Are you a magnet for mosquitos? Then Ledum palustre is a bug bite remedy you need to know. This homeopathic medicine is prepared from a fragrant shrub native to North America. Learn more about this medicine that you won’t want to be without during summer.
First Aid Skin Relief
Ledum palustre can help with the telltale symptoms of bug bites. It relieves itching and swelling from insect bites, especially when taken at times of exposure.* Mosquitos tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, so you’ll want to have it handy when heading into mosquito-dense areas.
Ledum homeopathic remedy is also very good for blows and bruises (especially around the eyes or hands), as well as small puncture wounds from nails or thorns.*
Various homeopathic dilutions, such as 6C or 30C, are made with the same active ingredient prepared from the leafy twigs of the Ledum palustre shrub, whose scientific name has been updated to Ledum groenlandicum and Rhododendron tomentosum.
A Boggy Botanical
This species of Ledum is part of the Rhododendron family. It has similar leathery foliage with brownish undersides and clustered bell-shaped blossoms that have long, prominent stamens. In the herbal and gardening worlds, it’s commonly known as the “Labrador tea plant.” That’s because it’s native to the wet, boggy woodlands of Labrador, Canada, where pioneers infused its leaves into herbal teas. During the American Revolution, this drink was especially prevalent when British teas were boycotted. The leaves are still used today as a substitute for bay leaf and ground up into marinades for meat.
Plants of the genus Ledum also have medicinal applications. Natives in the Pacific Northwest valued it as a blood purifier and treatment for rheumatism. Infusions were used to soothe itchy rashes from poison ivy, sores, and lice. Interestingly enough, essential oils from the Ledum plant are now being studied for their action on repelling mosquitos.
Learn more about homeopathic Boiron Ledum palustre from pharmacist Gary Kracoff, NMD, R.Ph, in this video.
*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.