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Bites & Stings

For bites which cause deep puncture Wounds, severe BleedingAmputation, see the relevant entry in this section.

The bites of animals carry two main dangers: Tetanus and Rabies. Not all countries have Rabies (for example the UK), but many do. Orthodox immunisation against rabies may be advisable if your job involves animals. While visiting countries where rabies is endemic, take Hydrophobinum 30c daily for 7 days, followed by Belladonna 6c twice daily for 6 months. Any bite that punctures the skin should be checked by a doctor. Human bites carry even greater danger of infection than animal bites. Tetanus, or lockjaw is a potentially fatal infection which can enter the body through any dirty wound. Orthodox immunisation has to be repeated every 5 years. If you have not received a booster injection in the last 5 years, take Hypericum 6c three times daily for 3 weeks as a preventive.

Bathe any wounds with Hypericum and Calendula solution.

Poisonous bites and stings
In Britain there is only one poisonous snake, the adder, not counting escaped pets or zoo animals. But abroad, especially in hot countries, scorpions and venomous snakes and spiders are common. As a repellent to such animals, apply Pyrethrum solution (10 drops of mother tincture in 0.25 litre (1/2 pt) boiled cooled water) to vulnerable parts of the body. The symptoms of poisoning are blurred vision and nausea, difficult breathing, increased salivation and sweating, and sometimes Shock. Reassure the casualty and keep him or her still. Apply an ice pack to the site of the bite. If the person loses consciousness or stops breathing, place in the recovery position or give cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (see Unconsciousness and Breathing). Contact Emergency Medical Services or take the person to hospital yourself. Try to describe the animal which bit the person, or if you can do so safely, capture it in a secure container and retain to show medical attendant.

Specific remedies to be given every 5 minutes for up to 6 doses

  • Where there is swelling, bruising and pain Arnica 30c
  • Person faints, has difficulty breathing, becomes hypersensitive to draughts and cold air Moschus 30c
  • Purple discolouration around bite, with seepage of dark blood, person feels worse after sleep (this last symptom is typical of a tarantula bite) Lachesis 30c
  • Rapid onset of swelling and subcutaneous bleeding, skin around bite discoloured, casualty very sensitive to jarring Crotalus 30c
  • 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 Carbolic ac. 30c
  • Violent pains, skin around bite erupts in rash or streaks, person feeds cold and numb, tremor in hands and feet Oxalic ac. 30c
  • If person has been stung by a jellyfish Apis 30c

Remove insect stings if visible by scraping it off sideways with your fingernail or a blunt knife; do not use tweezers as they may force more poison into the person. Do not suck out the poison. If the sting is inside the mouth or throat rinse the mouth with iced water to discourage swelling, and get the person to hospital as quickly as possible.

Undiluted mother tinctures can be dabbed directly on insect bites. Pyrethrum mother tincture and solution is good for most bites and songs. Otherwise use Ledum mother tincture and solution for bee stings, Arnica or Ledum mother tinctures and solution for hornet or wasp stings, and a mixture of Hypericum and Calendula mother tincture and solution for gnat bites.

Specific remedies to be given every 15 minutes for up to 6 doses

  • Weakness and collapse Carbolic ac. 30c
  • Rapid swelling Apis 30c
  • Redness and burning Cantharis 30c
  • Blueness and burning Tarentula cub. 30c
  • Shooting pains in affected limb Hypericum 30c

Anaphylactic Shock
An uncommon but very severe reaction to being bitten or stung. See Shock and Poisoning for symptoms and treatment.

Poisonous Plants
If 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 1 gm of Vitamin C hourly.

Go Back Back to Ailments & Diseases

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Ailment & Diseases

  Amputation
  Bleeding
  Breathing
  Poisoning
  Rabies (Hydrophobia)
  Shock
  Tetanus (Lockjaw)
  Unconsciousness
  Wounds
View Related

Remedies

  Anacardium
  Apis
  Arnica
  Belladonna
  Cantharis
  Carbolic ac.
  Crotalus
  Hydrophobinum
  Hypericum
  Lachesis
  Moschus
  Oxalic ac.
  Tarentula cub.
View Related

Other Treatments

  Hypericum and Calendula mother tincture
  Hypericum and Calendula solution
  Arnica mother tincture
  Ledum mother tincture
  Pyrethrum solution
  Pyrethrum tincture
  Arnica solution
  Ledum solution
View Related

Nutrition

  Vitamin C


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