Tip Sept: Stings and Bites
Seasonal Tip September 2013
Stings and bites from insects, tics and mites
A sting or a bite is a type of wound that punctures the skin and usually introduces a foreign substance. Stings need urgent expert help if the tongue is stung and gross swelling occurs, leading to breathing obstruction; where the victim is allergic to stings and multiple stinging. Stings usually progress from painful lump to watery blister. Treatment is aimed at improving comfort, reduce possibility of general reaction and minimise risk of secondary infection.
In the table below I list the major symptoms to watch for and the remedies that work best in each case. The remedies listed are usually available in your local health food shop and best given in 30c tablet form as instructed when you purchase unless otherwise stated below.
homeopathy for stings and bites from insects, tics and mites
check for the symptoms on the left and see corresponding remedy on the right column| symptoms | remedy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bites from a bee in particular, Where sting is bright red, shiny and stingy | Better for cold applications | Darting pains | apis mellifica | |||
| very good for midge bites | burning pains | inflammation | cantharis | |||
| "dirty" stings and bites and oozing wounds | slightly raised lesion; red and thick yellow pus, | very sensitive to touch; useful where there is slow healing | hepar sulphuris | |||
| red swelling and throbbing or shooting pains | in severe cases red streaks following path of lymph vessels away from sting area | can be used for bee stings; better for cold applications | hypericum | |||
| swelling and numbness with swelling taking a long time to clear | worse for heat; blood coagulates | responds well to wasp stings | ledum | |||
| typical wound will be like a graze e.g. children with grit ini a grazed wound | pain out of all proportions; better for warmth | sensitive type exhausted by pain | calendula cream | |||
| sensitive type exhausted by pain | hypercal cream | |||||