Homeopathy for Bites and Stings
Homeopathy can be a really useful and effective way to deal with all kinds of bites and stings: from insects to cats and dogs to jellyfish. In this article I will go into detail about this subject and the remedies that are likely to be useful.
Get medical help if:
- If your child has been stung in the mouth or throat area. In the meantime rinse the mouth with iced water.
- If your child is allergic to insect stings. While waiting for help use the highest potency of Apis you can obtain. Try and carry Apis 200 with you at all times during the summer.
Anaphylaxis
Some people develop a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a condition in which the body releases chemicals including histamine into the system, causing dilation of the blood vessels and contraction of the blood vessels. They may develop difficulty breathing, cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, or hives. The blood pressure may lower dramatically leading to fainting.
Remedies helpful for anaphylaxis:
Apis – swelling and suffocation
Aconite – reaction comes on suddenly and is shocking
Astacus fluvialitis – shellfish reaction
Urtica urens – with hives – specific for shellfish reaction
Arsencium album- difficulty breathing with anxiety
Rhus tox – skin red, raised itching, chest feels heavy, very thirsty.
Histaminum – if other remedies fail
Insect Bites and Stings
If the sting has been left in carefully remove it with tweezers
Bathe the area and/or apply a cold compress. This can help to relieve pain and swelling. Different things that can be used to bathe the sting: Calendula, Hypercal, Urtica urens, Ledum or Pyrethrum tincture. For wasp stings used diluted vinegar or lemon juice. For a bee sting use bicarbonate of soda.
Remedies which are helpful for insect bites and stings
Arnica
If the person is in shock or if you only have this remedy to hand.
Apis
The most commonly used remedy for bites and stings. Rapid swellings. The area will be hot, red, puffy and swollen with stinging and burning pain that may be relieved by cold bathing.
Cantharis
Redness and burning possibly with blisters.
Carbolic Acid
Intense allergic reactions. Severe histamine reaction with itching and stinging. The site of the sting may blister or threaten to break open. Weakness and collapse. Indicated if difficulty breathing is the main symptom and if Apis has not made a difference within 5 minutes.
Acetic Acid (vinegar)
Intense reaction where the patient is very thirsty. Affected part goes cold and waxy looking with some swelling.
Urtica Urens
Use for a nettle-like rash or hives that might develop after a sting. Often useful when a histamine reaction develops. You can also use the tincture topically.
Hypericum
Shooting pains or nerve pain in the affected limb. Injuries to nerve rich areas such as the eye, lips or fingers. Has anti-tetanus properties.
Lachesis
Use if the site of sting goes dark red or purplish and feels very tense and tight even bursting.
Ledum
Used for puncture wounds. The wound may feel cool to the touch. Give after bites from mosquitoes and ticks. Helps to prevent tetanus.
Staphysagria
Large irritating bites that greatly upset the person.
Tissue salts: alternating Nat-mur and Ferr-phos complements the indicated remedy. One of each twice daily.
Wasps Stings
Bathe with diluted vinegar or lemon juice or Ledum mother tincture. Use Cantharis 30-200c or Vespa Crabo if the itching becomes intense.
Bee Stings
Bathe with bicarbonate of soda or Urtica urens or Ledum mother tincture. Use Apis 30-200c.
Gnat Bites
Bath with Hypercal. Staphysagria may be needed.
Horsefly Bites
Consider Cantharis as the bite may burn or feel blistered. If this does not help consider Caladium.
Flea and Mosquito Bites
These are pucture wounds so Ledum is always indicated. Staphysagria can be used if there are a lot of bites and first one bite and then another itches so that different areas need scratching all the time. Ledum and Staphysagria in low potencies may help prevent bites. Homeopathic Pyrethrum spray relieves itching and irritation from a sting. It can also be used as a preventative.
