The minor accidents and annoyances in life that happen often can be easily taken care of with natural products from your kitchen or bathroom shelves. No ordering on line or running to the store needed. Of course if they don’t work well enough or the condition is too serious the next step is to try pharmaceuticals and If anything seems serious a doctor or urgent cares consult is always the best.
Natural Remedies
Bug bites-Toothpaste is a great remedy to help stop the itch of bug bites. Actual paste is more effective than gel. Apply a thin layer of toothpaste over the bite and let it dry. If you don’t have any toothpaste handy you can use baking soda. Make the baking soda into a paste by mixing it with water. Put a thin layer over the bite and let it dry. Toothpaste and Baking Soda both can stop the itch from most bites. If you’ve already scratched the bite open and it has a scab this approach shouldn’t be used. This could lead to an infection of an open wound.
Sun Burn– Best to avoid sunburn if possible by covering up and/or using sun screen. If you do get sunburned plain yogurt is a wonderful remedy. Put it over the burnt area and allow it to dry. The skin will cool quickly. Cucumber slices also work to cool down burned areas.
Upset stomachs– Black tea, made as strong as you can tolerate to drink , has a good broad spectrum anti microbial effect. Limit your diet to something simple like the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apple sauce , Toast) and have a cup of strong black tea 4-6 times a day, no sugar. Strong green tea can also work. The condition should clear within 48 hours.
Fresh mint tea is good to settle your stomach if you have burning regurgitation and/or a sense of heaviness and bloating after a meal. Saurkraute juice helps to facilitate digestion.
Itchy red eyes. A compress made out of blacks or green tea bags will help relieve these symptoms. Make a strong cup of tea using two tea bags. Remove the bags from the cup , gently squeeze them, and let them cool on a clean plate to the point where they are easily picked up with your fingers. Squeeze the bag again to remove enough liquid so it wont drain down your face. Lie down, close your eyes, and place 1 bag over each eye for 10-20 minutes. Stop if it feels like symptoms are getting worse ( this is rare) and rinse the area with cool water when you are done.
Hydrating- Fresh watermelon is one of the best things you can consume to hydrate. You can either eat chunks of it sprinkled with a little bit of salt or you can make watermelon juice.
If the watermelon is organic and you have a strong blender or juicer you can cut the whole melon into chunks ( seeds and rind included) after you have washed it and then blend it. If not you can use just the fruit meat. Put in ice cubes if you want to cool it down, and a pinch of salt. You can either sip on this drink to maintain hydration or chug it to rehydrate quickly. Fresh mint leaves can be added for flavor.
Another excellent way to hydrate is to drink vegetable broth . To make broth chunk cut about 2 cups each of cabbage and zuchiini, about a cup of carrots, and a bunch of parsley. Put the veggies in a 2 quart sauce pan. Cover with approximately six cups of water Cover the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook at a simmer for 20 minutes. The broth can be strained and drank at this point or you can let the veggies stay in the pot, leave the pot standing on stove top until it cools to room temp and then put it in the fridge for 24 hours. The longer the broth soaks the more minerals are pulled out of the vegetables.
When you are ready strain off the liquid and dispose of the veggies. You can keep the liquid in the fridge tightly covered for 4-5 days or freeze it in single servings ( ice cube trays, tempered glass jars, plastic baggies can all work) When you are ready to drink it you can add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and/or any of the following salt, fish sauce, soy sauce, herbs or spices…or you can drink it straight. It’s very tasty!
This is not formal medical advice. If the problem is severe or does not improve within 48 hours please get help from a medical professional.