Essential Homemade First Aid Kit For Common Summer Threats
Summer is here and hopefully so is the sun! What that means is spending a lot of time outdoors, in the woods, at the beach, among lots of other popular seasonal places. Are you equipped to deal with a situation quickly if something goes wrong? Do you know how to treating a bug bite or sunburn? Have no fear and look no further; Natural Knowledge has put together the must read guide for natural healing of all of the most common summer threats.
Bug bites, bee stings, poison ivy, sunburns, jelly fish stings, swimmer’s ear, blisters, heat rash and motion sickness can all be treated naturally with household products or a plant from your garden. We’ve put together some easy to remember tips and essentials to have at the ready in a special summer first aid kit.
Our suggestion is to actually set aside these items in a known place so that when one of these not so uncommon occurrences happens, you don’t panic. Looking for a craft project? Have some fun with it! Buy a plastic box or container and decorate it “summer first aid kit” appropriate. Also be sure to print out this blog to keep in the box, so you can remember which remedy is for what situation.
BUG BITES
For most, there isn’t a summer that goes by without at least one bug bite. For even more, these bug bites are painful and itchy. When you get a bug bite, all you want is instant relief. Here are nine suggestions that may improve all symptoms of bug bite pain.
Apply a lemon slice to the bite
Crush aspirin, make a paste with water
Apply apple cider vinegar to the bite
Apply peppermint toothpaste to the bite
Slice open a banana, rub peel on bite
Make a baking soda-water paste to apply to bite, the alkaline baking soda will help counteract the acidic swelling
SUNBURNS
Another inevitable summer setback are sunburns. First, in order to prevent sunburns, always remember to apply an appropriate SPF level and amount of sun block. However, we know that sometimes they happen anyway and every person should be prepared to deal with this uncomfortable pain. Here are a few suggestions that may ease your discomfort:
Tea is a super way to deal with a sunburn in a few different ways. Brew the tea as normal, then let cool in the refrigerator. From here you can choose to soak towels in the tea then apply to burn, get a spray bottle and spritz the burn, or save the tea bags and apply directly to the area.
Oatmeal can be used for a variety of homemade healing remedies, one of which is easing sunburn pain. Who would’ve guessed that oat extract actually contains anti-inflammatory properties that can be taken advantage of. One method of using the oatmeal would be to make a batch, let cool and apply directly to skin. Another suggestion is to make a cold bath, and sprinkle in the uncooked oatmeal oats.
Milk is also said to decrease the pain of a sunburn. You could also try adding milk to the oatmeal bath. In which case this is not possible, apply milk directly to skin. Similar in some ways, plain yogurt can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation.
POISON IVY/OAK/SUMAC
Though an encounter with poison ivy is not as common, it can be extremely painful if you develop this rash. Fun fact: The plant leaves themselves are not poisonous but rather it is the urushiol oil within the plant that gives reaction. Next time you have an unfortunate run in with one of these plants, here are some tips to remember.
White Household Vinegar can be added to bath water or applied directly to skin. You can also mix with salt before applying.
Buttermilk can also be added to bath water or mixed with a bit of sea salt and applied to rash
Apple Cider Vinegar & Oatmeal Bath: Add 1 cup of each to a bath and soak.
Oatmeal as said before has the ability to heal a variety of aliments. Mix water and oatmeal to make a paste then apply to rash.
SWIMMER’S EAR
Another common misconception is that swimmer’s ear only comes from you guessed it, swimming. The fact of the matter is that swimmer’s ear actually means a bacteria or fungus in growing in the ear canal that can be caused from several different factors, even including improper Qtip use. Many people find it better to make their own homemade version of the same eardrops you would get from a doctor. Instead of a prescription, try these recipes for immediate assistance.
Sesame Oil & Garlic Clove: In a pan, mix 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and half a garlic clove. Heat the ingredients till it turns warm and take the pan off the stove. When cooled, poor 4-5 drops in affected ear/ears.
White Vinegar & Warm Water: In a bowl mix 1 part white vinegar and 1 part warm water. Pour 3-4 drops in each ear.
BEE STING/WASP STING
Believe it or not, there are many very simple remedies that can eliminate the pain from a bee sting. If you can’t find one of these items, you are bound to have at least one of them lying around. Most are relatively self explanatory, slice and apply to point of sting until pain subsides.
Lemon Juice
Lemon slice
Garlic clove
Onion slice
Cucumber slice
Potato slice
Marigolds, (freshly picked) use head to rub sting
Basil, crush leaf then apply
HEAT RASH
Unfortunately heat rash can strike at any time of the year, though most commonly in the summer because of the temperature. There are different levels of heat rash, but for more mild forms try these two techniques.
Baking soda & oatmeal powder: Take a bath and sprinkle in baking sode and fine ground oatmeal powder- it has been known to work wonders.
Baking soda & cornstarch/talcum powder: After showering, lightly dust on any of the previous ingredients. These will help to absorb the moisture causing heat rash. Apply as often as needed.
