Don’t get me wrong — I love living in Florida! But when we moved, I had no idea I would be trading New York’s frostbite for Florida’s bug bites.
During this season, the worst of all the offenders are the no-see-ums.
“What are no-see-ums?” you might ask.
Well, I’d show you a photo, but … uh … did you notice their name? These tiny little sand flies are so minuscule, they can pass through regular window screens.
They are practically invisible!
But believe me, their bites are anything but invisible. For some highly-reactive people, they can leave a rash of itchy, red, raised welts — definitely uncomfortable (and most certainly unattractive).
Without a doubt, no-see-ums have been the number one concern of all of my Floridian neighbors. Knowing I’m a homeopath, they stop me all the time to ask, “What can we do about these bites?”
So, this article is for you, my neighbors and friends! And, I have no doubt many readers who live in beach communities (or vacation there) will share in your interest.
Let me first say, I try to do everything I can to avoid toxicity.
So, you’re not going to hear me say, “Just spray yourself down well with a pesticide before you go outside.” I really don’t want my entire neighborhood sprayed willy-nilly with questionable (at best) insecticides.
There are essential oils that can be very helpful as a natural, non-toxic preventative. In fact, I wrote in my article “Mosquito Bites? Let Homeopathy and Essential Oils Help” about a natural repellent against mosquitoes. It should perform equally as well with no-see-ums.
As an aside, for those of you who worry the strong scents from these essential oils might antidote any homeopathic protocols you might be taking, let me set your mind at ease.
First of all, antidoting a remedy was considered a major concern when using classical homeopathy.
In classical homeopathy, you’re only given one dose of one remedy and then asked to wait 6 to 8 weeks for observation of its effect. In that case, you’ve got to protect that dose!
With the practical protocols I teach, doses are taken regularly, until very much better.
A strong essential oil scent will not negate everything we have accomplished. It doesn’t take us all the way back to the beginning of our healing.
It might stop the progress of our last dose — but we will be taking another dose in a relatively short amount of time. So, there is no need to worry our healing will come to a screeching halt because of a few beneficial essential oil scents.
Additionally, unless we are deeply breathing the essential oil scent directly into our nostrils, it would probably have no ill effect on our remedies anyway.
But, what if despite our best efforts, we inadvertently became a smorgasbord for a community of no-see-ums?
That’s when we lean on Ledum 200 to uproot the itching or stinging left by those evil little creatures, every few hours as needed (depending on the severity).
Some have also experienced that once they’ve taken Ledum, the next insect bites they receive don’t seem as severe. And although homeopathic remedies are not considered prophylactics, I think if I were about to head into the Amazon rainforest, I very well might take a dose of Ledum palustre before I started. I would most assuredly have it with me for afterward!
If facing a very severe infestation of bites that not only presents with itching but also with an allergic reaction accompanied by strong anxiety, I have used Arsenicum album with great success.
I remember having been in the Bahamas about 30 years ago, standing in water up to my ankles at sunset, talking to others. I began feeling little biting sensations and without realizing what was happening, I walked deeper into the water.
I kept moving deeper and deeper as the bites continued until only my face and ears were exposed.
About two hours later, I had a horrible allergic reaction all over my body (except on my feet, which had remained submerged the entire time).
My adrenaline level was off the charts in response. I was very stepped up and anxious — pacing. My heart was racing as though I had had 500 cups of coffee. My face, ears and neck were covered with welts.
I was freaking out!!
I took one dose of Arsenicum, and within minutes — as I stood in front of a mirror and watched — my face got super red and even more swollen then returned to normal.
Then a few moments later, a band across my chest also got super red and then recovered, then another band across my mid-section, and this continued down my body in horizontal bands in reverse order from the bites I had received.
Although I wouldn’t volunteer to do it again, I was fortunate to visually observe this miraculous example of Hering’s Law of Cure.
I fell asleep (which as we know in homeopathy is a very good sign we have chosen the correct remedy). When I awoke in the morning, my battle with the bug bites was over — and homeopathy was victorious!! No itching, no bumps, no reaction at all.
I bet you’re wondering what potency I used. Well, don’t forget that three decades have passed since then, so my memory is a wee bit fuzzy on the exact details. I’m fairly sure that I used Arsenicum 30, but Arsenicum 200 would probably have performed just as well.
I’ve given you both of the remedies I’ve used in free, downloadable remedy cards below. Don’t forget to add them to your collection!
And, don’t let the bugs scare you away from visiting Florida. There is so much to enjoy here … especially when you’re well-armed!
Warmly,
P.S. Tune into my Facebook Live event tonight at 8 pm Eastern. I have another “bite” story to share with you from my recent adventures in Florida.
If you’ve missed my previous Facebook Live conversations, I have stored them in my Facebook Videos section so you can watch them when it’s convenient for you.
