Sunburns and Homeopathy

Handling sunburns and sunstroke
Vikas Sharma

Today we find ourselves being cautious and protective of everything around us, including disease-carrying mosquitoes, too much sun, drinking enough “good” water and avoiding exercise because of the heat. There are some effective and natural ways to eliminate the worries of summer-time. Homoeopathy is one of the safest forms of first aid available, especially in acute situations.

It uses a unique approach to health and healing by addressing both the symptoms of the problem and the person concerned.

Sunburn can be very painful and even harmful to the skin. The immediate risk connected to sunburn depends on the depth of the burn (presence of blisters or not) and its size. It is naturally more complicated in a child and an elderly persons. Besides the local care and homoeopathic treatment, the patient must be well rehydrated. In the case of first-degree sun burns where the skin is red, take apis melifica 30c every three hours. And when blisters appear (second degree burns) use cantharis 30 c a dose every hour. Consult a doctor if the sunburn is widespread and if there are general signs like fever, vomiting, and headaches. Avoid sunburns at all costs.

Indeed, the skin keeps the memory of what it underwent. Remember the first cause of melanoma (skin cancer) is the sunburn in early childhood. The symptoms of sunstroke are fever with headache and vomiting. Sunstroke is particularly dangerous in very young children. For them it is necessary to avoid a direct exposure to the sun. It is much better to stay in the shade. Also keep in mind the risk of dehydration, which can be fatal.

Homoeopathic medicine glonoine is the best remedy to counter the effects of heat, whether the trouble arises from the direct rays of the sun, from hot weather, or from working in the intense heat of a furnace, as in the case of foundry men and machinists. For glonoine to be used the indications are a sudden severe headache, difficulty in breathing, palpitation, nausea, vomiting, collapse and high fever.

In an acute case a dose of glonoine 30c can be taken every hour. Along with homoeopathic medicines the patient should be given enough water to be rehydrate he should remain in a cool place.

Words of caution: These medicines are no s

Safety tips for summer-time

Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Dress for summer: Lightweight, light-coloured clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.
Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

Drink plenty of water or other nonalcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Those who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver problems, are on fluid restrictive diets, or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages.

 Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician. Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.

Spend more time in cool places. Proper cooling arrangements markedly reduce the danger from heat.

Don’t get too much exposed to sun. If you get sunburn it will make body cooling very difficult.