Ledum Palustre

A northern bog shrub, traditionally used in homoeopathy for puncture wounds and bites, and for gouty pains that start in the feet and rise upwards.

Ledum palustre, now classed as Rhododendron tomentosum, is marsh tea or wild rosemary, a small, strongly scented evergreen shrub of peat bogs across northern Europe, Asia and North America. Its narrow leaves have rusty wool underneath. The plant contains toxic oils; homoeopathy uses it only in specially prepared form.

Homoeopaths traditionally use it for puncture wounds, insect stings and bites, especially when the area feels cold yet is eased by cold. It is also a well-known remedy for gouty and rheumatic pain that begins in the small joints of the feet and works upwards, with swollen, hot but pale joints that are worse from the warmth of the bed.

• Insect bites and stings
• Puncture wounds
• Gouty joint pain
• Pain in small joints
• Bruising