Standard Treatments for Pediatric Diseases

23 Standard Treatments for Pediatric Diseases

23.1 Arnica Pulse Wrap

General Considerations

See Arnica (Arnica montana L.), p. 35 ff.

Indications: Rising fever (see below), cold hands and/or feet, centralization of blood flow, narrowing of peripheral vessels.

Contraindications: Allergy to arnica.

Action

– Widens the peripheral arteries.

– Clinical experience has shown that pulse wraps widen the peripheral arteries in patients with a rising temperature. A bout of sweating can sometimes stop the increase of temperature. As the peripheral vessels widen, the body becomes warmer from head to toe. This is the right time to apply a cooling calf wrap or give the patient a cooling wash (see p. 314).

Materials

– 10 mL of 60% arnica essence (arnica blossoms and 70% ethanol v/v 1: 10).

– 4 cotton or silk wrap cloths, 10 × 25 cm each

– 4 narrow flannel cloths, 12 × 26 cm each

– 1 dish towel

– 200 mL of hot water (80 °C)

Procedure

Preparation: Pour hot water and arnica essence into a small bowl. Wrap one pulse wrap cloth in the dish towel and dip into the hot arnica water.

Application: Apply the wrap, after wringing out excess liquid by squeezing the dish towel, as hot as the patient can stand it, to the pulse site and wrap the flannel cloth around it. Discard used arnica water. Replace the used pulse wrap with a fresh one, prepared with fresh arnica solution, every 10 minutes. Repeat for a total of 3 wrap applications. The wraps can be left in place longer, even over night, if the patient falls asleep during treatment.