By expanding your therapeutic toolkit to include homeopathic medicines, you can help young athletes return to play faster, safer and with greater confidence in their recovery.
More young people are participating in sports today than ever before. According to the Pediatric Sports Medicine Center at the Hospital for Special Surgeries, these children are playing in more competitive sports and suffering increasing numbers of sports-related injuries.1 Some injuries heal on their own with rest and immobilization. Others may need surgery to prevent deformity and altered growth. Yet all conditions can benefit from appropriate chiropractic care as patients move forward in their healing. These outcomes are further enhanced when homeopathic medicines are integrated into the patient’s treatment plan.
Professional athletes know homeopathic medicines well, and they use them to recover more swiftly from injury. Soccer star David Beckham used homeopathy for his broken foot before competing in the World Cup. James Ellington, the British Olympic sprinter, used homeopathy for muscle and joint pain before his competitions. Champion figure skaters Jayne Torvill and Elvis Stojko used homeopathy for their bruises. These world-class athletes recognized homeopathic medicines relieve pain and are actively involved in the repair of damaged tissue.2
In the same way, young athletes can return to their games more swiftly and without the troublesome side effects of traditional over-the-counter medicines when they take homeopathic medicines for healing.3
This article focuses on the top 10 homeopathic medicines for sports-related injuries in children, namely sprains, bruises, fracture, trauma and tendon injury. The standards for these medicines are based on the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), which sets legal standards for strength, quality, purity and packaging to ensure the labeled product conforms to them and is manufactured to pharmaceutical cGMP standards. Here you will see just how homeopathic medicines can expand your treatment options. You will learn about the fast and quick action of Apis mellifica on edema and of Arnica montana on bruising, which can considerably reduce tissue damage when administered right after injury.
Medicines for pediatric athletes
1. Apis mellifica
- For acute states to address traumatic edema
- Improved by applying ice
2. Arnica montana
- For post-trauma pain, especially when there is marked ecchymosis
- To reduce soreness when there is tenderness to touch
- To limit the formation of hematoma and accelerate resorption
- In the first hours after fracture, a routine prescription
- The first medicine for concussion when there is a large hematoma
3. Bryonia alba
- For bruising and aching with pain on the slightest movement
- For sprains with excruciating pain on motion
- For fractures with sharp, stitching pain on slight movement
- For slowly evolving inflammation
4. Calcarea phosphorica
- For fracture with delayed formation of bone callus
- For non-union of old fractures
5. Hamamelis virginiana
- A specific medicine for bleeding into the eye after trauma
- For epistaxis that lasts long after injury to face and nose
6. Hypericum perforatum
- For trauma to areas rich in nerves (fingers, tongue, genitals, toes)
- For sharp pains shooting upward from injured spot
- For crushing injuries to fingertips
- For compound fracture
7. Ledum palustre
- For mottled, purple-colored bruises with excessive swelling
- For “black eye”
- Especially helpful when patient cries out for ice or cold applications
8. Natrum sulphuricum
- For post-concussion syndrome
- For concussion with chronic mental or personality changes or depression
- For photophobia, dizziness and chronic headache following head injury
9. Ruta graveolens
- For injury to areas where bone is near the surface (iliac crest, shin, etc.)
- For injury to tendons (tennis elbow)
- For ocular pain due to eye strain
- For lingering stiffness and bruise pain
10. Symphytum officinale
- Promotes new bone growth in fractures
- Acts quickly, so fracture must be set before this medicine is given
- For non-union of fractures
Each of these medicines is manufactured in a variety of dosages (also called dilutions). Select the medicine that best matches your patient’s symptoms. For acute injury, use a 30C potency four times daily. For chronic injury, use a 30C potency twice daily for two weeks to see if there is a positive response.
Homeopathic medicines in the above dilution have a low risk of side effects and no contraindications. They may also be taken safely with other conventional medications.4 Once you notice improvement, your patient may stop taking the medicine. If symptoms return, administer again. If you are unable to detect positive change with the protocol you have selected, consultation with a homeopathic practitioner is recommended.
