Clinical Cases

Fire Ant Bites! (Another Picture Case)

lewis ants dec image
Written by Elaine Lewis

Once again, more pictorial proof that homeopathy works!

Elaine, my son was playing with a stick covered with fire ants.

That’s almost always a mistake!

Help!!!

Please fill out the Questionnaire.

Questionnaire

Name: “Preston”

Age: 10

Male or Female: male

Weight: 60 lb

Height: 4′ 6″

Date: 12/2/13

Email Address:

1. Describe the complaint:

“Preston” was playing outside yesterday morning while choir rehearsal was going on. He picked up a stick covered in fire ants which bit his hand in several places. It initially had white hives at the individual bite marks, then over the next hour began to swell the whole hand. The parish secretary made a compress of vanilla extract and baking soda which helped somewhat. On our way home we picked up Apis Mellifica 30 and administered a dry dose which helped with pain, then water doses thereafter. It’s been palliating the pain but the swelling has only been getting worse!

2. Etiology–

Fire Ant bites; yesterday morning.

3. Sensation–

Piercing, burning, and stinging pains in the hand.

4. Appearance–

Swollen! His hand looks like a melon. Or at least a grapefruit. I’ll attach pictures. Skin is red, shiny, and warm to touch.

5. Location–where on the body is your complaint located?

Right hand.

6. Modalities– (what makes it better or worse?)

Better for bathing hand in cold water. Reduces pain, but not swelling. Also better after eating. Possibly worse for heat.

7. Concomitants — (means “anything else?”)

Remarkably, nothing. He is unusually cooperative and not suffering from any other ailments, including seasonal allergies.

8. Discharges–

None.

9. Generals–

“I’m in pain.” Uttered with some anguish and concern that we don’t comprehend.

10. The mentals–

More cooperative than usual. Mostly whining (understandably) about how much he hurts. He seems worried.

11. What have you been saying?

“My hand hurts.” “I want quiet. “

12. What are you doing?

At the moment, he’s watching a video (video game commentary). He’s been laying down listening to music (classical), watched the fish tank at the doctor’s office (well-child check for baby. )

13. Describe your thirst and appetite–

Both food and drinks, wants cold & sweet, hot & sweet, or hot & spicy.

14. Fever?

None. Hand is very warm though.

15. Sweating?

None.

16. Odors?

None.

17. What is most striking, peculiar or identifying about your condition?

Hot, swollen, shiny hand.

18. Is there a diagnosis?

Ant bite.

19. Describe your energy–

Quiet and cooperative.

20. What does your tongue look like? (color/coating/pattern, crack/s, shape, etc.)

White center, pink edges, some cracks.

21. If you have a cough, please tell what it sounds like.

None.

22. This question only applies to complaints of a more chronic nature: I need to know what you eat, drink and “take”.

Don’t think this applies for the most part. He doesn’t take anything but vitamins and omega-3s. Appetite and thirst mostly undisturbed from normal.

****

I’m attaching pictures of hand. One front and back, plus a comparison with the left hand.

Thanks,

Preston’s mom

_____________

Did you try Ledum yet?

I’ll try it now.

What’s the verdict on Ledum?

Didn’t work.

Try Cantharis 30C then. It’s an insect, a beetle, it bites, and it has burning pains.

Elaine, after giving him the Cantharis 30c, the pain went away. Within a half hour, he was bending his fingers with much greater ease.

I’ll keep an eye on him tonight and make sure we still have progress. The swelling had reduced enough when I left that three individual bite marks were visible between the index and middle finger alone.

[next day]

Here’s a picture Elaine:

 

Oh yeah, the swelling’s gone way down! Send me one tomorrow too!

[next day]

Elaine, soooooo much better! (see picture below) We’ve redosed about 3 times, using return of pain as a guide. The first photos I sent you were 36 hours after the bites.

How long after he was bitten did it take for the swelling to become what it was in the picture?

4 hours.

And then it just stayed that way until Cantharis was given?

Right.

Here you are: Pain gone, swelling gone.

 

Wow! I can’t tell the difference between one hand and the other!  I do see the bite you mentioned, between the index and middle finger.

All in all, I’d call this a wrap!

___________________________________

Elaine Lewis, D.Hom., C.Hom.

Elaine takes online cases! Write to her at [email protected]

Visit her website: elaineLewis.hpathy.com

About the author

Elaine Lewis

Elaine Lewis, D.Hom., C.Hom.
Elaine is a passionate homeopath, helping people offline as well as online. Contact her at [email protected]
Elaine is a graduate of Robin Murphy's Hahnemann Academy of North America and author of many articles on homeopathy including her monthly feature in the Hpathy ezine, "The Quiz". Visit her website at:
https://elainelewis.hpathy.com/ and TheSilhouettes.org

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