Heatstroke
Knowing how to prevent overheating and treat heatstroke can help you bounce back fast!
In the middle of a hot and unpredictable summer, heatstroke is a serious concern. Use veggies, minerals, and peppermint oil to treat and prevent heatstroke naturally.
The importance of sunscreen to prevent potentially carcinogenic skin damage from the sun has been thoroughly discussed in recent years. What often gets missed as you're packing for a camping trip or a day excursion outdoors is a plan to deal with - and prevent! - heatstroke and sunstroke.
We know that pale skin can mean you're more susceptible to a burn. The factors in sunstroke are somewhat more subtle but just as real. They include stress, diet, blood sugar levels, and exposure to environmental toxins.
Stress: Most respondents to last month's Natural Medicine poll said you do believe that our emotions have an impact on our physical bodies. One of the ways that we are affected by stress and emotional well-being is the body's immune system. If stress is keeping you awake at night and suppressing key hormones which support immunity, you will be more vulnerable to all types of illness, including sunstroke.
Diet & Blood sugar levels: Those who eat a diet high in simple carbs (white rice, potatoes, refined flour or grains, refined sugar, or virtually any processed foods), as well as those who are diabetic, will find that their blood sugar varies more throughout the day than that of a person whose diet includes more complex foods. Low blood sugar can make you susceptible to tiredness, nausea, and headaches, which may contribute to heatstroke.
The solution: Make sure you're getting plenty of protein (meat, cheese, beans, egg, tofu, or nuts) and healthy fats (such as those from nuts, seeds, flax or olive oil, and avocado) so that your blood sugar won't vary as much over the course of the day. If you feel fatigue or a headache coming on suddenly, grab a protein-rich snack to boost your energy levels and your blood sugar.
Environmental toxins: If you're dousing yourself in chemicals like bug spray or synthetic sunscreens during the day, reactions such as dizziness, fatigue, or nausea are not uncommon. This kind of sensitivity can combine with the heat and dehydration and lead to sunstroke.
The solution: Go for natural insect repellents and sunscreen. Try to avoid any synthetic chemicals while you're camping. Your body will thank you... and the environment will be better for it, too!
And, of course...
Dehydration: Arguably the most important factor! Dehydration is obvious; but few of us drink anything like enough water each day. Sugary drinks (including fruit juice), carbonated beverages of any kind, caffeinated tea, and coffee just don't count. Ideally, you should be taking in daily a number of ounces of water equal to half your body weight in pounds (i.e. Body weight in lbs. divided by 2 = # ounces of water each day). If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. When you're in the sun and active, dehydration can hit fast.
Thyroid imbalance can also be a factor in vulnerability to heatstroke.
Another way to prevent dehydration and sunstroke - and to treat it, if it does occur - is to dose yourself with a natural-source mineral supplement. Minerals are a great response to any physical shock. Under heat stress, your body loses electrolytes even as it loses water, through sweat, so minerals are exactly what the body needs to restore itself and boost your vitality. The best and most bio-available source of minerals is, of course, from fruits and especially vegetables, but since you will almost never be able to get complete mineral balance from your diet, a supplement can still be really useful. Vegetables are, however, a source of vital, mineral-enriched water, so I cannot emphasize enough how important fresh fruits and veggies can be in preventing heatstroke.
Liquid minerals are also the best thing to apply to a sunburn so that the skin will heal and any cancer-causing DNA damage will be fully repaired. Compared to aloe, which only soothes the skin, minerals are vital to penetrate the tissue and do serious repairs.
Peppermint oil is another great remedy for heatstroke, since it cools body temperature and restores balance. Peppermint can be applied on the temples or elsewhere on the skin, as well as taken in water (2-3 drops in a glass).
My best advice to prevent heatstroke: Eat lots of veggies, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and make sure you're getting a good protein source at each meal. Don't overdo it on chemical bug-repellents. Most importantly: Take it easy, and pay attention to what your body is telling you.
Then have some more water, with your mineral supplement.
