Treating Summertime Injuries Naturally

Summer brings warm weather, no school, and lots of time to be outside. While the sun energizes us at its peak and the outdoors beckons us with her call, the joys of summer can sometimes take a turn. Cuts, scrapes, bug bites, and sunburns can dampen sunny summer days, but knowing how to treat them with natural remedies can get you back to summer fun in no time.

CUTS AND SCRAPES

From grazing your skin across a limb on a hike to accidentally nicking yourself with a knife while cooking, minor cuts and scrapes are inevitable. But did you know that the items in your pantry can help you heal? There are many foods and essential oils that can speed up the healing process.

First, before you do anything else, it is critical to assess and clean any wound. If it is more than a minor cut, apply compression and go immediately to the nearest medical clinic. For all minor cuts and scrapes, wash the skin with cool water and antibacterial soap in order to get rid of any dirt or bacteria.

After that, grab the turmeric, yarrow, or garlic to help stop the bleeding. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic. When it is applied to a bleeding cut or scrape, it causes it to clot immediately. Don’t have any turmeric on hand, then reach for a garlic clove. Crushed garlic cloves will also stop bleeding and as a bonus, they also help with pain. If you’re out hiking and don’t have access to your kitchen, look around for some flowering yarrow. Pick the flowers and leaves, rub them together, and apply it directly to the wound. Not only does flowering yarrow stop bleeding, but it also soothes the skin and reduces inflammation.

Now that the bleeding is under control, apply a thin layer of pure raw honey to help prevent infection before bandaging. Or consider applying coconut oil to an open wound in order to reduce scarring and prevent infection. During the healing process, a chamomile tea bag can be placed against the cut or scrape to help increase the rate of healing. Chamomile helps the skin regenerate fresh tissue.

BUG BITES

The warm days of summer bring out the peskiest bugs. Many people burn citronella candles to keep the insects at bay, but did you know that citronella can also be applied to bug bites? It’s an antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties are great for the skin, especially after a bite. You can also apply essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary, and lavender to reduce the pain, prevent infection, and reduce the swelling. But if you don’t have any essential oils on hand, look for some baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Mixed together these two ingredients and apply it to the bite in order to neutralize the pH levels of the irritated area and relieve itchiness. Don’t have these ingredients on hand? Then use salt! Make a paste with salt and water, apply it to the bite and it can help reduce the inflammation of a bite.

SUNBURNS

Few survive the summer without getting burned by the sun. Too much exposure to the sun can have devastating effects on our delicate skin. Next time your skin gets burned, consider one of these natural remedies.

Baths

Add a few drops of chamomile or lavender essential oil to a warm bath in order to relieve the stinging and pain of a sunburn. For itchy burns, soak in an oatmeal bath. Or promote healing through putting one cup of apple cider vinegar in the bath to balance pH levels of sunburnt skin. Diminish the redness and irritation by adding two cups of baking soda to the bath. Most importantly, avoid any perfumed soaps as they can dry out already damaged skin and make the situation even worse.

Herbs and Oils

The number one herb for sunburnt skin is aloe vera. Inside this succulent is a clear gel that heals and moisturizes when applied to the skin. It is great to use right away or when skin begins to peel. A few drops of lavender added to coconut oil can be gently rubbed on the sunburn to help reduce pain and swelling. Be sure to use it in small amounts! The tannic acid in black tea can also cool a sunburn by drawing out heat and restoring the pH balance. Applying witch hazel to a sunburn helps reduce inflammation and create a cooling sensation on the skin.

Food and Vitamins

If you don’t have time for a bath and you don’t have any herbs or essential oils on hand, never fear! You can use common grocery store foods and vitamins to help your sunburn heal. Applying cool milk to a sunburn creates a filmy protein layer to ease the discomfort. Want to kick it up a notch – rub plain, Greek yogurt all over the burn to take away the pain and reduce redness. Reach into your fridge and grab the cucumbers. Blend them into a mash and apply it to a sunburn to relieve pain and stop any infection. If you’re out of cucumbers, use potatoes. Boil, mash, and cool potatoes, then apply to the skin and let the starch draw out the heat and speed up healing. As a sunburn heals, rub Vitamin E onto the skin in order to prevent scarring, decrease inflammation, and helps your immune system focus on healing.

These are just a few ways to treat common summertime injuries with natural methods. They are a great way to use what you have at home to heal your body. Plus, they are perfect for those of us on a budget because most items can already be found in our kitchens. Using these natural remedies will have you back to normal in no time so that you can continue to enjoy your summer. Be sure to check your cabinets and stock up on any items that might be missing so that you are prepared!