How to Store, Carry and Open Traumeel S Ampoules Safely

Educational information on traditional homeopathic use only. Not medical advice.

Ampoules are neat, sealed and measured, but they are also glass. A little know-how makes them easy to store, simple to carry and safe to open. This guide covers the practical side of Traumeel S ampoules: where to keep them, how to open one without fuss, what to do with the empties and how to think about expiry dates. We have kept to general good practice and what is printed on the packaging, because we do not want to invent storage rules the manufacturer has not given.

Buy 10 x 2.2 ml Buy 5 x 5 ml

Where to keep ampoules at home

Always read the storage instruction on the outer box you receive, which is the authority. As general good practice for homeopathic remedies, people tend to:

• keep ampoules in their original carton, so the batch number and expiry date stay with them;
• choose a cool, dry cupboard or drawer rather than a bathroom shelf, a sunny windowsill or the car glovebox;
• store them upright or flat, whichever the box suits, away from strongly scented products such as essential oils;
• keep them out of reach of children and pets. Glass and a medicine-like product need the same care as any other remedy.

If you buy a large box, such as the 100 x 2.2 ml, consider decanting a small number into a labelled box for the bag, and leaving the rest sealed at home.

Expiry dates and shelf life

Each box carries a printed expiry date and batch number. Use the date on your box and do not use ampoules past it. We cannot quote a general shelf life here because it differs by batch. When you plan a larger purchase (see 10, 100 or 3 x 100), glance at the expiry date when your parcel arrives, and contact us if anything looks wrong. Throw away any ampoule whose liquid is cloudy, discoloured or has particles, or whose glass is cracked.

Carrying ampoules

• Use a hard case. A small plastic pill case or pencil tin protects glass far better than a loose pocket in a kit bag.
• Wrap them. A little tissue stops rattling.
• Keep them with the box or a copy of the label. It helps at security if you are asked what they are.
• Avoid heat. A hot car boot is a poor place for any remedy.

For more on taking them on journeys, see the travel kit guide.

How to open an ampoule safely

The directions on our pages say to break the vial at the marker, so most Traumeel ampoules have a pre-scored neck. Here is a tidy routine.

1. Find the marker. It is a coloured dot or ring on the neck.
2. Clear the neck. Hold the ampoule upright and flick the top gently with a finger so the liquid drains into the body.
3. Protect your fingers. Wrap the neck in a clean tissue or use the small ampoule breaker some people keep.
4. Snap away from yourself and others. Press with your thumb on the marker, pointing the dot towards you, and snap the head away from your body.
5. Pour or tap. Tip the ampoule over a glass of water and tap out the contents, as the label says.
6. Discard safely. Put the head and empty ampoule in a rigid container such as a jar with a lid or a sharps-style box.

If an ampoule will not snap cleanly, do not force it. Try a different one and contact us. Our older article how to open ampoules has a second take on the technique, and the oral directions are in how to take ampoules by mouth. Other methods of use, including injection (i.m., s.c., i.d., i.v.), are for trained individuals, e.g. practitioners.

Common mistakes

• Opening ampoules over a sink: a dropped head can vanish down a plughole. Work over a counter with a tissue.
• Opening with wet hands, which are slippery.
• Leaving an opened ampoule for later. Once open, take it straight away in water as per the directions.
• Throwing empties loose in a bin bag.

Frequently asked questions

Do ampoules need to go in the fridge?

Not as far as our product pages say. Check your box and follow its storage instructions.

What if a little glass falls into the glass of water?

Discard the water and start again with a fresh ampoule. Never swallow glass.

Can I carry them in hand luggage?

Rules vary by airline and country, so check before you travel.

Do I need a special tool?

No, but a tissue helps, and some people like a small plastic ampoule breaker.

Are 5 ml ampoules opened the same way?

Yes, the directions are the same for both sizes. See 2.2 ml versus 5 ml.

Keep reading

• Travel kit for runners and cyclists
• Taking ampoules by mouth
• Traumeel S ampoules explained
• Your questions answered
• Which box size?
• How to open ampoules

Browse more

• Traumeel ampoules collection
• All Traumeel products

Homeopathic medicines are not a substitute for medical care.