Maybe I Should Stay Inside this Summer…

We all deal with patterns that are predictable such as colds and flu in the winter, allergies in both the spring and fall and Brown Recluse spider bites, Poison Ivy, chiggers and ticks, heat stroke and sunburn in the summer.

All this enough to make one want to stay inside on the computer for the summer…but you don’t have to because there are natural remedies to prevent all these pesky scenarios.

Dealing with Brown Recluses 

We are smack dab in the middle of the part of the country where the Brown Recluse spider prefers to live. The ground zero of the bite often turns black as the skin dies. A large red circular welt rings the black center. I’ve seen people take good care of themselves by putting comfrey or plantain directly on the bite secured with a bandage, taking grapefruit seed extract or monolaurin and of course boosting the immune system with astragalus or mushroom extracts. You might even consider using an old-fashioned Black Ointment or grapefruit seed extract ointment right on the wound. Keeping medical care on hand is a good thing.

Dealing with Poisonous Plants 

Suggestions for poison ivy include the homeopathic Rhus Tox. There are many soothing and anti-itch sprays/gels to choose from and simple baking soda as a powder to dry the blisters. A Jewelweed wash found in specially made lye soap is great as it dries the rash and neutralizes the poison ivy oil. No hot baths just warm showers using the special soap is suggested. If the exposure is severe or in a delicate part of the body, prompt medical care is a very good thing along with the natural methods.

Preventing Chigger and Tick Bites 

Preventing chigger and tick bites is key. I found Cactus Juice (also available in store) a couple of years ago and it has proven itself as a great product to be used during crawly and flying biter season. I can’t tell you legally it effectively repels all of those miserable many leggeds. But it is DEET free, completely safe and I don’t get bitten at all when I use it and neither do other people. Chiggers are hard to see mites. The welt is intensely itchy. Wash it and use the same natural products that are used for tick bites such as plantain ointment. If you get a bull’s eye pattern, see a healthcare provider right away. Medical treatment is complementary to the choice of natural products for tick born diseases.

Preventing Heat Stroke & Sunburn 

Summer can be very hot so heat stroke is possible. Avoiding heat stroke is far better than having it so stay in the shade, under fans or air conditioning keeping activity low during the worst of the heat. Drink plenty of fluids such as green tea (add mint to perk it up) to hydrate and reduce your chance of sunburn (yes, enough green tea consumed can reduce sunburn). Interestingly, supplementing daily with 800 micrograms (mcg) or more of folic acid may reduce the awful incidence of heat stroke according to researchers at Penn State. Supplementing with a multimineral supplement is a good thing, too.

So don’t let these things prevent you from enjoying your summer and having a great time out in nature! We have plenty of nature all around us in Arkansas, and with a little preparation and natural remedies, you can painlessly enjoy it all!

In good health,

 Dr. Fain