Don’t Let Bumps And Bruises Spoil Your Summer Fun
Minor accidents and injuries are especially common at our house during the summer, so I’ve learned to keep my go-to home remedies on hand during the warmer months. Between Dave’s fishing trips, the kids hiking with their dogs, and my gardening sessions, opportunities abound for us all to acquire new scrapes, cuts, and other minor wounds and ailments.
Luckily, I’ve found that a few basic supplies can help heal almost any summer wound and get us back to enjoying our summer fun! To help you prepared for any minor mishaps you might encounter this summer, I’ve got 10 home remedies to share with you in this post, covering everything from cuts and scrapes to sunburns and stinky feet!
10 Home Remedies For Cuts, Scrapes & Other Summer Wounds
1. Ginger For Tummy Troubles
Take ginger candies with you on road trips or vacations to settle upset tummies. Ginger helps reduce the inflammation that can lead to pain in the stomach, and contains Gingerol, an antioxidant that helps address common causes of nausea. (This is an especially helpful tip for those who suffer from motion sickness in cars or planes!)
Related: 9 Unexpected Ways To Reap The Benefits Of Fresh Ginger
2. Aloe Vera For Skin Woes
During the summer, I always keep aloe vera gel on handy, because it always comes in handy sooner or later! Aloe contains compounds that can help reduce pain and inflammation, which makes it great for soothing sunburns and moisturizing parched skin on hot summer days.
Related: The Most Useful Indoor Plant To Grow This Summer
3. Shea Butter For Sunburns
Another useful moisturizer to have on hand during the summer is shea butter. It’s one of the star ingredients in my super-moisturizing body butter, which is great for slathering on after swimming or being out in the sun. It’s great for soothing and healing sunburns too!
4. Baking Soda For Stings
Create a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to bee or insect stings. Leave it on the affected area for at least 15 minutes to allow the baking soda to clean the skin and neutralize the acidic venom. (Be sure to remove any stingers first!)
5. Listerine For Stinky Feet
Sweat leads to stinky feet, especially during the heat of summertime. Eliminate odors (and enjoy smooth, soft feet afterward) with the aid of a Listerine soak.
I know it sounds weird, but it works! Listerine is an astringent, helping to control excess body oils, as well as an antiseptic, killing bacteria and other microbes that play a role in foot odor, athlete’s foot, and other foot conditions.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar For Cuts And Scrapes
One of the easiest home remedies for scrapes and cuts takes advantage of the benefits of apple cider vinegar. To clean minor cuts and abrasions and promote healing, add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath. The vinegar contains proteins, enzymes, and germ-killing bacteria that can help fight infection.
Related: 9 Of The Most Unexpected Beauty Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
7. Epsom Salt For Swelling, Soreness & Bruises
Epsom salt is an excellent home remedy for bruises, bumps, swelling and muscle soreness, helping to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Add 1 cup of Epsom salt to a bowl of warm water, then dip a clean towel in it, wring it out, and place it on the affected area.
The magnesium will help reduce swelling and stimulate healing, and adding a hot water bottle on top of the damp towel will help keep it warm longer.
Related: The 10 Most Useful Things You Can Do With Epsom Salt
8. Honey For Minor Wounds
A thin layer of honey can help heal shallow summer wounds and abrasions. Honey aids the healing process in two ways: it makes the wound less hospitable to bacteria that can lead to infection, and by drawing fluid out of the wound.
Apply a small amount of honey using a clean craft stick or Q-tip, then cover it with a bandage or gauze pad. Clean and reapply twice daily.
Related: 9 Ways That Honey Can Help You Look And Feel Amazing
9. Witch Hazel For Itches And Irritation
Apply witch hazel to bug bites using a cotton ball or pad to reduce itchiness and irritation. Witch hazel contains tannins that help reduce swelling, help repair broken skin, and fight bacteria when applied directly to the skin.
Related: 26 ‘Magic’ Ways To Use Witch Hazel
10. DIY Healing Salve For Bumps, Cuts & Scratches
For a great multi-purpose healer, look no further than my favorite all-purpose DIY healing salve. It’s easy to make, and features a combination of essential oils for bumps and bruises, skin-nourishing butters, and beeswax that can aid in healing minor wounds (which is why it’s a staple in my own medicine cabinet!)
What minor wounds and woes are common at your house during the summer?