BLISTERS
Don’t let a bad blister keep you from wearing that favorite pair of summer shoes. An easy fix for blisters is Listerine—it will dry them out and quickly vanish. For temporary pain relief but not known to heal, try using Petroleum Jelly on the wound.
MOTION SICKNESS
A long car ride to the beach or out on a boat, when you get motion sickness it is never fun. Ginger is the magical ingredient that is proven to ease nausea. Studies have shown that ginger works better than most anti-nausea medications on the market. Next time you think you might get motion sicknkess, don’t forget to pack some ginger. Some suggestions of how to get your dose of ginger:ginger tea, ginger syrup, ginger powder capsules, ginger ale or ginger snaps.
JELLYFISH STING
Hopefully most people don’t have to worry about this very painful occurrence, but it can happen while out on the beach. In order to neutralize the venom, vinegar can be applied to the skin. If you find yourself in a lot of pain, try making a baking soda & meat tenderizer paste with water to affected area.
GLOBAL WARMING: What Every Person Can Do To Help Stop It
The Green Industry is a booming industry not only in the United States but worldwide. With concerns of global warming soaring to an all time high; citizens and businesses alike are beginning to make changes in every day life to help curb the effects of global warming and you can too. With just a few simple adjustments in our daily routine we can come together as one and reduce the damage that has been done and is being committed to our beautiful planet. We only have one Earth and we need to start taking care of it and reversing the harmful effects of modernization.
Five Major Causes of Global Warming
Five of the biggest reasons to why there is an increase of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) in the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect and global warming:
1) Co2 emissions from factories and power plants burning fossil fuels
2) Carbon emissions from burning gasoline (cars, trains, planes, trucks etc)
3) Methane emissions from animals, agriculture (rice paddies for example), and from Arctic sea beds
4) Deforestation, especially in the tropical forests for wood, and to make space for farmland
5) Increased use of chemical fertilizers on crops. These fertilizers are rich in nitrogen and when this nitrogen is released into the atmosphere it heats up the atmosphere even more. Chemical fertilizers also seep into water tables and the ocean. This seeping effect contaminates them both and creating “dead zones” in the ocean; this is when there is no plant or animal life in the ocean due to pollution.
Five Major Effects of Global Warming
Five of the biggest concerns and impacts of Global Warming that will face our world if we continue down this path are very serious.
1) A rise in sea levels worldwide may wipe out many coastal towns.
2) More intense killer storms like hurricane Katrina. Hurricanes are becoming more severe and common due to the increase in water temperatures world wide.
3) In the future we could see a massive crop failure worldwide due to the lack of water; making it impossible to feed the ever growing population of the world.
4) The wide-spread extinction of species which will harm, and possibly destroy our fragile eco-system.
5) Finally we would see a disappearance of coral reefs from our oceans worldwide.
Global warming is caused both naturally and by humans, but humans are the main factor in why global warming has become such a major issue in our world today.
Five Simple Steps to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Here are five simple steps that everyone can due to help reverse the effects of global warming and even save a few dollars in doing so. If we all come together and do our part it is not too late to reverse the harm done to our Earth.
1) Shower a Little Less
If you take a 10, 15 or 20 minute shower, stop one minute earlier. You will save 4 to 8 gallons of water. If just 1 million people did this worldwide; we would save 8 to 12 million gallons of water daily. This will help save you money on your water and heating bills.
2) Turn off Lights
When leaving a room, shut the light off. If you have a dimmer switch, turn the lights slightly. Collectively we can save 1 million kilowatts of electricity a day. This will help cut down on those expensive electric bills we all get monthly.
3) Recycle Aluminium
Put the soda can in the recycle bin and know you have contributed to 1 million aluminium cans being recycled daily. That is 1 million less cans a day going into landfills worldwide, cutting down on our trash output is imperative.
4) Recycle Newspapers and Magazines
Put these in a separate recycle bin and enjoy the knowledge that 1 million of you helped save a thousand acres of forest today. The forests cut down to produce paper are a major factor in reducing Co2 in the atmosphere. Trees and all plants for that matter “breathe” in Co2 and “exhale” oxygen making it possible for us as humans to breathe.
5) Switch Household Cleaners
Change your household cleaning solutions to the non toxic chemical variety. This way no more toxic chemicals would pollute our rivers and oceans. Even if you just do one or two of these five simple tips daily your impact on the reversal of global warming will be substantial. Every person can afford to do a few of these daily and if we all come together as one, the possibilities are endless.
Butchart Gardens is one of the most famous gardens in the world which is counted among the best of the best. It’s no less than a heaven out there at Butchart Gardens located in British Columbia. The breathtaking views will keep you stunned for some time when you first visit the Butchart Gardens. Spread over an area of 50 acres, the Butchart Gardens is placed near Victoria on Vancouver Island. There’s never a dull season at Butchart Gardens, which keeps itself vibrating all throughout the year from the summers to the chilly winters.
