THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF HOMEOPATHIC DESERT LOCUST

The scientific name and remedy name is Schistocerca Gregaria.

Locusts are classified as insects.

This is not a widely prescribed remedy and I am grateful to one of my patients for drawing my attention to it.

LOCUST CHARACTERISTICS

Locusts are associated with immense destructive power; they are mentioned in the Bible as one of the seven plagues of Egypt. They can form swarms of many billions of individuals and can completely destroy vegetation over an enormous area.

When swarming, the insects are vulnerable to many predators.

It is interesting to note that locusts only gather in huge swarms when conditions are favourable enough for them to proliferate. At other times, they are in fact quite solitary; therefore there is no in-between state: they either live in a solitary way or gather in swarms.

LOCUSTS IN HOMEOPATHY

Locusts belong to the animal kingdom and are classed as insects.

In homeopathy, the animal kingdom has the following themes:

-survival

-attack/defence

-sexuality

-hierarchy

-physical appearance

-competition

Insects, more specifically, have the following themes:

-frenzied activity/desire to be busy all the time

-fear of poverty (psoric theme), hence the constant activity, strong work ethic

-sexual attraction

-bright colours

-aggression/defence

-short temperament

LOCUST PROVING

The first proving of this remedy was done at The School of Homeopathy in 2007, organized by Misha Norland and Peter Fraser. You can find the whole proving results on this link.

The main themes that emerged from that proving were:

-buzzing, frenzied activity

-pent up energy

-fear of insects

-irritability

-sexual tension

-low self-esteem

-feeling part of a group or outsider

-feeling of being alone in the world

-desire for bright colours

On the physical side, this remedy has an affinity with eyes and symptoms of itchiness and stinging sensation.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER INSECT REMEDIES: APIS AND CANTHARIS

Apis is very similar to Locust: bees are famous for being busy (“busy bee”), there is impatience, irritability, the person is in a hurry and wants to get things done. Bright colours play a big part too, appearance and the need to feel sexually attractive. This remedy is used for skin conditions: swelling with heat, after insect bites, allergic reactions with skin rash, intolerable itching; there is an affinity with eyes: conjunctivitis, styes. Itching and stinging sensation during urination, good remedy for UTI. Apis is always better for cold applications and cold drinks. Burning and heat are the sensations, together with itching.

Apis is more irritable than depressed, low self-esteem is not part of the remedy picture. There is more jealousy and competitiveness, a tendency to compare oneself to others on physical appearance (women noticing when other women are younger/prettier/better dressed and so on).

Cantharis is considered a “small remedy” and it is typically prescribed in cases of UTI, where the symptoms are: unbearable burning during urination. Burning  is the main sensation, which makes the individual very irritable and hyperactive. It is also a useful remedy for burns or sun-burn.

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO PRESCRIBE LOCUST REMEDY?

After reading the proving of Locust from 2007, I am left with the impression that this remedy is very similar to other insect remedies. Skin conditions are not mentioned in that proving. Reading that proving would not have helped me much in prescribing.

Homeopath Jonathan Hardy published an article on a Locust case in 2013 on Interhomeopathy

As always, it is only when seeing a remedy in action that we can see the nuances of the remedy picture.