Homeopathy medicines for insect or animal bite

In today’s hectic life anyone can catch infectious diseases or any other disorders at any time. Also, an expert medical advice may not always be readily available when needed. Homeopathy treatment is extremely helpful to common people for remedying various diseases such cold, cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, acidity etc. at home. Through this series of articles, we are providing information on how this treatment can be performed at home, how to prepare homeopathy medicines and how to store them.

Before adopting the process of self-treatment on various diseases, we request readers go through the information mentioned in ‘Guiding principles of homeopathy’ and understand it before choosing medicines.

Compilers : Dr Praveen Mehta, Dr Ajit Bharamgude, Dr (Mrs.) Sangeeta A. Bharamgude

When an animal or insect bites a person for nutritional purposes, then it is called as ‘biting’. The act of an insect or animal to inject venom using any part of its body other than its mouth is called as a ‘sting’. When an insect or animal bites or stings us, symptoms such as swelling of the affected area, skin becoming reddish or appearance of rashes, pain, itching, inflammation of the affected area, temporary loss of sensation or sensation of tingling are observed.

After getting bitten or stung by an insect, the patient should be moved to a secure place away from the insect. If the stinger is lodged in the skin of the patient, it should be completely removed. The affected area should be washed gently with soap and water. Cold water or ice should be applied to the affected area of the skin for 10-12 minutes.

Patient affected with a snakebite or scorpion-bite should be kept in a sitting position or sleeping position and calmed down. The affected area of the bite should be marked with a pen and the exact time of the bite should be noted down. A photograph of the snake or the scorpion which has bitten the patient should be taken from a safe distance. This will assist in identifying the type of the snake or scorpion and accordingly the appropriate medical treatment can be given. A cut should be made at the area of the string or bite so that the blood flows from the affected area. The body part before the affected area should be tightly tied (with a tourniquet). Medical assistance should be provided immediately. If the type of the snake cannot be determined, medical assistance should be given assuming that each snake is poisonous.

For self-treatment, appropriate medicine should be taken based on the specific symptoms, as given ahead in the list of medicines.

1. Mosquito bite

1 A. Staphysagraia

2. Bedbug bite

2 A. Hypericum Perforatum

3. Honeybee or Hornet bite

3 A. Urtica Urens : This medicine should be taken at once after getting bitten.

3 B. Arica Montana : Swelling and the pain reduces within 2 hours when the root concentrate of this medicine is applied to the area of the bite.

3 C. Apis Mellifica : If there is a burning sensation at the affected area after swelling due to a sting, and in addition if there is a pain like a needle prick and if it feels better after applying ice to the swollen area, then this medicine should be given.

3 D. Arsenicum Album : If there is a burning pain, extreme restlessness, extreme thirst and if the patient is frightened, then this medicine should be given.

3 E. Aceticum Acidum : This medicine is useful in preventing ill-effects of bites such as fever, asthma, etc.

4. Leech bite

4 A. Lachesis Mutus

5. Scorpion bite

5 A. Ledum Palustre : This medicine should be given as soon as one gets bitten by a scorpion.

5 B. Hypericum Perforatum : This medicine should be given if the patient is suffering with extreme pain after a scorpion bite.

6. Snake bite

6 A. Arnica Montana : Swelling occurs at the snake bite site and affected area turns blackish-blue causing a lot of pain. In such situation, this medicine should be given every 2 hours to the patient and additionally, 2 teaspoons of this medicine should be added to a cup of water and should be continuously applied to the area of snake bite.

6 B. Arsenicum Album : This medicine should be given after every half an hour if there are symptoms like extreme fatigue with excruciating pains going to the heart, swelling of bitten area, and vomiting.

6 C. Ammonium Carbonicum : If there is continuous black blood flow from the wound after snakebite, this medicine is highly effective.

6 D. Echinacea Angustifolia : If symptoms such as weakness, body pain, slowness in speech occur due to snakebite, 10 drops of the root extract of this medicine should be given to the patient in water every 5 minutes.

(Note : This medicine is effective against any poisonous insect bite.)

6 E. Naja Tripudians : 5 drops of the root extract of this medicine should be placed on the tongue of the patient every 10 minutes.

7. Mouse, dog, cat bite

7 A. Ledum Palustre : This medicine should be consumed if any of the above animal bites. This medicine prevents Tetanus due to which the wound does not turn septic and the pain also gets reduced immediately. Along with consuming this medicine, it should also be applied at the place of the bite.

7 B. Calendula : In case of cat or dog bite, the root extract of this medicine should be applied to the place of the bite.

7 C. Hydrophobinum : To be consumed when a raging or mad dog bites. This medicine is also known as Lyssinum.

Note: Seek immediate medical attention in case of bites or stings.