The great outdoors is an endless source of fun, learning, and excitement – and bites, bumps, and bruises. So, what do you do when your summer fun needs a bit of first aid?

Heat or ice? At least once a summer I jam a finger playing basketball. Within minutes, the finger turns a sickly purple-red and swells up to twice its normal size, and then I can’t move it for a week. Or at least that’s what used to happen before I took icing seriously. Now I rush for ice the instant I get hurt, and within a day or two, I get my full range of motion back. It doesn’t swell up nearly as much, and it heals a lot faster. Use ice whenever you feel heat and/or throbbing. Heat, on the other hand, should be applied when an area is stiff and creaky. Ice is for first aid and heat is for chronic aches and pains.

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For bumps and bruises you want arnica. There are arnica products for both internal and topical use. My all-around favorite is T-Relief Arnica 12, available in both topical and internal forms. Debra Stark, of Debra’s Natural Gourmet, recommends Newton Homeopathics Accident/Injury.  Phytogesic Balm from Wise Woman Herbals combines arnica with heating and cooling herbs, herbal sources of aspirin-like compounds, and St. John’s Wort. You can even take arnica before an expected strain on your body: right before a boxing match, a marathon, a strenuous hike, or before that weekend-long gardening project.  

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For bee stings: Try homeopathic Apis Mellifica. Unless you’re allergic to stings — then seek immediate medical help.

For poison ivy: Wash the area with soap as soon as possible. Any soap will do, but All Terrain Poison Ivy Soap is especially useful because it has plantain and neem. Learn to recognize jewelweed (that fleshy-stalked, yellow-flowered plant that almost always grows right next to the ivy). Break the jewelweed stalk open and spread the juicy pulp over the affected area. Internally, Boiron’s homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron or the Hyland’s, Dr. Kings’, or Newton Homeopathics’ combination poison ivy formulas are terrific. 

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For cuts, scrapes, scratches, and other types of broken skin injuries: Generally speaking, thick waxy salves, balms, and ointments are less effective at healing, but provide a sturdier protective barrier against the environment. Look for products that contain ingredients like beeswax and shea butter. Delicate creams and oils usually don’t provide the same level of protection, but can penetrate better, and are often better at actually healing and let a wound breathe.

Vitamin E oil soothes and protects everything from minor scrapes and scratches to the large incisions left over from surgery. It doesn’t sting, it speeds the healing process, and it helps reduce scarring. 

For burns, including sunburns: Reach for aloe vera for simple burns. More serious burns that involve blistering should receive medical attention. Colloidal silver spray can help cut the chance of infection. Our kitchen uses a colloidal silver spray whenever anyone burns themselves. It usually prevents blistering, takes away the pain, and works so well that our cooks shake their heads!

These are just a few of my favorite natural remedies for minor injuries. If you’d like to learn more, the friendly staff at Debra’s Natural Gourmet are always happy to help.  But please remember to always seek medical help for more serious injuries.