Abstract
Background: Scabies is a contagious parasitic skin disease caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, characterized by intense itching, especially at night, and a typical rash of papules and burrows. It spreads rapidly in crowded conditions and affects all age groups. While conventional treatments involve topical scabicides like permethrin or oral ivermectin, recurrence and drug resistance remain challenges. Homeopathy, based on individualization and the law of similars, offers a holistic approach to treating both the acute condition and the underlying susceptibility.
Objective: To review key homeopathic remedies indicated in the treatment of scabies, using classical materia medica and repertorial references, and to highlight their therapeutic indications, modalities, and scope of action.
Method: This review was compiled from a qualitative analysis of classical homeopathic texts (Boericke, Kent, Clarke, Allen), repertories, and clinical case records. Remedies were selected based on clinical relevance, frequency of use, and symptom correspondence to typical scabies presentations.
Conclusion: Homeopathy offers an individualized, non-toxic approach to scabies management. Remedies such as Sulphur, Psorinum, Sepia, Hepar sulphuris, and Mercurius solubilis have proven efficacy in clinical practice when selected based on the totality of symptoms. A miasmatic understanding, especially of the psoric diathesis, plays a significant role in preventing recurrence and promoting deeper healing.
Keywords: Scabies, Sarcoptes scabiei, Homeopathy, Itching, Skin disease, Materia Medica.
Introduction [1,2}
Scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin to live and lay eggs. The infestation leads to a hypersensitivity reaction marked by intense pruritus (itching), especially at night. Scabies continues to be a significant global health burden, particularly in resource-limited settings. The mite-induced disease spreads rapidly through skin-to-skin contact and leads to severe discomfort due to itching and secondary infections. Conventional treatment involves synthetic chemicals like permethrin or ivermectin. However, resistance and reinfection remain challenges.
Homeopathy, a system of individualized medicine founded by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, aims to stimulate the body’s innate healing mechanisms. Through the application of the Law of Similars and detailed case-taking, homeopathy offers a holistic and side-effect-free method of managing scabies. This article reviews key homeopathic remedies for scabies based on classical materia medica texts, supported by clinical relevance.
Epidemiology: Scabies affects over 200 million people worldwide at any time. It is more prevalent in:
- Crowded living conditions (e.g., institutions, refugee camps)
- Developing countries
- Individuals with weakened immunity or poor hygiene
Transmission:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact
- Sharing of clothing, bedding, or towels
Clinical Features:
- Intense itching, worse at night
- Papules, vesicles, nodules, and burrows, especially in interdigital spaces, wrists, axillae, genitals, and waistline
- Secondary bacterial infection due to scratching
- Crusted scabies in immunocompromised individuals
Methodology: The selection of remedies is based on a review of authoritative homeopathic materia medica sources, including:
- Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura
- Boericke’s Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica
- Clarke’s Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
- Kent’s Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica
- Allen’s Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Homeopathic Approach To Scabies [3]
In homeopathy, scabies is often considered a manifestation of the psoric miasm, representing a deeper systemic imbalance rather than merely a skin infestation. Treatment aims at both eliminating the external expression and removing the internal susceptibility. Homeopathy does not treat the mite directly but works to strengthen the host’s immune response and eliminate the underlying susceptibility. Acute and constitutional remedies are chosen based on the totality of symptoms, including mental, emotional, and physical aspects.
Key Homeopathic Remedies for Scabies [3-8]
- Sulphur
- Constitution is Philosophical, irritable, and lazy.
- It is Antipsoric.
- Unbearable itching, especially at night and from the warmth of bed; scratching until bleeding; dirty-looking skin with offensive Odor.
- Intense itching, worse at night and from the warmth of bed.
- Dirty, unhealthy skin with a tendency to suppuration.
- Aggravation from bathing; offensive body odor.
- History of suppressed eruptions or skin complaints.
- Modalities: Worse from heat, bathing, at night, scratching; better from cold applications.
- Psorinum
- It is a Deep anti-psoric nosode.
- Inveterate cases of scabies with extremely foul-smelling skin eruptions; itching is worse in cold and while undressing.
- Dirty, greasy, foul-smelling skin; sensation as if he never gets clean.
- Dirty-looking skin despite cleanliness.
- Intense itching, especially from warmth.
- Offensive Odor from the body; hypersensitive to cold air.
- Modalities: Worse from cold air, washing, winter; better from warmth.
- Hepar Sulphuris
- Pustular scabies with painful, sensitive skin; eruptions that are extremely tender; tendency to suppuration and secondary infection.
- Scabies with pustular eruptions and a tendency to suppuration.
- Extreme sensitivity to touch and cold.
- Worse from cold air, better from warmth.
- Cases with infected lesions or abscess formation.
- Modalities: Worse from cold, uncovering, touch; better from warmth.