Fish Stings
Stonefish, scorpionfish, stingray, weever fish, etc. have stings which can cause agonising pain. Place the limb in water as hot as you can stand to inactivate the poison. Remove and immerse again and again until the pain is gone. Use Ledum 200c
Jellyfish Stings
Jellyfish stings can cause intense tingling and swelling. Pour vinegar on the tentacles that are still attached to the victim: this prevents the discharge of more poison. Use Aconite initially when the child is frightened. Ledum follows Aconite well. Apis may help with swelling and redness. Urtica – urens deals with stings that leave a burning, red weal that looks and feels like nettle rash (use 30c every 3-4 hours). Medusa is a remedy made from the jellyfish itself. It’s not found in first aid kits but may be useful to have if you are swimming in areas around the Mediterranean. Use 200c every 4/6 hours.
Spider Bites
Some people are sensitive and these can cause swelling and pain. The bite mark shows as 2 red spots. If the bite is on a vulnerable area or one rich in nerves then give Ledum and Hypericum. If the swelling is hot use Belladonna 30c. Lachesis is indicated if the skin is hot and looks blue or purple. For Black Widow bites give Ledum 200c and then Latrodectus Mactans 30c – this remedy is not usually in first aid kits but worth getting if you live in an area inhabited by these poisonous spiders. Aconite may be indicated if there is a lot of fear and unquenchable thirst. Give Hepar Sulph 6c every 4 hours if infection threatens.
Snake Bites
Snake bites can sometimes happen to children and pets in spring and summer. The wound must be dealt with quickly. Ledum is always indicated for puncturing of the skin and you can alternate Lachesis and Ledum. The symptoms of poisoning are blurred vision and nausea, difficult breathing, increased salivation and sweating and sometimes shock. Other remedies for snake bites:
Arnica – where there is swelling bruising and pain
Moschus – person faints, has difficulty breathing, becomes hypersensitive to draughts and cold air.
Lachesis – follows Ledum well. purple discolouration around bite with seepage of dark blood. Person feels worse after a sleep.
Crotalus – rapid onset of swelling and subcutaneous bleeding, skin around the bite discoloured, very sensitive to jarring.
Carbolic Acid – vomiting, feeble pulse, slow, shallow breathing, torpor, band-around-the-head feeling, face dusky and congested looking with pale nose and mouth. Abnormally acute sense of smell.
Oxalic acid – violent pains, skin around the bite erupts in rash or streaks, person feels cold and numb. Tremor in hands and feet.
Animal bites
The two main dangers from animal bites are rabies and tetanus. If the bite is inflicted by a family pet then Staphysagia may be required to resolve the trauma.
Rabies prevention
In his book ‘The Family Guide to Homeopathy’ Dr Andrew Lockie suggests the following protocol: ‘When visiting countries where rabies is endemic take Hydrophobium 30c daily for 7 days followed by Belladonna 6c twice daily for 6 months’.
Tetanus prevention
In The Family Guide to Homeopathy Dr Andrew Lockie suggests this protocol: ‘Take Hypericum 6c three times daily for 3 weeks as a preventative. Bathe any wounds with Hypericum and Calendula solution’.
Homeopathic Remedies for Animal Bites
Ledum – for the deep stab or puncture wounds left by cats or rodents. Helps to prevent tetanus.
Aconite and arnica – for shock
Arnica and Bellis Perennis- for bruising of soft fleshy areas.
Staphysagria – for the trauma of being bitten by a pet
Acetic acid – lacerated wound with swelling in the whole limb and gnawing pains
Belladonna – redness, swelling and throbbing. Indicated if red streaks running up the limb from the wound.
Echinacea augustifolia – can be used if skin around the wound is irritated and itching and there is pus forming
Lachesis – wound becomes bluish or purplish, feels tight and painful causing the area to feel full and even bursting. It might tend to bleed easily. Commonly indicated for cat bites.
Lyssin – sometimes needed if indicated remedies fail. The wound is persistently bluish and looks as if it may ulcerate. The patient may also complain of a headache.
Pyrogen – swollen wounds that suppurate and cause general symptoms such as fever. The pus may smell disgusting.
Poisonous plants
Dr Andrew Lockie recommends the following: ‘If the skin has been in contact with plants such as poison ivy, bathe the area with milk and give Anacardium 6c every 15 minutes until inflammation abates. In severe cases give 1gm of vitamin c hourly’.