Homeopathic Support for Summer Adventures

Whether you're relaxing at the beach, gardening, hiking, attending a family picnic, or cheering on your favorite team from the sidelines, sunshine has a way of lifting our spirits and encouraging us to enjoy life a little more.

While sunshine and being outdoors offers many benefits such as supporting healthy vitamin D production, as well as improved physical, emotional, and mental health, too much heat and sun exposure can quickly turn a fun day into an uncomfortable experience.

I can remember being at Seaside, Oregon years ago as a child and seeing a young girl bright red like a well-cooked lobster. Later that day I heard she had been taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion and was being treated for 2^nd degree burns.

That day at the Oregon coast, I learned that even on an overcast day those clouds may block some UV light rays, but 90% of the sun?s UV radiation can still pass through and cause sunburns.

Sunburns, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and overheating are common concerns during the warm summer months, especially when temperatures soar.

Fortunately, homeopathy offers gentle, natural support for many of the discomforts associated with sun and heat exposure.

Before discussing homeopathic remedies though, it's important to remember that prevention is always the best medicine.

A few common-sense ideas can go a long way in reducing your risk of sun-related problems:

• Be sure and stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Use a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
• Seek shade during the hottest hours of the day.
• Take frequent breaks when participating in outdoor activities.
• If you are concerned about apply sunscreens laden with chemicals, consider covering up with lightweight clothing, and look for ?ultraviolet protection factor? labels on the clothing you wear.
• Remember that drinks such as alcohol, energy drinks, and sugary sodas are a terrible combination with extreme heat. They contain high levels of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol and act as diuretics. They drain your body of vital fluids and electrolytes which can lead to severe dehydration.

When combined with common-sense and sun safety practices, a few carefully selected homeopathic remedies can become valuable additions to your summer fun.

Cantharis 30 is a remedy we think of for burns whether it is a sunburn or just touching something hot as we work in the kitchen. If the burn is more severe causing swelling, pain or even blistering, you might consider using a 200 potency.

Along with Cantharis 30, one of the more frequently recommended homeopathic remedies for the effects of excessive sun exposure is Glonoinum (Glonoine) 200.

Glonoinum is often considered when symptoms develop after spending too much time in direct sunlight, particularly when the head feels affected. This is an excellent remedy when suffering from sunstroke.

Typical symptoms indicated for Glonoine use may include:

• Throbbing headaches
• Sensation of heat in the head
• Flushed face
• Dizziness
• Feeling worse from direct sunlight
• Pulsating sensations

A person needing Glonoinum may describe feeling as though their head is about to burst or that every heartbeat is pounding inside their skull.

Belladonna 3 or 30 is another well-known remedy for heat-related complaints. It is often considered when symptoms come on suddenly and intensely.

The person needing Belladonna will often appears flushed, hot, and uncomfortable and may manifest some of the the following additional symptoms:

• Bright red face
• Hot skin
• Throbbing headache
• Sensitivity to light
• Feeling feverish
• Sudden onset of symptoms

Gelsemium 30 or 200 can be considered when getting excessively hot and feeling an overwhelming fatigue, weakness, and heaviness.

The person needing Gelsemium may have the following symptoms:

• Weak
• Drowsy
• Sluggish
• Dizzy
• Mentally foggy

Gelsemium is often the choice when exhaustion is the primary symptom. Rather than appearing intensely flushed or agitated, the person typically wants to lie down and rest.

Another option for exhaustion that also includes dehydration issues is the remedy Cinchona 200 or China (Cinchona and China are the same remedy).

For any of these acute conditions, we dose according to the severity and like to say ?frequency is determined by intensity.?

Severe acute conditions may be treated with a remedy every 15 to 20 minutes. Then as the condition improves the remedy is given less frequently until the symptoms are no longer troublesome, at which time the remedy is no longer administered.

For less severe acute conditions you might consider taking a dose every 2-3 hours and then perhaps every 5-6 hours as the condition improves. It is time to stop taking the remedy when symptoms are very much better.

Natrum muriaticum (Nat mur) is a cell salt that helps to promote the balance of body fluids. Therefore, if dehydration is a symptom you might consider taking Nat mur 6x. This could be in conjunction with one of the other above-named remedies. This would be taken 5-10 minutes before or after the other remedy rather than at the exact same time.

In the case of extreme burning in which you need professional medical attention; you may administer the remediy(s) on the way to getting help. If the burns are severe such as in my Seaside story, consider giving Causticum 200, every few minutes on the way to the emergency room.

If you are interested in learning more about how to determine the appropriate potency and frequency for homeopathic remedies, I can help you with that. Click here for more information.