Ledum, sometimes called marsh tea, can be found in bogs across northern Europe, Canada, and the United States. The herb has an antiseptic smell, and its upper branches are covered with a coat of tiny brown hairs. These may have given ledum its name; in Greek, ledos means "woolly robe." Once used in Scandinavia for insect control, ledum has also served as a tea substitute and replaced hops in beer, although over consumption has resulted in dizziness and a splitting headache-even before the hangover. Homeopathic practitioners consider dilute doses of Ledum helpful for conditions that may be accompanied by signs of infection or inflammation. The homeopathic remedy is prepared from the whole plant, which is gathered, dried, and crushed to a powder. This is diluted to nontoxic levels in a water-and-alcohol mix. Ledum helps to prevent infection and is an important first-aid remedy, which is taken internally. It. is especially useful for acute complaints such as insect stings, black eyes, and other eye injuries, cuts and grazes and puncture wounds. Ledum is effective for injuries or stings where there is severe bruising, with puffy, purplish skin and stinging pain. Ledum is also given for the following: rheumatic pain that starts in the feet and moves upward; stiff, painful joints where the person feels hot inside but the affected limb is cold to the touch and is relieved by cold compresses; pain in the balls of the big toes due to gout; and painful swollen, and stiff tendons. When ill, people who need this remedy suffer night sweats and throw off the bedclothes. Their feet and ankles may feel intensely itchy. They are prone to sprained ankles and may feel very angry, impatient, timid, and anxious, and prefer to be left alone.