healingways COOL AID
Remedies for Summer Bummers by Maureen Healy
Don’t let potential summer ailments sideline the fun. Be prepared with this all-natural first-aid kit.
Summer bummer: Dehydration To the rescue: Coconut water
When feeling the heat, reach for a tropical treat. “Pure coconut water is like natural Gatorade,” says Janet Zand, an Oriental medicine doctor, certified acupuncturist and co-author of Smart Medicine for Healthier Living. “It pro- vides plenty of electrolytes and miner- als that regulate body systems and help keep fluid levels in balance.” Bonus: This natural, low-calorie
beverage hydrates you without the sweeteners, preservatives and artificial flavors found in most sports drinks— making it a great post-workout thirst quencher. How to use: Drink 11 ounces of
coconut water as soon as you begin to feel parched; it will offer the same short- term benefit as drinking a liter of water and eating a banana. Note: This isn’t a substitute for drinking enough H2
key to staying hydrated is water, water, water,” says Zand. “And don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink it.”
Summer bummer: Overheating To the rescue: Rose water
Made by steam-distilling flowers, rose water is the go-to remedy when you’re feeling overheated, says Margi Flint, a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, founder of EarthSong Herbals, in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and adjunct professor at Tufts Univer- sity School of Medicine. “Herbs have energetic properties; some are heating, some are cooling and some are neu-
20 Knoxville
tral,” she explains. “Rose water is very cooling.”
Bonus: Rose water smells terrific
and also makes a great facial toner. How to use: Put a few drops of
organic, food grade rose water into a cup of water and drink it; or add rose water to a spray bottle filled with regu- lar water and spritz yourself as often as you like. You can also use rose water to create a cold compress—douse a washcloth and put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to make it cool to the touch—and apply it to the back of the neck or wrists.
Summer bummer: Poison ivy To the rescue: Homeopathic Rhus tox
Urushiol—the oily sap produced by poison ivy and its cousins, poison oak
O. “The
and poison sumac—triggers contact dermatitis, an itchy and oozy rash. Topi- cal treatments can actually spread the noxious oil around; so instead, heal the rash from within. “Homeopathy works on the principle that like-cures-like,” explains Zand. “Rhus tox is homeopath- ic poison ivy.” How to use: Allow two to three
tablets to dissolve in your mouth every two hours until symptoms are relieved.
Summer bummer: Indigestion To the rescue: Nux vomica
If you overindulged at a summertime shindig, you might turn to the clas- sic homeopathic cure for gluttony. “Nux vomica is good if you’ve eaten too many fatty foods or had too much alcohol and the result is nausea or gas,” says Zand. How to use: Dissolve five pellets in
your mouth 20 minutes after eating and drinking, then repeat two to three times until symptoms are resolved.
Summer bummer: Sunburn To the rescue: Lavender essential oil
“Lavender is the best thing to apply right after a sunburn,” says Margo Marrone, author of The Or- ganic Pharmacy. “It contains linalool, a natural antiseptic
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