Ledum Tea, also known as the Labrador tea, is widely used in homeopathic medicine to prevent infection. It is also used for healing of bruises, puncture wounds, cuts, grazes, and scrapes. It can treat insect stings and animal bites. It is also useful for the black eye and other eye injuries.
The uses of Ledum include the treatment of stiff joints, especially when the pain begins in the feet. The use of Ledum for Lyme disease treatment is a natural remedy in use since 1995. There are numerous anecdotal reports of its success in treating this painful disease (1).
Ledum essential oil uses include the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. Using Ledum for tick bites is a natural remedy. It is highly effective in preventing your chance of getting Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other tick-borne illnesses.
Ledum has many potent constituents that include tannic acid, arbutin, resin, and mineral salts. Its leaves contain 0.3% to 2.5% of volatile oils, including the sesquiterpenes such as ledol, patrol, valeric acid, ericolin, and ericinol. These components contribute to Ledum’s antioxidant and anticancer properties (2).
Benefits of Ledum
1. Promotes healthy skin and reduces inflammation
Being an essential oil packed with anti-inflammatory properties, Ledum heals dry skin and reduces inflammation. From swelling and pain to redness, Ledum can help in reducing the inflammation. You can gently massage Ledum oil since it is an essential oil, however, make sure to mix it with carrier oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. before applying.
How to use it?
- Add eight drops of Ledum, two drops of Tea Tree, five drops of Lavender (French), and five drops of Niaouli, then fill it with Jojoba oil to a 2-ounce squeeze bottle and shake to mix well.
- Apply it to the skin after a bath and gently massage.
[Read: Sesame Oil on Your Skin and Get Healthy Skin]
2. Calm your mind and improves your mood
Studies say that essential oils greatly help with anxiety disorders and improving mood (3). Being concentrated plant extract, Ledum essential oil serves various medical purposes. To relax your mind and improve your mood, you can sit in a bathtub filled with Ledum oil.
How to use it?
- To use it with bath salts, combine four drops of Ledum, one drop of Frankincense Carterii, and two drops of Geranium with one tablespoon of Jojoba oil and 1/2 cup of Epsom salts.
- Add to the bathtub water and soak your body for 30 minutes to rejuvenate.
3. Reduces cough and cold
Due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhaling Ledum oil may help relieve cold symptoms. Although, there aren’t many studies to support this statement, however, according to a study, inhaling the steam of essential oils provided great relief to the participants who had cold and flu(4).
How to use it?
- To make an inhaler, add it to a personal inhaler and inhale as needed.
- You will need five drops of Ledum, five drops of Eucalyptus, and five drops of Niaouli.
[Read: Immune System Diet for Fighting Cold and Flu]
4. Acts as an ointment
You can apply Ledum oil externally to treat scabby dandruff, skin infections, bruises, wounds, and bleeding. It is also believed to act as an antibiotic and an anti-fungal to reduce infection.
How to use it?
- You can mix 2 drops of Ledum essential oil with a tablespoon of unsalted butter to make an ointment.
- Apply it to the affected area twice a day.
- To use Ledum for tick bites, start with Ledum palustre 200c.
- Take the dilution every 3 hours during the first day, followed by twice daily for seven days.
This is then used twice weekly for almost a month and then once per week for another month. Ledum 200 is the premiere cure for any insect bite. If the bite was a few weeks ago, this measure has been very effective so far.
Side effects
It’s highly unsafe to consume Ledum tea if you are pregnant. It might stimulate the uterus and cause abortion. It is also recommended to avoid using Ledum during breast-feeding.
It has been found to worsen stomach or intestinal problems such as gastritis or inflammatory bowel disease. There is some concern that it might slow down the central nervous system if it is combined with anesthesia causing complications during and after surgery.
Ledum has many potent constituents. It has antioxidant and anticancer potential. It can be used to prevent and treat Lyme disease. It also proves useful in preventing other tick-borne illnesses. There is enough evidence that its use can prevent infections and strengthen the immune system. All these properties make it an excellent at-home medicine. However, there are some side effects to its excessive usage, so a doctor must be consulted before taking it.
FAQs
1. Can We Take Ledum on an Empty Stomach?
For better oral absorption, it is generally suggested that homeopathic medicines must be taken with a clean mouth, away from intense flavors (e.g., mint or menthol products). They are usually consumed on an empty stomach unless otherwise suggested.
2. What Is Ledum Palustre 30c?
It is a homeopathic dilution for Ledum. It is used for treating puncture wounds, stings, and bites. Black eyes can also be treated using this dilution.
