Going out in the sun in summers and spending too much time in the sun can cause heat stroke even in a healthy person. All energy is drained from you and you feel weak and lethargic. You body may be dehydrated and you may fall ill. There are simple home remedies to treat sun stroke. First of all, let us see what the signs of heat stroke are.
Heat Stroke Symptoms and Signs:
- High body temperature, about 104 degrees Fahrenheit and above
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness and weakness
- Rapid breathing and increase in the heart rate
- Flushed skin
- Muscle cramps and abdominal cramps
- Sweating heavily or lack of sweat
After these warning signs, heat stroke starts. The symptoms are usually neurological. One may experience:
- Irritability
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Seizures
- Bizarre behavioural changes
One may even enter into a coma stage after heat stroke. So, you should never ignore these symptoms and signs.
How to Treat Heat Stroke – Home Remedies:
Apple cider vinegar:
What You need:
- A glass of cool water
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
What you have to do:
- Mix both the ingredients well and drink this.
Apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamins and minerals that can replenish the electrolytes lost by the body.
Buttermilk:
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt
- A glass of water
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of cumin powder (optional)
What to do:
- Blend the yogurt and water well.
- Add salt and cumin powder to it and mix well.
- Drink it chilled.
You can drink 1 to 2 glasses of buttermilk every day to avoid heat stroke in summer. It keeps your body hydrated and provides necessary nutrients.
Coriander water:
What You need:
- A bunch of coriander
- A pinch of sugar
What to do:
- Blend the coriander leaves with some water and extract its juice.
- Add some sugar and mix well.
- You can keep it in the refrigerator to cool it for a few minutes and the drink it.
Coriander leaves have the ability to cool your body by removing the excess heat and getting rid of nausea and vomiting.
Cold bath for heat stroke:
What You need:
- Cold water
- Bathtub
What to do:
All you have to do is to fill a bath tub with cold water and stay in it for about15 to 20 minutes. This helps in lowering the temperature of the body. Make sure that you do not use ice cold water.
Chinese medicine:
What You need:
- 1 cup of dried mung beans
- 3 cups of water
What to do:
- Boil the mung beans and strain the liquid thus obtained.
- Cool this liquid and then drink it.
Moong beans are often used in Traditional Chinese medicines to treat heat stroke. By boiling the mung beans in water, the liquid thus obtained contains nutritive values. This helps in hydrating your body and lowering the temperature of the body.
Essential oil:
What You need:
- 2 to 3 drops of peppermint oil
- 1 to 2 drops of lavender oil
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil or almond oil
What to do:
- Mix the two essential oils with the carrier oil.
- Now you have to apply this oil on the back of your neck, on your soles and inside your wrists.
Lavender oil has a soothing effect on the sunburnt skin as well as your nerves. Peppermint oil provides a cooling effect to your body and helps in powering the increased temperature of the body.
Onion juice:
What You need:
- Onion juice
- Honey
What to do:
You can use onion juice in two ways to treat heat stroke.
- After an attack, apply the onion juice behind your ears, as well as under your feet and on your chest. Leave it on.
- After the heat stroke symptoms are gone, you can drink a teaspoon of onion juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey.
Sandalwood paste:
What You need:
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of sandalwood powder
- Water
What to do:
- Mix sandalwood powder and water to get a thin paste.
- Apply this paste on your forehead and chest.
- Let it remain for an hour or more.
If you do not have sandalwood powder with you, you can use sandalwood oil also. Apply this once daily to reduce the symptoms of heat stroke. Sandalwood has the ability to bring down the temperature of your body.
Tamarind juice:
What you need:
- Few tamarind pieces
- 1 to 1 ½ glass of water
- a pinch of salt or honey
What to do:
- Boil the tamarind for a few minutes in water.
- Strain the liquid and add sugar or honey to it.
- Cool it and drink this concoction.
Tips and Precautions for Heat Stroke:
- Whenever you go out in the sun, make sure that you cover your heads with a scarf, a hat or an umbrella.
- Drink lots of water in summer. This helps on keeping your body well hydrated and bringing down the temperature of your body. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go.
- Keep the excess body heat away by drinking lemonade or buttermilk.
- Try to wear clothes that are loose fitting and made of an absorbent fabric. Also choose light coloured clothes.
- Do not exert yourself too much in the sun.
- Make sure that you sleep 6 to 8 hours a day and have a balanced and healthy diet. Avoid foods that are fried as they increase body temperature. Similarly try to avoid spices, warm vegetables, cured meats, alcohol and caffeine.