I am a homeopath with a worldwide practice working with families and individuals via Zoom. I'm also a teacher and most importantly, a mom who raised my now-adult children depending on homeopathy over the last 31 years. I lived decades of my life with food intolerances, allergies, and chemical sensitivities until I was cured with homeopathy, so I understand pain, anxiety, and suffering. You may feel that your issues are more severe or different than anyone else’s, but I have seen it all in my practice and in my work in India. My opinion is that nothing has come close to the reproducible, safe and effective results that my clients, students and I have achieved with homeopathy.
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Joette is not a physician and the relationship between Joette and her clients is not of prescriber and patient, but as educator and client. It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Joette presents. Homeopathy doesn't "treat" an illness; it addresses the entire person as a matter of wholeness that is an educational process, not a medical one. Joette believes that the advice and diagnosis of a physician is often in order.
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Very helpful column!! I get these red, itchy, raised welts every year, starting early July and remaining until November. I don’t know what they are from, but presume some sort of bite–they are mostly on my hips thighs and backside. Are there no-see-ums- in NY state? That’s where I live. I’ve been blaming my cats, but I never see any fleas on them, and the welts don’t look like flea bites. Anyway, I will try the remedies you suggest this year and see if they help. Thanks!
aah-those damn mosquitos! lets move to san diego.lol
That’s such a lovely picture. It exudes health, optimism and sunniness ?
thanks!
I’m wondering if this same protocol might help with chigger bites.
Likely.
WHERE is the link to the Remedy Cards?
‘Should be there.
Now I was looking for the remedy for frost bites. What would do the trick?
When we lived along the Treasure Coast a few years ago, the fire ants were our nemesis. My daughter especially reacted to them. Wish I’d known about homeopathy then!!
Good to know! We have no-see-ums in Wisconsin also. One time we were camping when I was a child and my mom woke up all swollen in her face and rashy looking. We took her to the emergency room and they said it was no-see-ums. Now I would know what to do about it. Thanks!
I really appreciate all of your information you provide, and have referred many people to your site. I have had several friends who were absolutely amazed at how quickly Ledum can take the itch and swelling out of a mosquito bite (or 10). Personally I also use it when I get stung by the bristle worms that are resident in my saltwater aquarium (they always find me, aargh); Ledum helps take the swelling on them down very quickly!
Another great article Joette! Always informative and interesting.
My husband is allergic to bee stings.. Would he take Ledum Palustre 200 or Arsenicum Album 30 or 200 ?
Or would he take both at the same time every two hours till better ?
When it comes to allergies, that’s a different story. Should you be interested, I cover this topic fully in my course, “Allergic”. This discussion is close to my heart because I suffered allergies for most of my life until homeopathy freed me.
I am a born and raised FL girl, until I hit 21 years old, got married to a military man, and within a few months we lived in other areas than FL. But on one of our trips back to FL to visit family, we decided to go visit Sanibel Island, the ‘seashell island’. Both hubby and I were inundated by these little sand flies/fleas. They were miserable and seriously made a huge impact in our enjoyment of the island. I have never felt anything like these tiny little beasties anywhere else than Sanibel Island. Wish I knew about homeopathy back then – at least 35 years ago – it would have made our time there much more enjoyable! Having experienced that, we wondered how the ‘natives’ to that island managed to tolerate those beasties, and we’ve had no desire to repeat that experience! Thanks for the info on this for any possible future encounters like this, as we’ll be moving back to FL in a couple years!
Joette, I had just finished leading my first study group this time last year. We headed off to Disney World with a stop in Sarasota first so I could attend a conference. After classes that first night, I met the family at the pool at the RV resort we were staying at. Those little no-see-ums used my legs as their buffet. Never could see them but I sure felt them. Ledum fixed me right up after we got back to the RV. We’re heading your way again in a few weeks and you bet I will be bringing ledum with me!
On the road again!
I have been looking for something to help keep flies and mosquitoes off our animals. I have read about the help Buster got with fleas and I am hoping there is something to help with flies and mosquitoes also. Is there a remedy for this?
The only method I know of actually keeping bugs off is to use essential oils.
Thanks for this post. We have no see ums in the summer here at 7400′ in NM and I’m a gardener who appeals to them. In a group of women only 2 of us were bothered. The bites are horrible. I do use a bug repellent I made with essential oils but I generally use it on exposed skin and they seem to prefer under or at the edge of clothing.
Would this remedy be helpful for itching caused by unknown reasons? My husband has a patch of area on his back that has been driving him nuts for over a week. There are no bites, no bumps, no discoloration even. We’ve tried herbal salves topically, nothing is working. He says it itches and feels like it’s burning. Thanks!
Ledum would not be indicated because its usually related to insect bites. Arsenicum is not. Should you remain perplexed, consider my course titled “Skin; the Ugly Truth”.
Where are the remedy cards? I don’t see them.
Would it work for flea bites? They just love me.
yes
I thought that the remedy for mosquito bites was Apis and Ledum for bees. Maybe both are effective.
There are many homeopathic medicines that can be chosen for ailments for insect bites. These are the two most noteworthy.
I always keep Ledum on hand for spider bites, good to know about Arsenicum, thanks.