Summertime means Sunshine, BBQs and Picnics. However, make sure you don’t experience the dark side of the sunny season. There are a few things you should not forget during our hot summer:

Sunburn
Your body is designed to get the vitamin D it needs by producing it when your bare skin is exposed to sunlight. Getting enough vitamin D from sun exposure is a good idea. However, avoid damage to your skin by using sunscreen cream, hat, clothes or shade for protection, particularly during the hottest part of the day and for children, as their skin is particularly sensitive.

Sunstroke
Exposure to the sun can also cause sunstroke or heatstroke. This occurs when the body runs out of ways to adequately cool itself. Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches and neck pain, in extreme cases even disturbances of consciousness. You can prevent it by drinking lots of water and staying in the shade. The best is to drink mineral water, because of the salt loss.

Diarrhoea
A frequent disease in the summer are gastrointestinal virus infections. In order to avoid food infections, make sure your meat, milk and egg products are always kept refrigerated. When preparing food, you should be aware that food bacteria like the warmth. Do not add mayonnaise to warm foods (like potatoes), as the eggs in mayonnaise increase the risk of salmonella. Be aware that grilled meat requires temperature of more than 65 degrees in order to kill food bacteria. Make sure this temperature occurs in the middle of the piece of meat or sausage you eat.

Insect stings
Caution is said in bees, wasps and other insects. Late summer and early autumn are when bees and wasps are most likely to sting. There are different ways to get relief. A well-known home remedy is laying a freshly cut onion directly on the bee sting. For a Homeopathic approach consider Ledum (30c) if the sting is better for cold applications such as a cool compress or cold water, and the wound may feel cold to the touch. The pain may be pricking and stinging and there may be redness and inflammation. Apis (30c) is useful if there is considerable swelling, heat, tension and redness. Any heat makes the pain worse and it will be better for cold applications. Please consult me or another trained homeopath for more information about treating insect sings with Homeopathy.

Enjoy your summer!!