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 Tips for a best ever summer
Rebecca Adams, Master Herbalist
It’s Summer Time! We’ve started to air out our tents, restock our summer cabins, begun preparing our boats for the season and we’re planning trips for nearby weekend getaways or far off vacations. Taking steps to avoid or quickly treat the summer woes of sunburns, allergies and bug bites will help make this summer a time we fondly remember.
Summer allergies:
While most of us enjoy the green grasses, plants, and flowers of the summer months, about 20% of us will struggle to some degree with watery eyes and bouts of sneezing. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is caused by an allergic reaction to pollens.
According to Andrew Weil, M.D., an allergy is really an example of "misplaced immunity." Dr. Weil believes that an allergic reaction to airborne particles is a learned response of the immune system. In his book, Natural Health, Natural Medicine (Houghton Mifflin, 1998), Dr. Weil contends that, "The goal of treatment should be to convince the immune system that it can coexist peacefully with these substances. Conventional medicine does not achieve this goal."
Have you ever noticed how fresh salty beach air seems to clear out your sinuses? Huffing saltwater from the palm of your hand does the same trick, without the hoards of marauding tourists to tangle with. Just make sure it's non-iodized or sea salt because iodine can irritate mucus membranes. A more effective "nasal irrigant" requires a small equipment purchase. One such item is called a "neti pot," a ceramic teapot-looking thing—it looks a lot like Aladdin's lamp. Fill it with saltwater and pour it into one nostril, letting it swish around your sinuses and come out the other side. Although this sounds gruesome, many allergy suffers (including physicians) use these or similar items to flush their sinuses. It physically removes years and years of debris--pollen dust, mold, and environmental toxins. One Kingsport physician who suffers from year-round sinus problems and allergies uses a small bulb syringe-type device to flush his sinuses weekly. These can be found at your local pharmacy, drug store or health food store. One can also be obtained for you by the herbalist here at Integrated Health Concepts if you are having trouble finding one or if you aren’t sure which one is best for you.
These herbs are also helpful for allergies and sinus problems:
- Nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Angelica (Angelica sinensis - also known as dong quai, in Chinese medicine)
- Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)
- Flavonoids (sometimes called bioflavonoids)
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Note: Habitual use of licorice can result in a loss of potassium, and it may be necessary to supplement the diet or increase the consumption of potassium-rich foods. Another consideration is that the habitual intake of licorice can promote the retention of sodium.
If you consume animal products, you may want to consider eating less meat or, if possible, switching to an all vegan diet during the months ahead; at the very least, cutting down on dairy products during this time will help. As previously mentioned, leukotrienes produce a good deal of allergy response, even more so than histamine. Leukotrienes are synthesized by the presence of arachidonic acid, a fatty acid derived exclusively from animal products.
Sunburn:
All messages to the contrary aside, sun is still very good for you. Sunlight stimulates hormone production, allows for the synthesis of vitamin D, promotes skin cell regeneration and contributes to an overall sense of well-being. Sunlight also induces the manufacture of melanin, a pigment that serves as the skin’s natural sunscreen. But, this built-in screening mechanism can only protect you from the sun for so long. Too much unprotected exposure and you may wind up with a painful sunburn – or worse. The best way to avoid sunburn is the same as it ever was - stay out of the sun. Second best is no home-brewed fix; slather on the sun block, SPF 15 or higher and remember that sun block never blocks 100% of the damaging effects of the suns rays. But if you don't do either and find yourself returning to the house, hotel or campsite bright red, something on hand can probably ease the pain. Apply chilled apple-cider vinegar to soothe the skin, or mix a cup of white vinegar into a tub of cool water and soak in it. Milk protein also comforts; try dipping a cloth in one cup of skim milk, four cups water, and some ice, and applying the wet compress to the skin for 15 to 20 minutes every two hours. Also, try the same with oatmeal water, made by wrapping dry oatmeal in a permeable cloth and running water through it.
For a sunburned face, make a paste of milk and whole-wheat flour, apply, leave on until dry, and wash off with warm water. Rubbing on olive oil will also replenish the skin. A French Green Clay mask with oils and herbs which will help ease the pain of sunburn while replenishing the damaged skin cells can be made for you.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers and, with more than 900,000 cases reported each year, rivals its reputation as the “undeclared epidemic.” The American Cancer Society places melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, as the most frequently occurring cancer in women aged 25 to 29. For women aged 30 to 34, melanoma is second only to breast cancer. The rate of occurrence for all groups in recent years has climbed at an alarming rate too. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has determined that the incidence of melanoma from 1973 to 1994 has increased more than 120% and mortality by nearly 40%.
Special Considerations:
Certain medications, such as antibiotics and anti-depressants (including St. John’s wort and Prozac) can increase photosensitivity.
What Else Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
- wear a hat and a T-shirt while in direct sun
- in addition to using the proper SPF, use a water-proof product as well
- be cool in the shade, but still use an SPF of 15 or more
- consider using a sunless tanning product (dihydroxyacetone) – but remember, these products don’t provide sun protection in spite of your darker color
And if a burn does occur...
Soak in a tub filled with lukewarm water and 4-5 cups apple cider vinegar for 15-25 minutes. This will restore the acid mantle to the skin and help to relieve redness. Then, gently pat skin dry and apply a lotion with one or more of the botanicals listed above. Of particular benefit are products with high concentrations of vitamin E, aloe vera and green tea extract. A cold compress using Chamomile, Calendula (the bright orange marigold flower), cucumber (just scrape the fleshy part of a cucumber onto this mix before you wrap it up and throw away the skin and seeds), milk, honey and aloe can help relieve the pain of a burn while helping it heal much faster. Take a big piece of cheesecloth and spread it on the counter. In a bowl, mix the ingredients I just listed, then ‘glop’ them on the cheesecloth. Fold it over and place it on the burn and let it soak. You can do the same thing using a fresh cucumber and a fresh eggplant. Take the meat of a cucumber and an eggplant. Mash it up and spread it around the sunburn. Rinse off in a cool shower when it begins to dry or you just can’t stand lying there with this goo spread all over you any longer. This will help ease the discomfort and help heal the burn.
For more information on what herbals are best for your health condition, contact Integrated Health Concepts for an herbal consultation at 423-323-4373.
References:
- Rebecca Adams, Master Herbalist
(This article is from our 2nd Qtr 2006 Newsletter)
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