I got hooked on watching videos about how things were made way back when … watching Sesame Street (Anon. 2022). (This video is on crayon making, but it’s a good one!) Then, for a while I enjoyed the Canadian show, “How it’s Made”   — here’s a link to their firework segment.

As you can imagine, I enjoyed learning about the firework making process for this article.

What did I learn? Well, not surprisingly, the main ingredient in fireworks is … wait for it … Gunpowder.

Gunpowder originated in China in the 9th century and is made up of three ingredients: saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur and charcoal.

All three of these ingredients are used in both conventional medicine and homeopathy. Saltpeter, known homeopathically as Kalium nitricum; Sulfur, aka Sulphur and charcoal, known as Carbo vegetabilis.

Historically, saltpeter in its crude form (Kali nit) was used in the treatment of asthma (Brown and University of California Libraries 1917) and, today, this ingredient can be found in toothpastes formulated for sensitive teeth. Anecdotally, some people claim this kind of toothpaste has helped their asthma (Graedon and Graedon 2010).

Sulfur, the third most abundant mineral in the human body (Science et al. 2020), is used conventionally in many areas, including: allergic rhinitis, shingles and interstitial cystitis (Mount Sinai 2022).

Charcoal, primarily in the form of “activated charcoal” is used as “a safe, effective, and inexpensive alternative to more invasive treatments for poisoning” (Park 1986). (Note: Before finding homeopathy, I never traveled without activated charcoal and it has proven very useful on many occasions. I still keep it handy, but have not needed it since learning the homeopathic remedies.)

John C. Clarke’s Gunpowder As a War Remedy: A Work of Homeopathy (2016) notes that saltpeter and sulfur both have antiseptic capabilities and that standard black powder (the original gunpowder) can be used on infections, boils, blood poisoning and "other maladies". Additionally, Gunpowder is listed in the homeopathic repertories primarily for: gunshot wounds, wounds that are slow to heal, and anal fistulae.

Knowing the ingredients that make up gunpowder, I’m not surprised people decided to use Gunpowder as a medicine, both crudely and homeopathically.

Gunpowder as a healing agent dates back in literature at least to 1865 with Culpeper’s Last Legacy, in which he wrote, “A little Gun-powder tyed up in a rag, and held in the mouth, that it may touch the aking tooth, instantly easeth the pains of the Teeth” [sic].

John C. Clarke (2016a) talks about soldiers using gunpowder: “taken crude in teaspoonful doses mixed in hot water” and shepherds sprinkling it “on bread and cheese, to cure and prevent wound-poisoning acquired in shearing and handling sheep” as well as using it on the sheep themselves for their ailments.

After experimenting on himself, Clarke used homeopathic Gunpowder in a 3x trituration. The 3x potency* means some of the original substance remains in this version of the remedy but without the taste or smell “and to be in no sort of way explosive” and calls it a “most powerful and efficacious remedy.”

Dr. T. Chatterjee claims Gunpowder in high potencies can cure “obstinate psoriasis” and, in low potency is “an excellent blood purifier” and can be helpful after the extraction of an abscessed tooth.

Gunpowder remains a useful homeopathic remedy today for abscesses, boils and carbuncles and in bold-type, Robin Murphy mentions blood poisoning, also known as sepsis. (Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and needs to be treated immediately by a medical professional.)

Interestingly, historically speaking, the advent of gunpowder on the battlefields was cause for amputations as a result of gunshot wounds and the ensuing sepsis (Stansbury et al. 2007). It appears that gunpowder caused the wounds which, in turn, caused sepsis which, in turn, caused the need for amputation, which, ironically could have been avoided by treating the wound with Gunpowder in the first place and thus avoiding the amputation. A crazy version of not quite “like cures like,” but as "same cures same," which in homeopathy is termed Isopathy.

If you have a pet who has a hard time with the fireworks, try Aconite (rhymes with “fright”) or, put a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy in their water bowl.

Happy 4th of July and be careful of all those things that go BOOM!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


​* Potency article

Reference list
Anon., 2022. Sesame Street - How Crayons Are Made [online]. www.youtube.com. 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia, 2003. Gunpowder summary [online]. 

Brown, O. H. and University of California Libraries, 1917. Asthma, presenting an exposition of the nonpassive expiration theory [online]. Internet Archive. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby company. 

Chatterjee, T., n.d. My Random Notes on some Homeopathic Remedies Reprint. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Clarke, J. C., 2016a. Gunpowder As a War Remedy: A Work of Homeopathy. USA.

