by B.J. Armstrong

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and softly sits on your shoulder."......Hawthorn

    It's summer-time and vacation-time for some people. Time to get away for a little relaxing and fun in the sun. While you are traveling, you never know what's going to hit you health-wise. It may be sunburn at the beach or just a simple case of heartburn. Nevertheless, we need to be prepared. Whether it's a pre-packaged first-aid kit or one that you've assembled yourself, it's good to have some things with you. Here are some samples:

Baking soda... Mix  1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 cup of water and drink for quick indigestion relief.

Tea bags... Too much sun? Put two or three tea bags in your bath water.

Rice and sock... Fill a sock with uncooked rice. Put it in the freezer for a cold compress. It's great for sore muscles, migraines, or aching joints.

Take-out condiments..  Keep them in the freezer as a small cold compress for tiny injuries and hurts.

Vinegar... For immediate relief from a sting or bite, use a cotton ball soaked in vinegar.

Glue or tape... Get out a splinter painlessly by putting on glue, let it dry, and peel off the glue and splinter. Use a piece of tape on those tiny splinters that are hard to see.

Panty hose and oats.. Cut off the foot of the panty hose and fill with oats. Soak it in warm water and rub on poison ivy or any rash that is itching.

Aspirin... For bug bites, wet an aspirin slightly and put it directly on the welt.
    These are only a few suggestions that you might use on your trip or at home if necessary.
    Here are some herb ideas for a bite or sting that will bring relief from the

bees and bugs this August:

Onions.. Mash the onion and apply it to a sting to help reduce swelling and pain.

Garlic juice... Douse yourself with this solution to keep away the mosquitoes.

Parsley... Lemon balm, or basil... rub the fresh leaves of any of these herbs on your skin if you want to stay welt-free.

Peppermint and witch hazel... Mix together and rub on itchy bites to reduce swelling and soothe the skin.
   
The best way to relieve bug bites is to avoid them. To begin  with, leave off the perfume or cologne. Don't wear shiny jewelry or bright colors with flowers. These items attract mosquitoes, yellow jackets and other flying insects.
   
Pain and swelling means something is

wrong. Pay attention and you'll recognize which ailments you can treat and which ones require professional help. Most bruises heal themselves. But, if you are bruising a lot. you might have a vitamin deficiency. To protect yourself, eat lots of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. Eat a lot of oranges, strawberries, kiwi, papaya, red peppers, broccoli, and brussel sprouts.
   
Every time you damage your body, you can break arteries, veins, and tiny capillaries. Blood seeps under your skin from these breaks and form bruises. Vitamin C can strengthen your blood vessels by helping form collagen to help your skin. A bruise that appears from nowhere or a cut that won't stop bleeding could be a sign of a vitamin K deficiency. You'll find this vitamin, which helps blood clots, in spinach, cabbage, avocados, cucumbers, tomatoes, and dairy products.
   
Don't let simple injuries keep you from enjoying your summer vacation. With some simple solutions, you can stay moderately active while helping yourself heal. Most cuts and scrapes get well without much attention. You can prevent infection by applying alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to kill the germs.

What if the little raindrop should say:
"As small a little drop as I am; I can never refresh the dusty earth, so... I'll tarry in the sky."...... Anonymous
   
Happy Vacation!
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