Insect bites are puncture wounds caused by insects. Insects tend to bite either to defend themselves when they are agitated or when they are seeking to feed. Homeopathic medicines for insect bite can help in managing the insect bites where mild to moderate signs and symptoms are present, and are localised to the skin.
The most common insects that tend to bite or sting include bees, mosquitoes, wasps, flies, fleas, ants and bedbugs. Most of the insect bites are mild and only lead to slight discomfort in the majority of the cases.
When an insect bites or stings it injects a venom in the body. This results in a response from the body’s immune system. Usually immediately there occurs redness and swelling at the skin site being stung or bitten. This can be followed by soreness and itching. In a person having sensitivity to insect venom a life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis may occur that needs immediate medical help from conventional mode of treatment.
Anaphylaxis refers to a severe allergic reaction that arises from release of certain chemicals by the body’s immune system which can prove fatal if not treated promptly.
Some of the signs and symptoms that indicates severe allergic reaction are hives, flushed or pale skin attended with swelling of the throat and the tongue, trouble in breathing, sudden drop in the blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (loose stool), lightheadedness, dizziness, a rapid pulse and loss of consciousness. In these cases urgent help from conventional mode of treatment is needed as it can be life threatening if not treated immediately.
There are high chances of severe reaction usually in the elderly people and the children.
- 1 Symptoms
- 2 Homeopathic Remedies for Insect Bite
The insect bite leads to redness, swelling, inflammation, pain, stinging sensation at the site being bitten or stung. Next blisters (fluid filled eruptions) may develop on the affected skin site. Itching, and irritation on skin can be felt. The site of bite or sting may be hot to touch and may also have numbness and a tingling sensation. These signs and symptoms are not serious and tend to resolve within a few days normally. But in some cases from an allergic reaction urticaria develops on the skin. Urticaria is also known as hives which refers to raised, pale red itchy wheals / bumps on the skin surface that results from an allergic skin reaction. The wheals can be attended with burning and stinging pains. In rare cases a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the insect venom may occur. The reaction that will occur varies upon which insect has bitten / stung a person and the sensitivity of a person individually towards it. Sometimes infection occurs in the insect bite cases. In this case there occur pus formation in or around the area of bite, an unwell feeling, fever, flu like symptoms and swelling of the glands.
Some of the common insects and their signs and symptoms are as follows:
In case of mosquito bite a small, round bump occurs after bite on the skin being bitten. After that it tends to get hard and red. It also gets swollen along with itching. They may also transmit diseases like dengue fever, malaria, Zika, yellow fever if they are carriers of its infectious agent.
In case of bedbug bite a person gets a rash attended with itching from an allergic reaction. The rash is small red swollen with a dark red center. These appear in the uncovered body parts and occur in a line or in cluster form. Itchy blisters (fluid – filled bumps) or urticaria may occur at the site of being bitten.
Its bite causes red swollen spots on the skin with a blister on the top. It is attended with itching pain, stinging and burning sensation. In some of its cases intense allergic reactions can arise which is very dangerous. Its signs are generalised itching, swelling over the body and trouble breathing.
It leads to skin rash at the bitten area. It is itchy and painful. Sometimes they can cause severe allergic reactions. They can also cause spread of insect – borne diseases.
In case of flea bites usually wheals appear initially that become hard papules within 12 – 24 hours. These are located in clusters on the lower legs and feet. Fleas can also cause transmission of certain disease like typhus
In tick bites pain and swelling occurs at the bitten area. The tick usually remains attached to skin for a long time. The ticks may cause skin rash, blisters, burning and problem breathing. Ticks may also lead to Lyme disease (it spreads from tick bite infected by the bacterium of the type borrelia known as Borrelia burgdorferi).
The preferred body parts for the lice are the scalp and pubic area and they feed on the blood. They cause red welts at the site of the bite and this site is intensely itchy.
When they bite immediately a sharp burning sensation is felt on the skin affected. The site of the bite is red, swollen and itchy. Bruising may also occur at this site. In some cases hives, weakness, dizziness, wheezing, itching of the eyes and lips with redness and swelling can occur.
Its bites cause painful, itchy rash, next it may lead to wheals, pimples, blisters with itching. These may appear in clusters in folds of the skin.
These cause redness, pain, swelling, itching occurs at the site of the sting. In some cases there may occur a severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) from a bee sting.
Wasps cans sting multiple times and tend to cause pain along with burning, itching, redness, swelling at the sting site. Around the sting site a raised welt appears.
Yellow jacket sting causes swelling, redness, itching and tenderness at the area being stung.
Homeopathic Remedies for Insect Bite
Homeopathic medicines effectively reduce the sharp pain stinging, pricking pain at the skin site that has been bitten. These also help to soothe the itching or burning sensation . They also reduce the redness and swelling at the site of bite and sting. These are helpful for managing the hives / urticaria without any other symptom linked with anaphylaxis. It is to be noted that in severe cases where symptoms indicate severe allergic reaction/anaphylaxis it is strictly advised to take immediate help from conventional mode of treatment as it is a medical emergency and homeopathy has limitations to help these cases.
Ledum pal – Top Grade Medicine
It is a natural medicine prepared from plant Ledum Palustre commonly known as wild rosemary and marsh cistus. This plant belongs to family ericaceae. It is prominently indicated medicine for cases of insect bite, stings and mosquito bites. In cases needing the wounded skin parts feel cold to touch. Swelling is also there. In some cases foul pus may come out of the wound site from infection. Other than this it is also well indicated for cases of bee sting, wasps sting and puncture wounds.
Apis Mellifica – For Urticaria from Insect Bite and Sting
Apis Mellifica is a very effective medicine for urticaria arising from insect bite and sting. In such cases there appear red wheels on skin. These are painful and tender to touch. Marked burning and stinging sensation is felt in them. Sometimes there occur prickling and smarting in these. Intense itching is also there. The itching is intolerable especially at night time. Next it is indicated for elevated spots on the skin arising after a bite of insects. These spots are sore and painful. These are also sensitive to touch. Another indicating feature for using it is swelling occurring after insect bites.
Hypericum – For Marked Soreness on the Affected Skin
This medicine is prepared from a plant Hypericum Perforatum commonly known as St. John’s Wort. This plant belongs to family hypericaceae. The main indication for using this medicine is excessive soreness at the site of insect bite, sting and puncture wounds.
Arnica – For Swelling after Insect Sting
It is prepared from a plant named Arnica Montana commonly known as Leopard’s – bane or fallkraut. This plant belongs to family compositae. It is a helpful medicine for swelling appearing after insect sting. The swelling is hot, hard and shiny where this medicine is required.
5. Caladium – When Itching and Burning is Marked
It is prepared from plant Caladium seguinum also known as Arum seguinum and Dumb Cane. It belongs to family araceae. This is very useful medicine for cases where there is intense itching present in the skin bite area. Severe burning sensation attends it.
Echinacea – For Skin Irritation from Insect Bite
This medicine is prepared from plant Echinacea angustifolia. This plant belongs to family compositae. It is a valuable medicine to manage skin irritation from insect bite. There may occur papules on the skin with redness. The skin may be dry.