There’s a popular protocol for tick bites.

You take a lot of Ledum in a 200C potency.

The recipe calls for one dose every three hours the first day.

Then you take two doses every day for a week.

Then you take twice weekly doses for a month.

The second month you take a dose every week.

For a total of 31 doses, give or take.

No one disputes that Ledum is the remedy for tick bites.

What no one really knows is how much Ledum to take.

The above recipes calls for a lot of Ledum.

Some people will do okay with these repeated doses.

Other people may “prove” the remedy.

This means they express new symptoms, characteristic of the remedy.

Ledum has its own distinct profile.

For instance, someone “proving” Ledum may notice mental symptoms, such as anger or even rage.

They may feel cold.

Parts of their body may feel weak, or even numb.

They may develop shifting rheumatic pains.

Plus a myriad of other potential complaints.

How many doses will result in a proving is anyone’s guess.

Because everyone is different.

Some people can easily take multiple doses of a higher potency remedy.

Others may react after just one dose.

This is why individual prescribing is the ideal.

Individualized care is how homeopathy has been practiced for more than 200 years.

Protocols are a recent addition.

You can read more about protocols versus classical homeopathy here.

However, protocols are not homeopathy, despite the use of potentized remedies.

They were originally developed at a medical clinic in Calcutta, staffed by physicians.

From what I understand remedy reactions are reported to clinic staff.

If you do a protocol on your own…..Well, you’re on your own.

So you need to watch for reactions.

Most homeopaths will say stop taking a remedy if you see new symptoms.

Or there’s an intensification of existing symptoms.

This means the remedy has done its job.

Your body no longer needs it.

Homeopathic Remedies For Tick Bites

So, what’s the best approach if you get a tick bite?

Ledum is the first remedy to consider for puncture wounds, including tick bites.

Some people also take Hypericum, also indicated for puncture wounds.

Hypericum would be indicated if pain radiates from the wound.

Or if you experience sharp shooting pains.

But what potency do you use?

And how many doses?

The good news is that everyone agrees Ledum is the first remedy to consider for puncture wounds.

The bad news is that there’s great debate on optimum dosing.

I wish everything in homeopathy was easier and more clear cut.

But it’s not.

Recently, I asked a group of homeopaths what they recommend for tick bites.

It was impossible to get a consensus.

The answers varied widely.

They ranged from 31 doses of Ledum 200C given over two months to a single dose of Ledum 30C.

The 31 doses were if you followed the popular tick bite protocol.

The one dose used prophylactically is a time-honored homeopathic approach.

This is what I personally do when I have a tick bite.

I take one dose of Ledum and I trust that it works.

However, I’m very sensitive to homeopathic remedies.

So one dose is all I can tolerate.

For my clients who aren’t extremely sensitive to remedies, I typically recommend two or three doses of Ledum 30C for tick bites. (Note that this is not a prescription or medical advice, and everything here is written for informational purposes only. Also, no one can promise that Ledum eliminates the risk of Lyme.)

To me, it makes no sense to hit the body with 31 or more higher-potency doses.

I realize Lyme is nothing to trifle with.

But homeopathic aggravations are also hard on the body, and this is why we try to avoid them.

The idea with homeopathy is to raise (not lower) your vitality.

So your body can better defend itself from pathogens.

Many if not most people will prove a 200C remedy if it’s given 31 times in a row.

Some people don’t tolerate the 200C potency at all.

They may react even after just one or two doses.

Especially if these doses are given dry, as the popular protocol calls for.

Putting remedies in water may help somewhat to mitigate reactions.

Because each time you take a dose you change the potency a little by succussing the container.

(Succuss means you bang the container against the palm of one hand.)

This way, your body is always reading a slightly new potency.

(But sensitive people are still going to aggravate on so many 200C doses, even if they’re given in water.)

The other thing to consider is that people tend to get multiple tick bites in the warmer months.

Especially if they’re outdoors a lot.

So is it wise to hit the body with so many doses of a remedy over two months, only to have to start all over again for another encounter with a tick?

Unfortunately, with no consensus in dosing everyone needs to make their own decisions.

Listen to your body.

Go with your gut instinct.

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