Other Names:
Syncope

Symptoms:
The person passes out and becomes unconscious.

Cause:
Fainting points to some other problem, such as hysteria, epilepsy, insulin shock, heat exhaustion, lack of oxygen, or anemia.

Treatment:
• Immediately check the pulse, heart beat and breathing. Often a dash of cold water in the face helps. Loosen tight clothing, open windows and doors, and have others stand back so the person can get more air. Use your fist to pound slightly on the back between the shoulders to stimulate the heart. When able to drink, give him a little cold water.

• If you have it, place 8 drops of antispasmodic tincture on the back of the tongue. If you know in advance that the person has these fainting problems, you may want to prepare the tincture and keep it on hand. See "Antispasmodic Tincture".

• Sometimes artificial respiration or oxygen is needed. As soon as the person is conscious, try to find the cause and deal with it.

• If a person has frequent fainting spells, give him an herb tea of mint, skullcap, catnip, rue, mistletoe, rosemary, and small amounts of cayenne.