It’s summer time and this means more time outside with an increased likelihood of minor first aid issues such as bug bites and sunburns.  Let’s talk about some natural first aid remedies that you can use to take care of most of summer’s little woe’s.

Sun burns: Normally, on freshly cooked pink lobster you would drizzle butter and garlic; when we become as red as these crustaceans it could be quite serious.  It doesn’t take long to burn so it is important to be proactive with adequate sunscreen.  If you do find yourself with pink/red, hot, dry skin then break off a leaf of an Aloe vera plant and spread the soothing gel on your skin. If you don’t have an Aloe vera plant, you can find some Aloe at your neighbourhood pharmacy, just try to find one as pure as possible. At your local health food store you can probably find homeopathic Cantharis 30C which is great for burns that feel stingy or are swollen.  Remember to drink lots of water to rehydrate yourself.  Vitamin E oil can also be applied topically and zinc can be taken internally.  If your sunburn blisters or you feel nauseous or you have a fever or chills, you should probably seek medical attention.

Heat Exhaustion: This is another concern on hot summer days, especially when you’re really active and you have lost water.  You might be dehydrated if you’re suffering from headaches, dizziness or blurred vision.   Again, drink lots of water and it may be important to replace electrolytes.  Try 1 tsp of sea salt in 1 L of water.  Anything beyond mild dehydration is considered serious and should be treated medically. Shock might occur and its tell tale signs are cold, clammy skin, shallow breathing, rapid pulse, cramps, dilated pupils, unconsciousness and vomiting.  Move out of the heat and elevate the feet above the head to encourage blood flow to the heart and brain.  The most severe form of heat exhaustion is called heat stroke when the body can no longer regulate it’s temperature via sweating and then it heats up very quickly. You can support your body with homeopathic Bryonia alba (you have a severe headache, nausea and a huge thirst) or Belladonna (throbbing headache, red face with dilated pupils) until medical attention arrives.

Bugs bites: Mosquito, spider and black fly bites usually respond well to natural first aid treatments.  The area is red and itchy and there may be a risk for infection.  Adequate vitamin C, zinc and protein are important for proper healing.  Bug bites may cause allergic reactions and medical attention may be necessary. Try to prevent getting bitten by wearing protective clothing.  Tea tree and citronella oils might dissuade bugs from landing and biting.  You can apply it directly to your skin or for large areas dilute in a carrier oil such as almond, olive or Castor oil.  If you do get bitten try topically applying tinctures of Witch Hazel or St. John’s Wort.  Homeopathic Apis 30C can be taken if the bite stings, swells and is hot.  Ice or baking soda in water might help reduce the pain.

Poison Ivy/Oak: Contact with these plants can cause varying degrees of allergic reaction but symptoms usually appear as a red, itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters.  These will appear a few hours to a few days after exposure and will last up to 4 weeks.  Again, note that some allergic reactions might be severe and require medical attention.  Obviously, the best way to treat this uncomfortable reaction is to prevent it. Learn to identify these plants (key: leaves of three).  Wear long clothes to decrease skin exposure when you are walking in the woods.  If you do brush up against one of these plants then avoid touching your clothing and be sure to wash everything separately (you don’t want to transfer the poison to your bedsheets or anything else for that matter!).  First line, natural first aid treatment involves washing the exposed area with soap and water as soon as possible as it takes about 10 minutes for the resin to soak in and cause a reaction.  Apply a cold compress and you can include 1 tbsp of sea salt to reduce itching.  Homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron 30C can be used, especially if the person is chilly and restless.

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the inspiration for this article: Barnes, K. Naturopathic First Aid: a guide to treating minor first aid conditions with natural medicines. CCNM Press; Toronto: 2004.

Naturopathic Medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health.  Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease.  Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.

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In the temperate climate where I am from we have been teased by summer’s arrival for several weeks.  It is right around the corner, so it’s time to go over some healthy summer tips to stay well over the next few months.

There are several factors that pop up in the summer that might disrupt our normal routine.  There are vacations, patios, barbecues and weddings that make us feel like we’ve fallen “off track”.  In addition to the social pressures, there are natural phenomenon that can affect us as well: change in daylight hours, bugs, hot weather and sun exposure.  Not that any of these things are bad as most them are likely to make us quite happy.  Unfortunately, too much of anything can take its toll on your health.

Some healthy summer tips:

Stay hydrated: Water is the most important fluid you can put in your body.  Your body is made up of anywhere from 60-90% water.  You lose water when you sweat, which of course, you do more of in the hot summer months.  Carry around a water bottle with you (make sure that it is bisphenyl A free) and make sure you actually drink from it.  On the patio when you’re having a drink with some friends after work be sure to ask for a glass of water as well.  Alcohol is a diuretic so it can be quite dehydrating.  For every alcoholic drink you have try to drink a glass of water to help your body replenish this vital fluid.  When my patients tell me they don’t like to drink water because they find it boring, I tell them to flavor it up with some freshly squeezed lemon or a scoop of a health greens powder.  That way you’re getting nutrients as well as the refreshing water!

Sunscreen: We’ve heard this time and time again, however, it really cannot be emphasized enough.  It is important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays which over time can accumulate and cause permanent changes in your skin in the form of spots, wrinkles and, of course, cancer.  Ultraviolet rays can even penetrate clouds so be sure to apply your favorite sunscreen even on overcast days.

Sleep: Adults in North America are chronically under slept and breezy summer nights can exacerbate this. There are several thing about summer that tempt us to stay up later.  The sun is sleeping less in the summer but this doesn’t mean that you should sleep less.  Light of any amount can decrease melatonin production and this, in turn, can prevent deep and restorative sleeps that your body needs to grow and rejuvenate its tissues. It is important to sleep in a completely dark room.  Make sure your blinds are closed and the drapes are pulled.  Try sleeping with an eye mask and do your best to maintain a steady sleep routine.

Exercise: People often take up more activity in the summer as they are inspired by the warm weather.  If you’re starting an exercise program for the first time be sure to ask your doctor for a check up or a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) to make sure you’re fit to get more fit.  Often, walking is a great start for people who want to become more active.  If you stay with it then it won’t be long before your body will crave more rigorous activity.  Regardless of your physical activity level remember to drink lots of water and stretch before you exercise.  Always warm up for about 5-10 minutes before you engage in more rigorous activity.  This primes the muscles to be more efficient and prevents injury!

Fresh food: Something wonderful about summer is that it is fairly easy to eat healthy, fresh foods that are locally grown.  Check out your local farmers market for in season fruits and vegetables.  Its a great way to support the local economy and support the health of your body.  When you’re hanging out on a patio, choose salad instead of fries with your burger or better yet, skip the burger all together. Choose fruit instead of ice cream for dessert.  Invest in your own ice cream maker so you can make your own healthy frozen treats. Take a berry picking trip with some friends.  You get to be outside all day and afterwards you have delicious and nutritious goodies to stash away in your freezer.  Blend some berries or other fruit with a bit of water and freeze in ice cube trays or popsicle holders to have a healthy, cool snack.  There are lots of ways to stay relatively sugar free in the summer!!  Be the person to bring the veggie platter to the barbecue pot luck.  You chuckle, but you also know they are always eaten up!

Those are some basic healthy summer tips.  Ask your Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health professional about specifics on how you and your family can have a healthy and happy summer.

Naturopathic Medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health.  Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease.  Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.