By Schuyler Corrigan

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August 20, 2023

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Throughout the year, we all gravitate to a few tried and true remedies to support us in the changing climate and activities of each season. Our naturopathic doctors have a few favorite natural products they keep on hand to support themselves and their families, and below we list the top 7 things our practitioners keep in their summer toolkits for the summer months: 

Aloe Vera

Aloe leaf gel is our simple, go-to option for sunburn relief. The cooling, soothing gel found inside the aloe leaf is a gentle and effective remedy for supporting skin healing after too much sun. We recommend using a gel with minimal ingredients and no alcohol included, or purchasing the whole aloe leaf and scraping out the gel yourself to apply. You can use this liberally as needed. 

 

Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is great for those that may be feeling stressed with the chaos of the summer and having a hard time settling down to sleep. You can put a few drops on your pillow or sheets to help you shift into a more calming state for sleep. Additionally, lavender essential oil is great for burns from the sun, water, or even hot objects. You can apply directly to the skin and it can help to reduce the discomfort. Not all essential oils are created equal where some are not pure essential oil or the distillation process is not ideal. There are a few companies that do a better job than others. Some of our favorites include The Essential Oil Company or Aromadivina.

Nettle leaf + electrolytes 

These are a must when we travel to make sure we stay hydrated. Nettle leaf is one of the most nutritive herbs for tea. Nettle is rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and makes a perfect hydrating beverage to take with you when you’re out on hot days or traveling. Our go-to is Nettle Tea from Traditional Medicinals for an easy-to-pack travel option. Brew like a normal tea, then add ice and a dash of lemon and honey for a chilled summer beverage. It can also help with allergies and congestion as we approach the hayfever season.

Electrolytes are another essential to keep us hydrated in summertime. We obtain electrolytes from the foods we eat, and we lose them through sweating or dehydration. Electrolytes are the collective term for a group of minerals that help to maintain cellular fluid balance, support muscle contraction, and help to regulate chemical reactions throughout the body. These include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, bicarbonate, chloride, and phosphate. We keep LMNT packets or Pique Hydration or Hilyte drops for a minimal ingredient, low-sugar option. 

 

Read More: Naturopathic Lifestyle Tips: Staying Hydrated

Peppermint

Peppermint (mentha piperita) is the classic aromatic herb you all may likely have in your tea cupboard already! We love this herb in summer for a cooling and refreshing iced tea (another delicious way to stay hydrated in hotter months), and also for burns or itchy skin. You can steep 1-2 peppermint tea bags in 2 cups of hot water. Once steeped, add ice or put in the freezer for a few minutes to chill it. Then soak a washcloth in the peppermint tea and apply to the skin to calm and soothe inflamed, burned or extra hot skin for a gentle cooling effect. 

Mineral Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must-have for every season, especially in the summer when we are outdoors more often. Mineral sunscreens are our preference, such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These minerals reflect UVA and UVB rays while sitting on top of the skin rather than being absorbed into it. The Environmental Working Group is an excellent resource to check your go-to sunscreen ingredients and see if you’d like to swap your chemical sunscreen for a mineral-based sunscreen. We often recommend 100% Pure, or Badger. 

 

Read More: Natural Remedies for the Prevention of Sunburns

Rhus tox homeopathic

If you’ve ever experienced a poison ivy rash, you’ll know how uncomfortable the healing process can be as the rash resolves. The itchy, burning rash spreads quickly, and the best way to expedite the healing process is by not touching or scratching (which can be very difficult!). We always keep the homeopathic remedy Rhus tox on hand to take immediately after poison ivy exposure and during the healing process to support a speedy recovery. Your Naturopathic doctor can advise you on dosing, and if there are any other specific recommendations to take in conjunction, if needed. Of course, if you are allergic to poison ivy you may need additional support outside of homeopathic support.

Histaminum homeopathic or Ambrosia homeopathic

At this time of year, the grass pollen and ragweed pollen seem to catch some people by surprise where they may experience typical allergy symptoms such as eye and throat itching, poor sleep,  and headaches. We find that Histaminum and/or Ambrosia homeopathics can be useful to mitigate or reduce some of the typical hay fever symptoms. There are combination products on the market that couple the two remedies together for ease. Since the hay fever season typically lasts until the first frost, it is nice to have something on hand to allow us to thoroughly enjoy the warmer days that lead up to the Fall and Winter!

Read More: Ragweed: Naturopathic & Herbal Support