Compound Interest, 2015. The Chemistry of Fireworks | Compound Interest [online]. Compound Interest. 

Culpeper, N., 1685. Culpeper’s Last Legacy [online]. openlibrary.org. 

Graedon, J. and Graedon, T., 2010. ‘Sensitive’ toothpaste may help asthma. Chicago Tribune [online], 15 May 2010.

Mount Sinai, 2022. Sulfur Information | Mount Sinai - New York [online]. Mount Sinai Health System. 

Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software.

Park, G. D., 1986. Expanded Role of Charcoal Therapy in the Poisoned and Overdosed Patient. Archives of Internal Medicine [online], 146 (5), 969. 

Pray, T. J. W., 1849. The Medicinal Properties of Sulphur. The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal [online], 40 (26), 521–523. 

​Schroyens, F., n.d. Synthesis Adonis. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Science, U. of H. at M. F., Program, H. N. and Program, H. N., 2020. Sulfur. pressbooks.oer.hawaii.edu [online]. 

Science Channel, 2020. How It’s Made: Fireworks. YouTube [online]. YouTube Video. 

Stansbury, L. G., Branstetter, J. G. and Lalliss, S. J., 2007. Amputation in Military Trauma Surgery. The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care [online], 63 (4), 940–944. 

Further references — Homeopathy & Medicine
Casey, S., 2011. Gunpowder! Little-Known Remedy Packs a Wallop Against Wounds - Shirley Casey [online]. Hpathy. 

Clarke, J. H., 2016b. Gunpowder. from Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke. Homeopathy. [online]. www.materiamedica.info. 

Rxlist.com, 2021. Sulfur: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions [online]. RxList. 

The Center for Homeopathy, n.d. The Discovery of the Therapeutic Uses of Gunpowder [online]. Center for Homeopathy. ​

Further reference list — Fireworks & Gunpowder
Foxhall, K., 2017. gunpowder – The Recipes Project [online]. Hypotheses.com. 

Jennifer, 2017. Jennifer Evans [online]. Early Modern Medicine.

** This is a fun subscription service of science experiments for kids.
Mel Science, n.d. Magnesium fireworks [online]. MEL Science. 

Science Made Fun, n.d. Fireworks and their Colors [online]. Sciencemadefun.net. 

United States Geological Survey, 2020. What minerals produce the colors in fireworks? [online]. www.usgs.gov. ​

It’s December 23rd and if you are still scrambling for some last minute gift ideas, I have the perfect answer for both everybody on your list -- man, woman and child as well as 4-legged creatures -- AND for you.

Bach Rescue Remedy* fits perfectly in everybody’s stocking (and, once the gift has been received, it fits perfectly in a purse or a pocket). I literally do not know one person who would not benefit from receiving this gift. (I do know people who would claim they wouldn’t benefit, but they are kidding themselves.)

Rescue Remedy® was developed nearly 100 years ago by Dr. Edward Bach. Dr. Bach was a successful bacteriologist, as well as a homeopath, and was one of the prime founders of the homeopathic bowel nosodes. While working in the bacteriology department of University College Hospital London in 1912, he came to realize that a number of the bacteria he was studying actually had a close connection with chronic disease in general. The bowel nosodes are a really interesting arm of homeopathy that I will write about one day, but now… back to flowers!

Following his own severe illness where he was given just 3 months to live, Dr. Bach returned to work and credits his sense of purpose to saving him (he lived 19 years longer). He moved to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital where he continued his work in bacteriology. Through his own experience he became convinced of the importance of the mind in the processes of disease (Saxton 2020).

He devoted the last six years of his life "to the search for a simpler, more natural method of treatment that did not ‘require anything to be destroyed or altered’” (Scheffer 1988).

The Bach Flower Remedies system is based on 38 remedies which balance emotions and treat negative mental states (Ball 2005). “At the switch-points of our personalities where vital energies are channelled the wrong way or blocked, the remedies re-establish contact and harmony with our wholeness, the true source of our energy” (Scheffer 1988).

Dr. Robin Murphy spoke highly of the benefits of Rescue Remedy, a mixture of 5 of Dr. Bach's flower remedies, and said it should be the first medicine administered on arrival at an accident.

What is in it and what do they address? 
Here is the answer, according to Dr. Murphy:

Star of Bethlehem (see! It even has a Christmas connection mixed right in it!) reduces shock, trauma and sadness and prevents the trauma’s possible long-lasting effects on the mind, emotions and body from imprinting.

