One key goal that research supports: avoid sunburns, no matter your age. Try to stay out of it during the hottest times of the day, usually 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wear protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Behind the many joys of summer are hidden health hazards that threaten to slow you down. Click through our gallery to learn more about keeping yourself healthy.
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Remember that terrible bee sting you got last summer? Or the nasty sunburn from this year's first outdoor barbecue? Dr. Trevor Holly Cates, a naturopathic physician from Park City, Utah, offers natural methods to make this summer your healthiest -- and most chemical-free -- yet.
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Nothing ruins a vacation like the annoying itch and, well, burning sensation that comes with a sunburn. If it's too late to save yourself from a burn, apply aloe vera for soothing relief. Don't have access to the actual plant? Avoid aloe vera gel with green dyes or harsh additives.
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Summer means spending balmy nights on the patio or taking long walks through the neighborhood, which unfortunately can bring some uninvited guests: hungry mosquitoes, waiting to bite.
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Nope, shaking your head vigorously is not the way to go on this one. Look for homeopathic ear drops, which are sometimes used for earaches. Or, to avoid that still-swimming feeling before it starts, pour a little hydrogen peroxide into the ear to help the water bubble out.
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If you've just taken a spill on your Rollerblades, look for calendula to apply to cuts and scrapes. It's made from the calendula flower (which is similar to a marigold), comes in a non-alcoholic spray or an ointment, is antimicrobial and heals body tissue. Natural comfrey, made from the leafy comfrey plant that commonly grows in England, is also used on the skin for healing purposes, as well as vitamin E, which prevents scarring.
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Thanks for making beautiful summer flowers possible, bees, but we're not so grateful for your throbbing, itching sting.If you've had an unfriendly encounter with a hornet, wasp or bee, try making a simple paste out of baking soda and water. Spread the paste on the sting to soothe it.
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Forgot to wear gloves while doing some gardening? Got a little off-path on that hike? If you've gotten tangled in poison ivy, you'll be feeling the effects and want to act fast. Tame the itchy rash with Anacardium or rhus tox, Cates says. They are frequently used as natural solutions to skin ailments. Anacardium is made from a plant in the cashew tree family, and rhus tox is made from a dilution of the poison ivy plant itself.
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During the summer, blondes may not have more fun when it comes to rinsing chlorine and other pool chemicals from their hair. To avoid a green hue, rinse hair with tomato juice after a swim, Cates says.
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Knees and elbows covered in bruises from beach volleyball? Try a small amount of homeopathic arnica as a topical ointment to reduce bruising and swelling. In its pill form, it helps with inflammation, but it can possibly be unsafe in large doses. Arnica is made from a family of plants known for their yellow flowers.
