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Family Life
Article on Families on-the-go Magazine
September / October 2007
Cheerleading, Football, Soccer and
Fall Sports …
By Gail Erickson
Fall sports lead to cooler evenings
spent with the family outside and can also lead to more bug bites.
Here are some easy folk remedies for easing your child’s (or you
own) discomfort.
Baking Soda
Dissolve 1 tsp baking soda into a
glass of water and dip a cloth into the solution. Saturate and
then wring out the cloth slightly. Apply to the affected area for
20 minutes.
Meat Tenderizer
Ease the pain from bites and stings
including jellyfish stings. Mix a small amount of water with the
meat tenderizer (do NOT use spiced tenderizer) to create a paste
that is then applied to the affected area for no more than 20
minutes. The papain from the tenderizer breaks down the protein
found in the venom.
Bananas
Rub the area with the inside of a
banana peel to reduce inflammation.
Onion
Cut an onion and rub it over the area
to draw out the poison.
Ice
An ice pack applied early after the
bite or sting will reduce inflammation.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Rub it on the skin to ward away bugs!
Of course you may also ward away people since you’ll smell like
vinegar, but you will avoid the toxins found in most commercial
repellants.
Remember…Difficulty breathing or
swallowing; nausea or chest pains can indicate a severe allergic
reaction that could be fatal. Go to the hospital immediately!
Gail Erickson is a licensed Clinical Esthetician with an English
degree from USF, Tampa. She works at Practically Frivolous, a
full-service salon in St. Petersburg. Please direct any skin care
questions to
gail_erickson@yahoo.com
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