What You Need to Buy for Effective Home Remedies

Summer is undoubtedly the favoured season for most of the population. We get sun, sea, sand and our collective mood is elevated compared to the gloom of the winter. Yet the warmest season can bring its own challenges. A relaxing day at the beach can turn into a nightmare as a jellyfish sting brings a premature end to your sunbathing. Then we have those irritating bugs that only surface in summer and like to feast on human skin. Instead of spending a small fortune on pharmaceutical products, here are six natural home remedies you can buy from the supermarket to banish those summer aches and allow you to truly enjoy the sun.

1 - Oatmeal

A major problem we experience during the summer is sunburn. It’s easy to get carried away and stay too long in the sun without sunscreen. Make no mistake, sunburn hurts but humble oatmeal can really relieve the burning sensation. Take a bath in lukewarm water and add oatmeal. According to dermatological experts, oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties which will help alleviate the pain caused by sunburn. Oatmeal inhibits prostaglandin release which is a substance that resembles hormones and is responsible for dilating blood vessels and causing the awful sunburn pain. Oatmeal can even help soothe the pain brought on by insect bites or rashes. Crush the oatmeal and soak in water. Add the mixture to your skin before rinsing it off and drying.

2 - White Vinegar

Ever been stung by a jellyfish? Skin experts suggest that you use white vinegar instead of over the counter cream to fight the pain. There are a host of myths about treating jellyfish stings that involve unpleasant remedies such as urine but white vinegar is the real deal. It contains acetic acid which helps deactivate the venom from the tentacles of the jellyfish. After removing the tentacles, pour vinegar on the bite area to gain relief from the pain.

3 - Baking Soda

Mosquito bites plague individuals in warmer climates with certain unfortunate people deemed to have ‘sweet blood’ which makes them a target for the flying pests. If you have been bitten by a mosquito, look for baking soda. Create a paste with water and feel better as the alkaline nature of baking soda works its magic. After you have been bitten, you skin’s pH balance becomes unbalanced and this leads to the pain and inflammation you feel. The alkaline baking soda restores balance.

4 - Honey

Not only does this natural food taste delicious, it can also help heal wounds and prevent infections. Honey is a natural antimicrobial, with manuka honey deemed to be the best choice. This honey comes from bees that live in New Zealand’s manuka trees. Honey is also capable of improving your complexion. When it is mixed with yogurt and brewed green tea and applied to your face, your skin will look much healthier.

5 - Papaya

Summer is a time for barbecues which usually leads to overeating. The result is heartburn and liberal consumption of antacids. Instead of going down this route, eat some papaya instead. This fruit contains papain which is an enzyme known to improve digestion. Papaya is also a natural source of probiotics which further aids in digestive and intestinal health. Eat a few slices of the fruit after meals that contain spicy, citrus or dairy foods and caffeine based drinks.

6 - Black Pepper

If you are bleeding from mosquito or other insect bites, use black pepper to stem the flow of bleeding. Experts believe that pepper acts as a substitute for platelets which are blood components that aid the clotting process. If you have a small cut, add black pepper to it immediately and cover with gauze or a bandage.

Before heading to your medicine cabinet this summer, look for remedies in your kitchen and enjoy a stress and hopefully injury and illness free season.