Bites and Stings of Summer by Debbie Noah

A few years ago, my air conditioning went out at my home. At that time, I lived in a rural area of Arizona where irrigation was the norm and it was about 10 degrees cooler there because of the grasses and natural landscape instead of concrete. This climate however, breeds mosquitoes and other things that sting.

Well, it was the middle of summer and at least 105 degrees. No one was around to assist me with the air conditioning problem. So, I decided to go up on the roof to see if there was something simple I could do such as connecting a wire or unclogging a vent. I had just come home from work, so I changed into some shorts and sandals and went after the ladder. As I was struggling to get the ladder up, I stepped in an anthill. They were those little red ants and by the time I realized it, they were halfway up my legs and I was covered in bites that were stinging me like crazy. I brushed them off and ran up the ladder to get away.

So, I’m up on the roof to look at the air conditioner. I was looking around and then I started feeling like I was being bitten on the arms and neck and there was a small swarm of mosquitoes that I had disturbed. So, in addition to the ant bites, I now had mosquito bites. I was hopping mad, in pain, the itching was unbelievable and I felt extremely irritated. I had at least 50 bites. I gave up on the air conditioner and went back down the ladder, jumped over the anthill at the bottom and went into the house. I called my daughter to see if I could spend the night at her house because it was too hot in my house. I was dancing around with the bites and thought I was going to go insane with the itching and pain of them. So, the homeopath in me took over and as I decided which remedy to take based on my symptoms, I calmed down. My bites were on the purple side and were better with ice and cold applications. I took a dose of Ledum 30C and within 10 seconds the pain and the itching started to subside. Yeah!

Whew, I thought to myself and began to pack for the night at my daughter’s. 10 minutes later, the pain and itching started to come back, so I took another dose of Ledum 30C. This dose lasted for about an hour and the symptoms started to come back. I took another dose and it lasted almost the entire night. The next morning, some of the itching came back and I took one more dose. There were no bite marks, swelling or any indication of the ordeal that I had been through left on my skin.

Dosing of remedies is simple – when the symptoms go away, stop the remedy; if they come back, take another dose! If the remedy doesn’t work – it is the wrong remedy, try another one. Homeopathy is specific, so you must take the time to find the correct remedy!

Here are a few remedies to keep handy in your first aid kit for the bites and stings of summer.

Aconite 30C – for any kind of sudden shock or fear.

Apis 30C – for bites and stings that are swollen, red, hot and itchy. For allergic reactions to bites and stings. The pain is stinging and is worse if heat or pressure is applied to it.

Ledum 30C – for bites and stings that are swollen, purple, itchy and cold to the touch. It feels better if you put cold or ice on it. Person may be quite irritable.

Lachesis 30C – for poisonous insect bites or stings. The skin is purple and bruised or yellowish with purple spots. The person does not want to be touched and they may feel icy cold and then have hot flushes. They may be talking a lot. (Give remedy on the way to the Emergency room if the person has been stung or bitten by a poisonous insect).

Enjoy your summer!

Coyright 2008 Debbie Noah, CCH, Family Homeopathy, Inc.
Debbie is Nationally certified in Classical Homeopathy and her company is in Phoenix, AZ, USA. She is available to teach your group First Aid with Homeopathy as well as other topics.