- Sepia Officinalis
- Indifferent, irritable, worn-out individuals, especially women.
- Itching with ring-shaped eruptions, especially in folds of skin; suppressed skin eruptions with internal ailments.
- Skin is dry, itchy, especially in the bends of the knees and elbows.
- Herpetic eruptions and pruritus during menstruation.
- Scabies with brownish pigmentation and indifference to the family.
- Modalities: Worse in the evening, from cold; better with vigorous motion and warmth.
- Mercurius Solubilis
- Profuse perspiration with offensive odor; tendency to glandular enlargement.
- Moist, offensive eruptions with rawness and bleeding; intense night-time itching; secondary infection.
- Moist eruptions with yellow-green discharge; offensive Odor.
- Itching is worse at night and from the warmth of bed.
- Profuse perspiration with foul smell.
- Modalities: Worse at night, warmth of bed, damp weather; better during rest.
- Graphites
- Scabies with thick, crusty eruptions that ooze sticky honey-like discharge; fissured skin; eruptions in skin folds.
- Unhealthy skin is prone to infection and suppuration.
- Modalities: Worse at night, from warmth; better in open air.
- Mezereum
- Violent itching with eruption covered in thick crusts; oozing pus; burning after scratching.
- Crusted scabies and eczematous presentations.
- Modalities: Worse from warmth, night; better in open air.
- Causticum
- Chronic skin eruptions with rawness and soreness; intense itching with burning; skin becomes hard and contracted.
- Recurrent scabies with post-eruption contractures.
- Modalities: Worse in dry, cold winds; better in damp weather.
- Lycopodium Clavatum
- Thin, irritable, prematurely aged individuals.
- Chronic scabies with dryness and scaliness; aggravation from heat; associated digestive complaints.
- Itching eruptions in warm areas like folds of skin.
- Worse between 4–8 p.m. and from the heat.
- Skin complaints with digestive disturbances and flatulence.
- Modalities: Worse 4-8 PM, warm room; better from cool applications.
- Tellurium
- Circular, ring-like eruptions; intolerable itching and burning; offensive odor.
- Cases with ringworm-like scabies.
- Arsenicum album
- Dry, scaly eruptions with intense burning and restlessness.
- Scratching causes bleeding; aggravation after midnight.
- Fear of death, fastidiousness, and anxiety.
- debilitated patients with chronic scabies and concomitant anxiety.
- Also suitable for post-scabetic eczema.
Repertorial Rubrics From Kent’s Repertory [8]:
- Skin – Eruptions – Itching – Night: Sulphur, Psorinum, Mercurius
- Skin – Eruptions – Pustules: Hepar sulph., Arsenicum, Mercurius
- Skin – Eruptions – Scabies: Sulphur, Psorinum, Sepia, Arsenicum
- Generalities – Warmth aggravates: Sulphur, Psorinum
- Mind – Anxiety with skin disease: Arsenicum, Lycopodium
Discussion:
The selection of a homeopathic remedy in scabies is highly individualized. While remedies like Sulphur and Psorinum cover broad miasmatic indications, remedies like Hepar sulph., Mercurius and Arsenicum are useful in pathological or septic stages. Emotional symptoms, modalities, and concomitants guide remedy differentiation. From a miasmatic perspective, scabies is often psoric in origin but may acquire a sycotic or syphilitic layer in chronic or complicated cases. Hence, anti-miasmatic remedies are often required for complete eradication and to prevent recurrences.
Conclusion:
Homeopathy provides a safe, individualized, and effective therapeutic option for the management of scabies, especially when conventional treatments fail or recurrence is common. Remedies such as Sulphur, Psorinum, Hepar sulphuris, and Mercurius solubilis offer deep constitutional action and help address both acute symptoms and chronic susceptibility. A careful analysis of the miasmatic background, totality of symptoms, and the patient’s constitution is essential for long-term resolution. Timely treatment, hygiene education, and avoiding suppression with strong topical agents are key to successful homeopathic management of scabies.
Conflict of interest – None.
Sources of funding – None.
REFERENCE
- Wikipedia contributors. Scabies [Internet]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia; 2025 May 29 [cited 2025 May 30]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scabies&oldid=1292971119
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- Boericke W. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
- Kent JT. Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
- Clarke JH. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
- Allen TF. The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
- Kent JT. Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
Dr. Bhavesh Kumar Bisen, M.D.(Hom)
Associate Professor, Department of Practice of Medicine, Ram Krishna College of Homoeopathy & Medical Sciences, RKDF, University Campus, Bhopal, MP.
Dr. Jayshree Kashyap, M.D.(Hom)
HOD And Professor, Department of Repertory, Ram Krishna College of Homoeopathy & Medical Sciences, RKDF, University Campus, Bhopal, MP.
