n the good, old summer time, you'll probably be spending a lot of time at outdoor activities. And that often means more chances to incur minor ailments related to those activities - you know, mosquitoes, sunburn, poison ivy. Here are some tips on how to take care of these problems.

Poison ivy

As soon as possible after contact with poison ivy you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Removal of the oil that the plant deposits on your skin will lessen the severity of the reaction. If a rash occurs use oatmeal to dry the rash and stop itching. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1/2 cup of oatmeal, let sit for 10 minutes, wrap in cheese cloth, gently compress this over the rash, remove and let it air dry. To increase effectiveness of the compress, first make an infusion of the herbs grindelia, plantain or sassafras, and use this infusion to prepare the oatmeal. The fresh juice of jewelweed applied soon after contact with poison ivy can stop the rash. The homeopathic remedy Rhus tox (this is the Latin name of poison ivy) can also be used to help the rash clear up faster.

Insect bites

A citronella-based insect repellant is very effective for mosquitoes and flies. Look for a product that contains citronella and some combination of peppermint, bergamot, eucalyptus or lavender oils. Lemon balm, lemongrass and catnip all contain citronella. You could try making your own oil infusion of these herbs. Try adding peppermint and lavender. Fill a pint jar with the herbs and cover with olive oil. Let sit for about 6 weeks, stirring occasionally strain and apply.   

For mosquito bites try covering the bite with some of your saliva. Enzymes in the saliva will break down the venom that causes the swelling and itching. If that doesn't work, there are several herbs that can be crushed and applied to the bites. Try some plantain, comfrey, chickweed or calendula (pot marigold). You can also use essential oils such as lavender, peppermint and tea tree oils, applied directly to the bite. For a bee or wasp sting, apply ice immediately for at least 20 minutes to stop the spread of the venom and reduce swelling. Homeopathic Ledum or Apis (this is bee venom) are also useful if taken soon after.

Sunburn

Sunburn prevention is the best policy. Use a good sunscreen of SPF 15 or more and make sure that you reapply every 2 hours if you're sweating or swimming. Fresh aloe vera gel is the best treatment. Apply it liberally over the burn. A cool water bath or shower is also very soothing. Calendula infusion sprayed on the burn can be very therapeutic. Also try a wash of green tea infusion - green teas antioxidant and astringent properties may help "cool" the burn and prevent skin damage.

Sore muscles

Are you a weekend warrior? Make sure you have homeopathic Arnica on hand. This is an excellent remedy for muscle soreness and bruising. Use it as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Ice should also be applied as soon as possible. And bathing that sore body in an epsom salt bath is very good for aching muscles and swollen body parts. Try adding essential oils of fir needle, eucalyptus, lemon and juniperberry to the bath for a soothing effect.

Swimmer’s ear

If you've got water in the ear, get rid of it before it starts to cause a problem. Use a mixture of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Fill the ear canal, leave it in for a few minutes and let it drain out. Repeat if necessary. If irritation persists try using a few drops of garlic oil. You can make your own by cutting a clove of garlic into several pieces, covering with about one ounce of olive oil and letting sit for eight hours, then strain.

Athlete’s foot

Tea tree oil applied twice daily to the affected area can really clear up athlete's foot. Keep applying until infection is cleared. Tea tree oil can also be very effective for swimmers itch, which is caused by a parasitic organism.

Another good treatment is either pau d'arco bark or black walnut bark. Prepare an infusion by boiling one tablespoonful of either bark in 16 ounces of water for about 20 minutes. Use this infusion as a soak for twenty minutes at least once daily, preferably twice daily.

Heat stroke

If you start feeling weak after working or playing in the heat and sweating a lot, you probably need to replace important electrolyte minerals. Use an electrolyte drink or have a packet of Emergen-C (mineral electrolytes with vitamin C) handy to dissolve in water. You can prepare your own electrolyte tea with nettles, red clover and red raspberry leaves. Make a sun tea with one ounce of nettles, one ounce of red clover and two ounces of red raspberry leaf in one gallon of water. Let this sit in the sun for 6-8 hours, add some sugar if desired, refrigerate and enjoy. If fainting or prostration occur, get emergency help.

When summer's here, it's time to have fun. But play it safe as well and know how to take care of those summer maladies.