It’s about that time of year where the days are getting longer, and if your kids are like mine, they are probably spending most their afternoons outside catching bugs, playing in puddles, or jumping on the trampoline. With this beloved outdoor time also comes bug bites, bee stings, and the possibility of getting into some itchy plant. Nothing spoils an afternoon of fun like an attack of fire ants or an accidental fall into a patch of poison ivy! With a weekend full of Easter egg hunting coming up, its the perfect time to spotlight two of my favorite homeopathic remedies that I think every momma of a little wilderness adventurer should have on hand.
The first remedy that I think is SO important for families to keep close by is called Apis Mellifica. I don’t know if my daughter has sweet blood or what, but it seems every insect is attracted to her. Ever since she was little when all the kids are playing outside, she is the only one who comes in covered in mosquito bites. Unfortunately, her little body does not handle them well either, because the bites will swell and itch and look pretty nasty. According to Dr. Brown, this acute condition can easily be treated with the remedy, Apis Mellifica, and we have tested it out many times and proven this to be true.
Along with annoying bug bites, apis can also be beneficial in improving outcomes for even more serious conditions such as a severe allergic reaction to bee stings or even to foods like peanuts. Apis is a homeopathic remedy prepared from European or Western honey bees, and according to the booklet that accompanies Dr. Brown’s Acute Care Kit (which is a quick guide and certainly doesn’t cover all the indications), the general symptoms and specific conditions that point to apis are as follows:
General Symptom Profile:
- #1 remedy for allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock
- Burning, stinging pain
- Excessive swelling/edema
- Anxiety with restlessness
- Thirstless
Better From: Cool, fresh air, cold drinks, cool bathing, uncovering, motion, and sitting up
Worse From: Heat, pressure, touch, lying down, and after sleep
Condition-Specific Symptoms: (Not all may apply.)
Allergic Reactions: (Seek appropriate medical care depending on severity of allergic reactions.)
- #1 for allergic reactions to bee or wasp stings
- Face swollen/puffy
- Itchy, watery eyes – may be swollen shut
- Throat may swell
- Allergic reaction due to food poisoning
Coma: (This is a medical emergency. Call 911.)
- Coma due to high fever or anaphylaxis
- Place the remedy between the cheek and gums to prevent choking
Sore Throat:
- Stinging throat pain with swelling of the throat or tonsils
- Better from cold drinks
- Worse from swallowing solids, hot drinks, and external heat
Another remedy that is sometimes indicated for similar symptoms is called Rhus Toxicodendron. Even though it can be similar in function to apis, there are some distinct differences. This homeopathic medicine is prepared from the poison ivy plant rather than the honey bee, so as you can imagine it is commonly indicated for allergic reactions to plants vs. insect bites. (However, in homeopathy, the symptoms rather than the diagnosis lead you to the correct remedy so keep that in mind.)
My six year old is my child who seems to be allergic to basically the outdoors itself. If he as much as brushes up to any plant species at all, he winds up with raised, red welts. The one time he decided to roll down a grassy hill like every kid inevitably does once in his life, he ended up with an itchy rash covering his entire trunk! So with him, it is not uncommon to bust out the rhus tox when the symptoms fit to help his body recover. Below is the symptom profile from Dr. Brown’s booklet that will further show the differences between this remedy and apis:
General Symptom Profile:
- Stiffness of muscles and joints
- Tearing pains in ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Extreme restlessness, both mental and physical – must keep moving
- Unquenchable thirst
Better From: Heat, warm applications, warm, dry weather, warm drinks, continued motion, wet heat, and stretching
Worse From: Cold, wet weather, being chilled, initial movement, and rest
Condition-Specific Symptoms: (Not all will apply.)
Allergic Reactions: (Seek appropriate medical care depending on severity of allergic reactions.)
- #1 for poison ivy/poison oak
- Intense itching and burning relieved by very hot water – aggravated by scratching
- Red, swollen, fluid-filled vesicles that are better with warm application
- Worse with heat as in a hot room or out in the sun
Flu:
- Muscle stiffness and soreness worse after lying still and on first movement – better with continued movement
- Aching in all the bones
- Restless (physical) – must keep changing position
- Anxious, chilly, and thirsty – craves cold drinks but is worse from them
Trauma: (Seek appropriate medical care depending on severity of injury.)
- Injuries or strains from overexertion which leaves stiffness
- Joint hot, swollen, and stiff after sprain or injury
As you can see, these remedies can be an amazing resource for families with active children during these spring and summer months. These two remedies plus twenty more are all included in Dr. Brown’s Acute Care Kit, which are on order right now. Feel free to snatch one up because they are sure to go quick. If you aren’t familiar with homeopathy and felt lost while reading this, be sure to check out this video and this blog to get a little more background info on the subject.
Til next time,
