Noseums: homeoprophylaxis and treatment
Noseums, also known as midgies, sandflies, and punkies, are small red bugs that thrive in humid environments that also promote mosquitoes. Like mosquitoes, they are blood-sucking insects, but they are barely visible biting flies, hence the common term “no-see-um.” Members of the family Ceratopogonidae, they leave small red welts or water-filled blisters that itch. Once scratched, they split open and bleed. For most people and animals, these insects are annoying but not dangerous. Some have allergic reactions to the bites. They can infect ruminants such as sheep, goats, bison, and deer with bluetongue virus, a non-zoonotic disease, meaning it is not known to spread to humans.
Homeopathic remedies such as Staphysagria, Ledum palustre, Grindelia robusta, Cedron, and Urtica urens can be used to reduce the frequency and severity of bites from blood-sucking insects such as noseeums. They are non-toxic and do not interact with medications or other preventative topical applications.
Staphysagria: For inflammation that is the result of an insect bite. It can range from redness and swelling to sores with green or yellow pus, hives, or crusty sores with water oozing underneath. Staphysagria has been known since ancient Greece as the “vermin exterminator”. Taken homeopathically, it sends the message to blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes and noseeums that “biting this one could be dangerous” so they can land but then take off again without biting. In the 1960s, HL Trexler demonstrated this in a study that found it to be 90% effective in preventing mosquito bites.
Ledum palustre: For puncture wounds from any insect or object, often causing marked discoloration that lasts long afterward. Swelling, itching, inflammation, red spots, and rash; blisters resembling poison ivy. The anti-tetanus properties are an added bonus of this remedy.
Grindelia robusta: For insect bites that cause itching and burning. The eruptions can be vesicular and/or papular. It may also be effective for poison oak or herpetic rashes and for ulcers with swollen, purplish skin.
Cedron: For nerve disorders that occur at exact periods, this is the most marked feature of this remedy. Antidote the effect of snake bites, as well as insect bites. There may be tremors and numbness of the whole body. Useful in intermittent fever in humid, warm, and swampy areas.
Urtica urens: For itching, burning, red, raised patches. Also for the nettle that worsens every year in the same season. Prickly heat. Raised urticaria with rheumatism. Itchy water-filled blisters.