Cool Aid

Health

Cool Aid

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Summer bummer » dehydration
To the rescue » coconut water
+ When you’re feeling the heat, reach for a tropical treat.
“Pure coconut water i s like natural Gatorade,” says Janet
Zand, O.M.D., L.Ac., author of Smart Medicine for Healthier
Living (Avery Publishing Group).“It provides plenty of
electrolytes and minerals that regulate body systems and
help keep fluid levels in balance.” Bonus: This natural, lowcalorie
beverage hydrates you without the sweeteners,
preservatives and artificial flavors found in most sports
drinks—making it a great post-workout thirst quencher.
How to use: Drink 11 ounces of coconut water as soon as
you begin to feel parched; it will offer the same shortterm
benefit as drinking a liter of water and eating a
banana. (Note: This isn’t a substitute for drinking enough
H2O. “The key to staying hydrated is water, water, water,”
says Zand. “And don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink it.”)

Summer bummer » overheating
To the rescue » rose water
+ Made by steam-distilling flowers, rose water is the goto
remedy for when you’re feeling overheated, says Margi
Flint, A.H.G., founder of EarthSong Herbals in Marblehead,
Mass., and adjunct professor at Tufts University School
of Medicine. “Herbs have energetic properties; some are
heating, some are cooling and some are neutral,” she
explains. “Rose water is very cooling.” Bonus: It smells
terrific and also makes a great facial toner.
How to use: Put a few drops of organic, food-grade rose
water into a cup of water and drink it; or add rose water
to a spray bottle filled with regular water and spritz
yourself as often as you like. You can also use rose water
to create a cold compress—douse a washcloth and stick it
in the refrigerator for a few minutes to make it cool to the
touch—and apply it to the back of your neck or wrists.

Summer bummer » poison ivy
To the re scue » homeopathic rhus tox
+ Urushiol—the oily sap produced by poison ivy and its
cousins poison oak and poison sumac—triggers contact
dermatitis, an itchy and oozy rash. Topical treatments can
actually spread the noxious oil around; instead, heal the rash
from within. “Homeopathy works on the principle that likecures-
like,” says Zand. “Rhus tox is homeopathic poison ivy.”
How to use: Allow two to three tablets to dissolve in your
mouth every two hours until symptoms are relieved.

Summer bummer » indigestion
To the rescue » nux vomica
+ If you overindulged at a summertime shindig, turn to
the classic homeopathic cure for gluttony. “Nux vomica
is good if you’ve eaten too many fatty foods or had too
much alcohol and the result is nausea or gas,” says Zand.
How to use: Dissolve five pellets in your mouth 20
minutes after eating a nd drinking, then use two to three
times until symptoms are resolved.

Summer bummer » sunburn
To the rescue » lavender essential oil
+ “Lavender is the best thing to apply right after a
sunburn,” says Margo Marrone, author of The Organic
Pharmacy (Duncan Baird). “It contains linalool, a natural
antiseptic that helps keep burns infection-free; and esters,
which reduce pain and promote cell regeneration.”
How to use: Mix 10 drops of lavender essential oil with
pure aloe vera gel (or your favorite fragrance-free lotion)
and apply it to your skin as soon as you notice the burn.

Summer bummer » muscle strains
To the rescue » arnica
+ Arnica works for strains, sprains, bruises and superficial
scrapes. Most people use it topically, but you can get
faster results if you also ingest tablets, Zand explains.
How to use: Take three tablets o rally three to five times a
day for the first 24 to 48 hours; apply topically throughout
the day. (Note: Never apply arnica to an open wound.)

Summer bummer » bites, stings and cuts
To the rescue » hydrogen peroxide, yarrow
tincture and latex-free bandages
+ “First, clean the bite, sting or cut with hydrogen
peroxide,” says Flint. “Then follow with a few drops of
yarrow tincture, which acts as an astringent to pull the
tissue together. It’s safe to use on open wounds.”
How to use: Douse the affected area(s) with peroxide,
then apply six to 12 drops of yarrow tincture.

Summer bummer » athlete’s foot
To the rescue » grapefruit seed extract
+ “Compounds found in the inner rind and seeds of
grapefruits have shown potent anti-fungal activity,” says
Marrone. “They attack the cell wall of fungi and prevent
replicati on when applied topically.”
How to use: Add 10 to 15 drops of The Original GSE to a
tablespoon of water and apply with a cotton swab to the
affected areas, twice daily.
 

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