BE HEALTHY OUTDOORS- PART 2
By Dr. Brenda Gill
The last article discussed various ways of staying well when you’re enjoying the surroundings we live in. This article gives you some ideas for treating problems if they arise.
· Discourage those annoying mosquitoes and other biting insects by increasing garlic in your diet or by taking a supplement, such as a Vitamin B complex capsule. I usually have people take 1 a day.
· I often make up a homeopathic to minimize the reaction to bug bites if you tend to attract insects and tend to get swelling and itchiness.
· You can also apply apple cider vinegar or baking soda paste to stop the itch and decrease the inflammation. Calamine lotion still works too!
· A natural bug spray to minimize the attraction of bugs can be purchased at a health food store.
· Fungal rashes or flakey skin on the feet and hands from the heat or sweating can be treated with apple cider vinegar. Wearing leather sandals prevents fungal rashes on the feet.
· Consider a probiotic such as Probiotic Urgency to stave off a possible parasite problem when travelling elsewhere or spending time in the mountains or camping. These are enteric coated, so, it doesn’t matter when you take them and are heat stable, so, don’t have to be refrigerated. They contain at least 50 billion acidophilus/bifidus bacteria, so, will fight off parasites.
· Vitamin E, aloe vera gel and calendula cream can be applied topically to help heal sunburns.
· B complex with higher amounts of B6 will help heal tendonitis in the elbow, wrist and other problematic areas, as well as resultant numbness and tingling.
· Any type of muscle damage such as bruising or impact injuries heal much more quickly with homeopathic Arnica montana. Taking it as quickly as possible increases the speed of healing. Putting a few drops in your drinking water helps prevent muscle fatigue and soreness from over-exercising and speeds recovery time.
· Homeopathic Ledum taken under the tongue can minimize a puncture wound by a stick or a rock.
· Any open wound should first be rinsed out with clean water to remove any dirt, then Calendula tincture applied. It stings, but, it is the best tool I’ve found! It’s not only an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal that prevents infection, but, is the best skin healer I’ve found. We use in the office often for any cut, scrape or deep wound. As a matter of fact, I had to use it this weekend, when a friend went over the front of their mountain bike and sustained a deep wound in his leg from the pedals. I’ve also used it very successfully for stitch healing.
I sometimes use the cream for patients if we are trying to heal dry, flakey skin or want to prevent wrinkles, stretch marks or lines. DO NOT apply salves to an open wound because this encourages bacterial growth and infection!
· Overheating requires immediate attention with sufficient fluids, shade and possible cooling if needed.
· Bee stings can be minimized by taking homeopathic Apis and wasp stings minimized by homeopathic Vespa
· Sprains, strains and swelling of ankles, wrists, back, hips, and knees can be helped with homeopathic Ruta and Rhus tox. This are homeopathics that are taken internally to repair ligament and tendon, nerve and muscle tissue. They also reduce swelling and inflammation.
These should give you some helpful hints for the summer! You can pick up most of these in a health food store or in my office.
If you need more information about specific problems or treating physical injuries, please make an appointment with Dr. Brenda Gill at 250-362-5035.
