Summer-fun continues in the Northern Hemisphere. But not for all of us…

Some fair-skinned peeps out here in the real world just don’t get on terribly well with sunshine. Leading to a lack of summer-fun and a whole heap of summer-ick. Yes, I love sunshine, but too much heat and I’m a hot mess!

If this happens to you, or to your children and babes, I’ve got fabulous natural health tips and advice to help you get soothed and calm again.

Summer-fun Heat Rash

For me, it starts with little bumps, that get more and more itchy. And the next thing you know, I’m hating the heat and heading for an air-conditioned room. My Celtic background just doesn’t love a whole-whack of sunshine and/or heat.

What to do? A cooling bath. Ahh…into the tub, with a few drops of lavender essential oil and I’m on my way back to being a happy camper all-over again. But wait…there’s more! How about taking an old tea-towel or wash-cloth and some oatmeal and making a personalized bathing cloth.

Get your fabric and put at least one cup of oatmeal, a nice big-flake one works best. (Scottish works best, as the Irish steel-cut doesn’t have as much surface to soak.) Tie it up in the cloth. (In my Holistic Aromatherapy Training Program I have students tie up herbs etc. in a J-cloth…so be inventive!)

Toss the package into the bath as the water runs. Once the tub is filled, add your lavender essential oil. I use about ten drops myself. Swoosh before you get in. Don’t want an undiluted e/o on your sensitive bits…even if it is gentle lavender. Climb in. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. The water will be ‘milky’ from the oatmeal. Then use the cloth-bag to rub over your skin. Get out, and gently pat yourself dry.

Still bothering you? Now it’s time for some good old-fashioned calamine lotion to soothe those bumps. But if you catch it in time, the oatmeal and lavender bath will work wonders.

(Why the cloth-bag? Otherwise you’ll be bathing in porridge, and you’ll get more hot and bothered rinsing it out of your nooks and crannies…Hahaha!)

What about the kiddies? Babies and Young Children in the Heat

Diaper or Nappy Rash

Happy babies need happy bums! Summer can really be hard on little bottoms, so here’s some simple ways to help baby stay happy and help mum keep her cool.

Mix 1 drop each of lavender and Roman chamomile essential oils to 20 ml of calendula oil and apply to baby at every change until completely healed.

Also, be sure to take special care to wash and dry baby well after each nappy or diaper change.

Be especially careful of using powders with mineral oils as they clog the skin. Avoid plastic pants and if you can, disposable diapers or nappies as they discourage the circulation of air around the baby’s body, while retaining body heat and moisture.

A little nudey-pants time (no diapers or nappies) after the evening bath is a great addition to the bath routine. Perhaps sit and read a book together. Pop a towel on the sofa, just in case!

Heat Rash

Bathe baby in a bath in which 2 drops of lavender essential oil has been added to one liter (or two pints) of cooled chamomile tea.

Make extra tea to sip as it’s super for keeping calm. And you might need some help with your summer-fun if baby is cranky!

Insect Bite and Sun Burns

In the palm of your hand, measure out one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Add one drop of lavender essential oil. Mix into a paste with a little cold water. Apply to the bite or sting.

Apply as often as necessary.

As always, if in doubt, or you have any concerns, go to see your primary health care provider. It’s always better to be careful. And that’s their job, so you aren’t bothering them.

And if you’d like some help with your Natural Health and well-being, you can always contact me or get started and take a course to learn how to help you and your family stay well.

Enjoy the rest of your summer-fun, and remember,

Stay Fabulous!

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