In The Spring

Spring is coming. That means warm days, sunshine, flowers, green grass, pollen, sunburn, insect bites, and rashes. But before you spend your money on over the counter remedies try looking in your kitchen. Any fruit or vegetable is rich in vitamins and minerals but most can be healing too. There are many foods that can be used as remedies for all kinds of springtime ailments. Keep reading and you will find helpful tips to keep you fresh faced and smiling all spring.

Lets look at garlic. Garlic is antiseptic, antibiotic, and antifungal. Even though its smell is potent its healing properties are worth enduring it. Don’t get me wrong, garlic in tomato sauce is yummy. Garlic on your foot, is not. Got athlete’s foot, use some garlic juice on it. Springtime cold? A garlic infused oil can be rubbed on your chest.

Ok maybe garlic is not first choice, perhaps lemon would help. Lemons are a natural insecticide. Keep away mosquitoes and house flies by using lemon essential oil. If you have a mister on your patio mix in some lemon essential oil or wipe down your picnic table with this essential oil. Already got stung? Apply pure lemon juice to the affected area will relive the pain of the sting.

Did you know that potatoes can relieve pain and inflammation? Use a baked potato on your tennis elbow. Cut the potato a third of the way in and apply the “cup” on you elbow and wrap loosely so the potato doesn’t fall off. Make a poultice with potato and heal bruises and sprains. And a slice of a raw potato applied to a burn can relieve the pain.

What about sunburn and poison ivy and chiggers? Aloe Vera, while not commonly found in one’s pantry or fridge it’s usually on the patio or within reach. Known for its amazing healing properties, the Aloe Vera gel can be applied to burns, scrapes, rashes, and sunburns. Honey is also good for skin ailments. Honey can be applied on rashes and burns. Not only does it create a barrier on the affected area to prevent further infection its antifungal and antibacterial (in unpasturized honey) properties aid in healing.

Springtime, do your worst. As long as your pantry is full you’ve got it covered.

Lisa Radke is one of the owners of Wild Natural Beauty natural and organic beauty essentials. Please visit our website at www. wildnaturalbeauty.com.