FORMICATION

Formication is the feeling of insects crawling across or underneath your skin. The name comes from the Latin word “formica,”which means ant.

Formication is known as a type of paresthesia. Paresthesia happen when you feel sensations on your skin that don’t have a physical cause. Paresthesia can take many forms. These can include burning, tingling, or numbness. With formication, you might also describe the “crawling” sensation as feeling like “pins and needles.” Formication is also called a tactile hallucination. This means that you’re feeling a sensation that has no physical cause.

SYMPTOMS

The main symptom of formication is the sensation of bugs crawling on or underneath your skin. This feeling also causes you to feel itchy. This can cause you to scratch your skin where you feel the sensation, even if there’s no actual cause of the itch.

Constant scratching or picking to satisfy an itch can lead to skin damage and open cuts. These open cuts can get infected and lead to other conditions, such as skin ulcers or open wounds.

Formication can happen at the same time as other symptoms, depending on the underlying cause. Other symptoms can include:

• aches around your entire body
• feeling exhausted
• feeling stiff
• difficulty concentrating (often called “fibro fog” in the case of fibromyalgia)
• shaking in hands or fingers, or tremors
• moving slower over time, a symptom of bradykinesia
• feeling depressed
• feeling angry or agitated

CAUSES

Some conditions that may cause formication include:

• anxiety
• fibromyalgia
• Parkinson’s disease
• diabetic neuropathy
• herpes zoster (shingles)
• Lyme disease
• skin cancer, such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
• perimenopause

In many cases, formication is most common at night.

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms

Few homoeopathic medicine can be thought of in the treatment of formication  are:

secale, rhus tox., spigelia, sepia, platina, nux vom., etc.