Some practitioners recommend fish oil or flaxseed oil for injured athletes. The essential fatty acids found in these oils enhance tissue healing. Greens formulas containing chlorella or spirulina have an alkalinizing effect and are rich in vitamins K and C, which also speed the healing of soft tissue. Homeopathic medicines will not interfere with these or other vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements recommended for injury.5
Case of an injured soccer player
Kyle was an active 10-year-old with a love of sports. He played soccer, basketball and flag football in after-school leagues. Although he was an agile player with great physical strength and speed, a collision with another player on the soccer field resulted in an ankle injury with great pain and swelling. Orthopedic examination and X-rays revealed a sprained ankle, which was immobilized with a boot to promote healing. Initial management included the usual recommendations: rest, ice, compression and elevation, as well as OTC pain relievers to reduce pain and inflammation. However, improvement was slow. Although the swelling had come down, Kyle was still in the boot with significant pain at four weeks. At this time, his parents opted for complementary treatment, which included chiropractic adjustments to the spine and homeopathy for the ankle.
The initial homeopathic prescription was Arnica montana 30C four times daily for bruising, soreness and constant pain. Kyle returned to the office after one week, whereby the discoloration of the ankle as well as the constant pain were markedly reduced. Now the most striking symptom was sharp pain on walking and when Kyle moved his ankle after taking off the boot. For this, Bryonia alba 30C four times daily was recommended.
After one week, Kyle said he was about 30% better. He had less pain on walking short distances, but long distances were a challenge and increased motion still resulted in pain.
One week later, Kyle was significantly better. He was able to begin physical therapy to regain range of motion, strength and balance. Determined to get back on the soccer field, he did ankle stretches and strengthening exercises at home.
Two weeks later, Kyle returned to team practices, avoiding the drills that caused pain. He no longer needed the daily doses of homeopathic medicines; however, his parents administered Bryonia when he experienced any return of the pain on motion.
On re-examination another two weeks later, the orthopedist was pleased with Kyle’s progress, indicating he could return to full team participation, recommending he continue with the chiropractic adjustments and homeopathy if they were to be helpful. The sure-footed, quick-moving young athlete was thrilled to be back in the game.
Final thoughts
As the number of young athletes continues to rise, so does the incidence of sports-related injuries. While chiropractic care remains a cornerstone of recovery, integrating homeopathic medicines into treatment plans offers an effective, low-risk way to accelerate healing and reduce discomfort. These remedies, backed by the standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, provide options that complement conventional care without the side effects often associated with OTC medications. Professional athletes have long recognized the benefits of homeopathy for pain relief and tissue repair; now, you can bring those same advantages to your young athletes.
Lauri Grossman, DC, CCH, RSHOM(NA), is the president of the National Center for Homeopathy. She has a private practice in New York City, where she frequently lectures in hospitals and colleges, including Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Hospital for Special Surgery, Lenox Hill and New York University. Grossman works with physicians and DCs to help them integrate homeopathy into their practices, improving outcomes and enhancing patient satisfaction. For more information, call 914-772-5522, email lauri@drlaurigrossman.com or visit drlaurigrossman.com. This article was written on behalf of Boiron USA.
References
- Hospital for Special Surgery. Pediatric Sports Medicine Center. https://www.hss.edu/. Accessed December 4, 2025.
Ullman D. The Homeopathic Revolution. North Atlantic Books: 2007. Accessed December 4, 2025.
Boulet J, et al. Homeopathic Therapeutics: Frameworks and Protocols. CEDH: 2008. Accessed December 4, 2025.
Sandvik RK, et al. Pain relief from nonpharmacological interventions in the intensive care unit: A scoping review. J Clin Nurs. 2020;29(9-10):1488-1498. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31989720/. Accessed December 4, 2025.
Balch JF, et al. Prescription for Natural Cures. Turner: 2016.
