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Natural Remedies for a Safe and Healthy Summer

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July 26, 2012

It’s summer and the kids are outside playing for long periods at a time. You’ve covered them in sunscreen and they are wearing their sunhats, but sunburn is just one of the myriad of things that you have to worry about during this season. Summer is also the time when mosquitoes and other stinging bugs abound. Bees, wasps and ants love the warmth of the summer sun too. The good news is that you can safely treat yourself at home with products that you probably already have in your pantry or medicine cabinet. Here are a few remedies using things that you can find around the house to help soothe all your summertime stings, aches and bruises.

Baking Soda

Great for bee stings and mosquito bites. Just make a thick paste with a little water and cover the sting. This was a life saver when my son came in from playing outside with four bees inside his t-shirt. I was able to quickly reach into my pantry for some baking soda. If your child is allergic to bee stings, always have your Epi pen handy or call 911 immediately.

Honey

Heals wounds naturally. Raw honey is excellent for drawing out poisons from bites and stings. Raw honey also acts as a natural antibiotic so it kills germs directly. Manuka Honey in particular is clinically proven to be a natural antimicrobial. Just apply the honey directly to the skin and let it work its magic.

Honey is also great for any burns you might get roasting marshmallows by the campfire. Just apply slightly warm honey to the minor burn or wound and cover lightly with a gauze dressing that should be changed daily. See your doctor if your burn or wound is accompanied by pain, fever or swelling.

Oatmeal

Excellent sunburn remedy. More than just a beauty treatment, oatmeal is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps soothe stinging sunburn naturally. It can also provide relief from poison ivy. Take regular, unflavored oatmeal and grind it in your food processor to a fine powder that should dissolve relatively easily in a glass of water. Pour into your bathtub of warm water. Soak in it for at least 15 minutes.

Vinegar

Vinegar is also good for treating bee and wasp stings and mosquito bites. Simply apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to the affected area.

Vinegar can also be used to treat those summer heat induced nosebleeds. Soak a cotton ball in pure apple cider vinegar. Lay your child down with their head back and place it in the bleeding nostril. This helps stop the bleeding quicker. A cold ice pack to the head is also a good remedy.

To help prevent or lessen the incidence of stings and bites, check around your backyard for hives or any stagnant water that may be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Show your kids how to identify poison ivy and poison oak. Use fragrance-free skin products that are less likely to appeal to insects that sting and don’t forget that sunscreen. Keep your pantry well stocked with these simple home remedies and enjoy your summer.

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