After a cold, gloomy winter, warmer days are a welcome relief. Time in the sun feels glorious, and it’s healthy for us.
Despite our concerns about sunlight and skin cancer, sunlight on our bodies is the best source of vitamin D which is essential for immune support. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to such conditions as osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma.
How much sun is the right amount? The exact amount of safe sun exposure we need depends on our skin tone, the time of the year, and even the time of day. In general, about 5-15 minutes of sun exposure three times a week is usually considered adequate. Avoid being outside at the hottest time of the day; morning or late afternoon is best.
Wear a sun hat to protect the eyes from direct contact with the sun, and light-colored cotton clothes to protect the most sensitive areas of the body from exposure. Drink enough water to stay hydrated. When our healthy time in the sun comes to an end, we need to retreat and get adequate protection for continued exposure. If you plan to stay in the sun, wear appropriate clothes, dark glasses, and sunscreen.
Over-exposure to the sun leading to sunburn can happen despite our best intentions. Homeopathy can help one recover from sunburn quickly and naturally.
TOPICAL APPLICATIONS
When choosing a topical application, I always recommend finding a product without alcohol or petroleum. These ingredients can be irritating to sensitive skin. You can start immediately by gently applying cool compresses. Refresh compresses as soon as they warm up. Do not rub or press on the compress. Cold compresses or ice packs can cause more damage to the burnt skin.
Aloe vera gel is helpful. If the gel has additives it should not to be used on broken skin.
Calendula cream or ointment helps soothe minor sunburn. You can make your own rinse using potentized1 calendula, either, 1X, 3X or 6C potencies. Put 1 pellet in a jar of water and use it as a rinse. Put 5 pellets in cool bath water and relax. If you don’t have potentized calendula, you can use the tincture in water. Topical calendula can accompany any oral application.
Use Urtica Urens in the same manner if you experience violent itching with blisters over burnt skin.
ORAL APPLICATIONS
Belladonna is useful if symptoms came on quickly and the skin is hot and throbbing. The skin may also be shiny and red.
Urtica Urens is best for sunburn accompanied by intense burning and violent itching. There may be blisters over burnt skin.
Cantharis is good if the skin is red with large blisters, and feels raw and itchy. A person may feel his head is heavy and he can’t think straight.
For a severe sunburn that oozes, you might try Causticum.
Taking the remedy orally is easy. Use potencies 30x, 6C, 12C, or 30C. Tip one pellet from the bottle into a glass of water, stir and take a sip of it every 10-15 minutes until you start to feel better. The pellet need not dissolve before you start. If you don’t have a glass, put it in a half-filled water bottle and shake between each sip. If you don’t have water, give one pellet under the tongue for the same time frame. Stop once you start feeling better or if after two hours the remedy hasn’t helped.
Any of the remedies can also be used topically at the same time as orally. Refer to the above instructions for topical use of Calendula.
Should the sunburn be severe and/or the person is unconscious or his or her cognitive ability is impaired, don’t wait; give the person the remedy on the way to the ER.
For those who are under homeopathic care, you may want to consult your homeopath first. A repeated dose of your remedy may be the best solution. If you have any questions about how much sun is right for you, or have experienced heatstroke or sunstroke in the past, consult your health care professional.
SOURCE
How much sun do you need?, Health & Wellbeing the Pulse 05/04/2006.
MedPage Today, Vitamin D Benefits from Sun Exposure Outshine Cancer Risk 01/08/2008.
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NOTE
1“Potentized” refers to a substance that is taken through the process of dilution and succussion. This is how homeopathic remedies are made from crude substances. Refer to “What is Potency“in “FAQ about Homeopathy.”
Copyright © 2010 – , Myra Nissen.
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This article was brought to you by Myra Nissen, CCH, RSHom(NA), Board Certified Classical Homeopath. Myra teaches women how to recognize their body's unique needs and cues and uses Homeopathy to help empower women to take control of their bodies, health and well-being. Find out more, she regularly publishes articles with home care tips for health and well-being in several venues. Visit her blog www.myranissen.com/blog.