Spotlight on... Apis 🐝

The second remedy we will look at is Apis - this is prepared homeopathically from a female honeybee.

Apis is the number 1 remedy to treat conditions that involve swelling, such as insect bites, hives, allergies and oedema. Everyone knows the symptoms of a bee sting - burning, stinging, redness and inflammation. These are the main guiding indications for the use of Apis, whether from infection, allergy or inflammatory causes. Characteristically, the swelling is so marked that it gives the impression of a balloon ready to burst.

The onset of symptoms requiring Apis will usually be sudden, and the person can feel quite intense fear, restlessness and anxiety.

They will probably also be irritable.

There is an absence of thirst and there will be an aggravation from warmth and an amelioration from cold.

So if you have swollen eyes, or an allergic reaction to an insect bite, for example - where the swelling is red and very puffy - you might find Apis to be a good choice of remedy.

Apis is less useful if the complaint feels better for a warm compress, or if the patient is very thirsty.

Think swelling, redness, stinging, irritability, absence of thirst, complaints come on rapidly.

But remember, every symptom doesn't have to be present for the remedy to be chosen.