Rock Rose counteracts terror and panic.

Impatiens counteracts inner turmoil, tension and impatience.

Cherry Plum is for desperation and balances intense tension and the fear that events and one’s own life, including one’s mental power is out of control.

Clematis addresses the out-of-the-body state which precedes fainting or loss of consciousness. (Murphy n.d.)

Each of these remedies could be taken individually, but the combination is amazing and powerful -- not only for emergencies as Dr. Murphy suggests but also for every day stresses as well as bigger emotional upsets like panic attacks. 

A bit of research has been done into Bach Flower Remedies (BFR):

Resende (et al. 2014) found it may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats. 

Dixit and Jasani (2020) found “significantly better behavior” in children given the flower remedy treatment to contend with their dental anxiety.

Rivas-Suárez (et al. 2017) found the BFR cream to be an effective intervention for mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Siegler (et al. 2017) found BFR helpful for menopausal symptoms.

Fusco (et al. 2021) found anxiety symptoms, binge eating and resting heart rates decreased and sleep improved when compared with placebo in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of anxiety in overweight/obese adults.

Are Bach Flower Remedies the same thing as Homeopathy?

Yes and no. 

• Both Homeopathy and Bach Remedies focus on treating the person, not the disease. 

• The flower remedies and homeopathic remedies are both diluted, but the flower remedies are less diluted and they are not “potentized” or shaken between dilutions.

• Homeopathic remedies can be made from any substance and BFR are made only from flowers and spring water.

• There are 6,000+ homeopathic remedies and Dr. Bach closed his system at 38 remedies. 

• Both focus on mental and emotional symptoms, but homeopathy also includes physical symptoms. 

Rescue Remedy comes as: a liquid dropper, a spray, tasty pastilles, “Pearls” (similar to homeopathic pellets) and a topical cream. 

One does not need to be in a terrible accident to benefit from Rescue Remedy. One needs only be scrambling and stressing about filling stockings, wrapping gifts, baking cookies and decorating and cleaning the house prior to the grand festivities. I told you it was a remedy for both your loved ones on your gift list AND for you.

Wishing you a peaceful, relaxing, restorative and fun Christmas!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


* I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.​

References and Resources

Reference list
Bach Centre, n.d. The history of Dr. Bach [online]. The Bach Centre. 

Ball, S., 2005. The Bach remedies workbook. London: Vermilion.

Dixit, U. B. and Jasani, R. R., 2020. Comparison of the effectiveness of Bach flower therapy and music therapy on dental anxiety in pediatric patients: A randomized controlled study. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry [online], 38 (1), 71–78.

Fusco, S. de F. B., Pancieri, A. P., Amancio, S. C. P., Fusco, D. R., Padovani, C. R., Minicucci, M. F., Spiri, W. C., and Braga, E. M., 2021. Efficacy of Flower Therapy for Anxiety in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)[online], 27 (5), 416–422. 

Homeopathy Plus, 2021. Are Bach Flowers Homeopathic? [online]. Homeopathy Plus. 

Insight Homeopathy, 2021. Homeopathy vs. Bach Flower Therapy [online]. Insight Homeopathy & Wellness.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software.

RescueRemedy.com, 2021. Homepage [online]. Rescue. 

Resende, M. M. de C., Costa, F. E. de C., Gardona, R. G. B., Araújo, R. G., Mundim, F. G. L., and Costa, M. J. de C., 2014. Preventive use of Bach flower Rescue Remedy in the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats. Complementary Therapies in Medicine [online], 22 (4), 719–723. 

Rivas-Suárez, S. R., Águila-Vázquez, J., Suárez-Rodríguez, B., Vázquez-León, L., Casanova-Giral, M., Morales-Morales, R., and Rodríguez-Martín, B. C., 2017. Exploring the Effectiveness of External Use of Bach Flower Remedies on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine [online], 22 (1), 18–24. 

Saxton, J., 2020. Bowel Nosodes In Homeopathic Practice. S.L.: Saltire Books.

Scheffer, M., 1988. Bach flower therapy : theory and practice. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.

Siegler, M., Frange, C., Andersen, M. L., Tufik, S., and Hachul, H., 2017. Effects of Bach Flower Remedies on Menopausal Symptoms and Sleep Pattern: A Case Report. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine [online], 23 (2), 44–48.
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Vermeersch, T., 2021. What is the difference with homeopathy? [online]. bachbloesemadvies.
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