Inspired by last week’s post about
natural insect repellents, I thought we could talk about some other homemade
and natural remedies and products. We are exposed to enough chemicals in life
that sometimes it’s nice to just use a couple things from nature to change your
situation!
Sunburn
Sunburn is not only a painful
reminder of how much fun we had, but can also be a significant health problem,
both after it occurs and down the road. If it is a severe sunburn that looks
like a traditional burn or is accompanied by dizziness, headache, or
unconsciousness, seek medical attention immediately! But to ease the current
pain, here is a couple of tips. Stand in a cool shower for about ten minutes.
If you have some chamomile tea laying around, brew a cup and wait until it
cools, then dab to burnt areas. Just like with traditional burns, apply aloe
vera gel works well. You can either use an aloe plant if you have one or go to
the store and get after-burn gel. Applying lavender oil to the burns will also
work to ease healing, but only a drop or two is necessary. Drink plenty of
water both in the sun and after a burn. You can also both ingest arnica and
apply topically. Stay out of the sun for awhile after being burnt to allow
healing time for your skin.
Heat Rash
Heat rash is an uncomfortable, itchy
condition that can happen when our sweat glands are blocked. The best way to
avoid it is to limit exposure to heat and humidity. Wear light, cotton clothing
and expose the affected areas to air. If you experience heat rash, dabbing the
cool chamomile tea on the areas can help. You can also create a mixture of four
lavender drops and one cup of baking soda and add it to a tepid bath.
Swimmer’s Ear
If you know you are prone to
swimmer’s ear, using ear plugs can be a life saver, as well as avoiding total
body immersion in the water for extended periods of time. Mullein oil is specifically for
middle-ear infections and it’s best to use it after swimming to avoid further
complications. Garlic oil infusion can also be used for acute infections.
Mosquito
Bites
If you
failed to use our tips from last week on deterring the mosquitoes, you are
probably in an itchy situation! Lavender oil will ease the itching and swelling
of the bites. Tea tree oil can also be used to avoid infection. Aloe vera gel
will cool and soothe the redness. If you have scratched a bite and it left a
scar, use vitamin E oil directly on the spot. Emu oil can also reduce the
appearance of scarring and as a bonus works as a moisturizer and gives
arthritis relief.
Car
Sickness
Long car
trips can be a staple of a family’s summer vacation, especially with
skyrocketing air travel costs. But if you have a member who doesn’t handle the
road trip well, this can be unpleasant for everyone involved. Ginger has long
been noted for its anti-nausea properties. Take a ginger tablet before getting
in the car and every few hours during the trip to ward off the nausea.
Crystallized ginger candy can also be used. The ginger will ward off the nausea
and the sugar will keep blood sugar levels elevated.
Bonus!
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