Natural Cures for Summertime Bug Bites

When we think of summer, it's hard not to picture cook-outs, swimming pools, ice-cold lemonade and sleep-outs under the stars! Don't let bug bites interfere with your family fun! Here are a few of our favorite home remedies to prevent and cure those itchy bites.

Insect Bite Prevention

1. Natural repellents

• Citronella candles
• Calendula, cedar, eucalyptus, and/or tea tree. In oils, diffusers, sprays or lotions

1. Edible prevention

• eat foods rich in Thiamin (Vitamin B1) like fish, brown rice, molasses and wheat germ before spending time outside to avoid mosquito bites.

1. Avoid

• eating refined sugar which gives off a sweet smell on the skin that attracts mosquitos 
• wearing perfume, hairspray or other scented cosmetics

Insect Bite Treatment

1. wash the area with soap and water then apply a paste made of baking soda and water
2. rub a cut onion on an insect bite for a powerful antioxidant treatment

Growing Pains

This week we’re talking about growing pains (no, not the early 90s sitcom that launched Leonardo Dicaprio’s career) but the pains and aches that your little ones getting during those miraculous growth spurts.

Growing pains plague most children between the ages of two and twelve with a peak in three to five year olds and eight to twelve year olds.  These pains are possibly attributed to rapid bone growth and tend to creep up on kids in the evening and at night after a long and active day of running, jumping and playing. It’s important to note that growing pains usually do not cause swelling, rashes, limping or fatigue; if your child is experiencing any of the above, contact your doctor.

No parent wants to stand by and shrug when there kids are in pain so we’re here to answer the question: What can be done about growing pains?

Although they’re a part of life, there are many things that you can do to alleviate some of the pain.

Rub-a-dub-dub! After a long day of play, get your kids into the bath.  A nice Epsom salt bath can help with pains before they even starts. 

Let the sunshine in! Studies have shown that there is a link between children with low levels of vitamin D and those who experience growing pains. The thought behind this is that not enough vitamin D can lead to low bone density.  So encourage your little ones to go outside and play with their legs and arms exposed which can be difficult this time of year so seize the day when the sun is out and encourage an hour of sunscreen-less pay.

Spa day! A simple massage followed by heating pads and stretching can help sooth your child once the growing pains have set in.

The next time your child complains about aches and pains, sing them the Growing Pains theme song, draw the bath and let them know that this is a sign that they’re just growing big and strong.

Summer Skin Irritants

Summer is our favorite time of year here at Peas HQ! We love the warm weather, seasonal produce, 4^th of July and the long days that come with these summer months.  But as they sang in the Facts of Life theme song, “you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have, the Facts of Life.” Like the early 80s television show taught us, with the good comes the bad; with the goodness of summer comes the not so goodness of summer skin irritants.  We want you to be armed with the knowledge around the most common summer skin problems and how to stop them before they start as well as deal with them when the reaction sets in.  So take the good and be prepared for the bad with this week’s Peas Perspective.

Poison Oak/Ivy

     Precautions:

• If you are hiking through an area that is known to have poison oak/ivy do some research before hand and get familiar with what it looks like this way you can stay far, far away from it. 
• Also wear long sleeves and pants as well as closed toed shoes.
• When you arrive home wash everything! This includes all your clothes, your dog (dogs aren’t affected by poison oak but they can carry the oil on their fur which you ARE affected by) and of course yourself. The best way to thoroughly clean yourself after coming in contact with poison oak is with a cool shower and dish soap.

     Relief:

• Continue to take showers (multiple per day is best) with dish soap as this will help dry out the rash. 
• Do not use any lotions (besides calamine lotion to stop the itch).  
• Use cold compresses with a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to help with the swelling and itching. 

Mosquito bites

     Precautions:

• Similarly to poison oak, the best defense against mosquito bites is pants and long sleeves.  
• Start your day off right with a B vitamin; supposedly Mosquitoes don’t like your smell if you’ve taken your daily does of B-1. 
• It also can be helpful to put a few drops of citronella oil on your neck and wrists.

     Relief:

• Our favorite remedy for bug bits is tea tree oil.  This essential oil is full of incredible anti-inflammatory properties which helps reduce swelling and itching as well as dry out and heal the bite.

Heat Rash

 Precautions:

• Heat rash usually comes with a sudden change of temperature (aka: a vacation to a hot place) so it’s important to take the proper precautions.  
• If you are spending a lot of time in the sun, stay hydrated by drinking LOTS of  water.
• Continuously apply a hyper-allergenic (oil free) sunscreen.  Heat rash is caused when your sweat glands are clogged so it’s important to use sunscreen with a high SPF but also one that will not clog your pores. 

     Relief:

• The best thing to make your angry rash feel better is getting out of the sun and into a cool oatmeal bath. 
• Simply fill your tub with cool water and place a cup of oatmeal into muslin bag, cheesecloth or 100% cotton sock. Tie the bag closed and soak in water as you would a tea bag. It may also feel good to add a few drops of lavender oil.  You can also use the bag of oatmeal to exfoliate your skin.

Cure a Bruise with Foods!

Being the granola-lovin', tree-huggin' people that we are, here at Peas of Mind HQ, we love to take the holistic route whenever possible.

Next time your child gets a bruise on the playground, try one of these natural home remedies.

Edible Cures for Bruises - Nutrients in Food

• Vitamin C

• function: prevents bruising by supplying oxygen to injured cells and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
• excellent food sources: citrus fruit, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and Baked Broccoli Veggie Wedgies.
  

• Vitamin K
• function: important for blood clotting and healing.
  
• excellent food sources: cabbage, cauliflower, alfalfa sprouts, soybeans, spinach and other leafy greens.

• Vitamin E
• function: improves circulation, extends the life of blood cells, acts as an antioxidant
• excellent food sources: wheat germ, nuts, seeds, asparagus, spinach and other leafy greens.
  

External Cures for Bruises - Natural Rubs/Salves

• fresh parsley leaves
• crushed and applied directly, parsley may reduce discoloration in just a few days instead of a whole week.

• cayenne pepper ointment
• mix 1 part cayenne pepper with 5 parts melted Vaseline. Let cool, then apply once a day to aid in circulation and reducing inflammation.
  

• oil of oregano
• blend a bunch of fresh oregano with olive oil (just enough to blend). Apply this oil directly on bruised skin for general healing of a bruise once or twice a day.

Preventative Tips

• Eat lots of fresh, raw foods particularly fruits and leafy green vegetables. These foods are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin K which help prevent bruising.

• If possible, ice an injury as soon as possible to reduce swelling and later bruising.

• If you choose to use a mild over-the-counter pain-reliever, choose one containing acetaminophen (in Tylenol). Aspirin and Ibuprofen encourage blood thinning which worsens bruises.
  

Sources

• Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch.

• The Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition by Sheldon Margen, M.D. (UC Berkeley).