Injuries, bites, and stings that will respond well to Ledum will tend to have tingling, numbness, and/or coldness. |
Apis mellifica 30c | Bee stings and insect bites, with rosy red puffiness or swelling Poison ivy and other allergic rashes, especially when they feel better from cold applications and worse from heat | Apis 200c is the top remedy for severe allergic reactions, so consider taking along that higher potency if you are prone to those types of reactions |
Cantharis 30c | Blisters with burning pain Strong sunburns | I usually don't carry Cantharis with me during our hikes, but instead take it afterwards if I have a sunburn. (For very mild sunburns, Calendula 6c can work well instead.) |
Need a handy reference sheet for these and other first-aid remedies? There is one available in my shop here: Homeopathic First Aid Printable Quick Reference Sheet
Extra Remedies for High Altitude, Allergies, and Asthma
Altitude 30c:
This remedy is made from an herb that grows in the high mountains of South America. It can help with high altitude issues such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
This remedy is not generally available in the USA, but you can order it from Helios in the UK here: https://www.helios.co.uk/en/shop/coca
Arsenicum album 30c:
Arsenicum is the top asthma remedy. It works especially well if taken before the activity to prevent asthma symptoms from occurring.
Arsenicum can also be used for high altitude issues if the altitude remedy is not available.
Natrum muriaticum 30c:
Natrum mur is a top remedy for allergies, especially when there is a watery runny nose.
Nux vomica 30c:
Nux vomica is a top remedy for allergies, especially when there is sensitivity to light or noise, irritability, and/or chilliness.
There is info about more allergy remedies here: Homeopathic Remedies for Allergies
Important Notes on Dosing, Handling, and Carrying Your Hiking Remedies
Regardless of what it says on the remedy bottle, one pellet is generally all that is needed for a dose.
To take a dose, let one pellet dissolve on your tongue at a time when there is no flavor in your mouth from previous food or drink. Don't eat or drink anything (except water) for 10 minutes after the dose.
Mobile radiation may have a negative effect on homeopathic remedies, so make sure you keep your remedies away from your cell phone.
It's also best to NOT carry remedies directly in your pocket. A backpack is a great place to carry your hiking remedies.
Be aware that high heat 🔥 (over 115 F) can inactivate homeopathic remedies, so it is often better to purchase your remedies at the store instead of online during the summer months. This will ensure that your remedies do not get overheated in your mailbox. Homeopathic remedies are generally available at natural health foods stores such as Natural Grocer's, Sprout's, and Whole Foods.
For more information on how to handle, store, and take homeopathic remedies, check out this video.
Bringing it All Together: How We Used Homeopathic Remedies to Hike to Over 11,500+ Feet
To celebrate 🥳 my daughter Alina's recent homeschool graduation, we went on an adventure to hike the highest point in southern New Mexico. We were on the trail for 8 hours and hiked to over 11,500 feet!
Here is a rundown of how we used homeopathic remedies to stay healthy and happy during our hike.
Prior to hike: Rhus toxicodendron 30c. Alina still had a small amount of stiffness from an injury the week before our hike, so she took a wet dose of Rhus tox before we left to go on the hike.
Beginning of hike: Altitude 30c. Our hike started at over 9,000 feet, so we were already feeling a little winded at the beginning of the trail! We each took a dry pellet of Altitude 30c remedy at the beginning of the hike. This remedy quickly helped us acclimate to breathe easier throughout the remainder of hike.
Scraped shin: Arnica montana 30c. The beginning of our hike involved lots of climbing over and under large fallen trees in a burned area. Alina skinned her shin on a log and was feeling a little nauseous from shock, so she took an Arnica 30c pellet for quick relief.
Fatigue 😅 during the hike: Arnica montana 30c and 6c. Every 2-3 hours, when we were feeling fatigued, we both took Arnica. It's amazing how well this works as a pick-me-up to keep going! I've experienced that both the 6c and 30c potencies are helpful; they seem to help the symptoms from slightly different angles, so I like to use both of these potencies for extra-long hikes. I usually start with 30c initially during the hike and switch to 6c towards the end of the hike.
Sunburn after the hike: Cantharis 30c. At high altitude, sunburns happen more easily, even despite wearing sunscreen. It was so windy towards the top of the mountain that wearing our hats was impossible. When we finally got back to the car, we both took Cantharis for our sunburns. It worked so well that, by the next day, we just looked tanned instead of burned.
Post-hike strained muscles and ligaments: Rhus toxicodendron 30c. Although I didn't notice anything during the hike, I must have slightly tweaked my hip/lower back during the hike. Afterwards, when I tried to rise from sitting, I felt some sharp shooting pains on standing up. This happened a couple times, so I took a Rhus tox and that cleared it right up ❤️🩹. Alina's ankle did amazingly well throughout the hike. There was still a little stiffness later on, so she took more Rhus tox after the hike and for a couple more days until it was totally healed.
Post-hike soreness: Arnica montana 30c. I've observed many times that taking Arnica throughout a strenous hike really reduces post-hike soreness. Neither I nor Alina was very sore the day after our hike, so Arnica wasn't needed, but we would have taken it if there was more significant soreness.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or licensed healthcare professional. I am a homeopathic practitioner whose services are considered complementary and alternative by the state of New Mexico. The uses of homeopathic remedies described herein are not intended to replace medical treatment and are provided for educational use only.
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