Researchers estimate that, over the course of a year, a person who increases their water consumption by 1.5 liters a day would burn an extra 17,400 calories! https://www.facebook.com/NaturalKnowledge247
Arthritis is a painful disease that 50 million Americans are suffering from every year. Don’t let arthritis take the joy out of your life. Knowing how to cope and adjust your lifestyle is half of the battle. The following are very simple tips that have been put together for arthritis patients to allow for a more enjoyable gardening experience.
Make a Game Plan for the Day. Before you begin a day in the garden, make a plan for yourself of specific tasks and a general time frame you are going to spend on each activity. This way if you start spending longer than expected on one area, you know you will need to take a break or move on. Doing the same motion for a prolonged period of time will only keep you from getting back in the garden. Instead, it is smart to mix up the type of activities you will be doing so that the work load can be shared amongst the body.
Properly Stretch and Warm Up. This part of the process is a part of making a plan for the day. It is smart to warm up your muscles depending on what type of gardening you will be doing. The following link provides a great Gardening Fitness warm-up routine that will help your body get in the groove of things. This website includes specific workouts and tips to master a great day in the garden. These tips include a warm-up walk as well as using soothing oils for the hands. http://voices.yahoo.com/clever-tool-tips-arthritic-gardeners-10514007.html?cat=5
Use the Right Tools. Tools are intended to make gardening easier, even though for a person with arthritis this may not feel like the case. Certain equipment has been developed specifically to combat the challenges that those will arthritis may run in to. This garden gear has longer handles and thus an easier grip to lessen the strain of working in the yard. If you are concerned it may affect your gardening, like anything practice makes perfect and soon you will get used to working with your new tools. If you are looking for somewhere to buy these products, below is a website where you can buy online. http://www.arthritissupplies.com/arthritis-gardening-tools.html
Also, whether or not the tools you are using are arthritis friendly or not, it is important to keep them sharp at all times. When a shovel is sharp, it is a lot easier to use and less pressure is needed to yield results.
Know Your Limits. At the beginning of gardening season, make sure that you start off slowly. Your body hasn’t used these muscles in a while and it could take some getting used to. Hire or ask someone to help you with the heavy weeding & lifting—these aren’t the reasons why you like to garden anyway.
Get Creative with Your Garden. Consistently crouching down in the flower beds of a garden can easily lead to a lot of discomfort and pain in joints. Instead of the traditional flower bed gardening, get creative with potting.
Hanging Plants are a great alternative because no bending over is required to take care of them. You can hang plants by themselves on a post, off the side of the garage /house, or even attach them to a backyard fence. This is not only a more visually pleasing option, but your back will be thanking you at the end of the day. Learn how to DIY here: http://www.shelterness.com/diy-colorful-vertical-garden-on-a-fence/
Raised Gardens are a solution for someone who still enjoys the idea of having a flowerbed. This type of structure provides the same typical gardening experience, without the hassle of having to get down on the ground to care for the plants. Raised gardens can be assembled from scratch, or can be bought pre assembled. If you are interesting in assembling your own raised garden, there are many instructional YouTube videos with more information.
Vertical Gardens are essentially very similar to the concept of a raised garden, but nearly as much space is needed to house one of these. This option provides elevated gardening at easy reach and little maintenance. This YouTube video gives a great demonstration of how to create your own vertical garden out of a wooden pallet, as featured here on the left. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOadilqJeeg&feature=related
For more tips & information on joint health visit:
Bring down your heart disease and cancer risk. Green tea’s powerful antioxidants have been found to reduce lung cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, stroke and heart attack risks. To add an extra boost, squeeze in a lemon — the vitamin C helps your body absorb more of the antioxidants.
Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. Three cups a day gives you the antioxidants you need to bring down these numbers.
Help you lose weight faster. Drink a cup before your workout and you might boost your fat burn. Studies suggest that the caffeine frees fatty acids so you can burn fat more easily. The tea’s antioxidants might also work together with the caffeine to help you burn more calories.
Prevent arthritis. Imbibing green tea daily might help keep your joints healthy, preliminary research suggests.
Keep allergies at bay. Japanese researchers found that the compound EGCG (the same one that might fight hepatitis C) found in green tea may help stop your body from reacting to allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust.
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Tea is the second most popular type of drink in the world. There are many reasons to enjoy a hot, brewing cup of tea. Whether it is for the aroma, or for the various flavors, drinking tea will certainly have you relaxed and feeling refreshed instantly. This cup of gold pertains many health benefits.
The benefits of consuming tea are diverse. Here we have discussed some benefits that can be derived from drinking tea!
Tea Health Benefit #1- Anti Cancer!
One of the antioxidants found in tea is “polyphenols”. This particular antioxidant has cancer-fighting properties. Tea is one of the single best cancer fighters you can put in your body,” according to Mitchell Gaynor, MD, director of medical oncology at the world-renowned Strong Cancer Prevention Center in New York City. Tea is also recommended since this concoctions has protective effects due to the abundance of antioxidants!(Read More)
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