Ayurvedic Remedies for sunburn and heat rash
Holy hades it's hot out Nashville! The Southern sun is fierce this time of year and for some of us this means painful sunburns or itchy heat rash.
Worry not beautiful one, Ayurveda's got you:
. : Sunburns : .
Sometimes, we get burned. Even when we have applied (and reapplied) our Ayurvedic sunscreen! (If you missed the recipe get it HERE). It has happened to all of us at one point or another.
Thankfully, Mother Nature has some awesome tricks up her sleeve for sunburns.
Aloe Vera + Coconut Oil
Both Aloe Vera and Coconut Oil are fantastic for the skin (even without a sunburn). Aloe is well known for it's ability to soothe minor burns and irritation. Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and contains both anti-fungal and antibacterial properties providing a healthy condition for skin regeneration. Put them together and you've got one powerful sunburn remedy!
You can simply put one on after the other or whip them up together lotion style and store in a glass jar for continual use.
Sandalwood + Turmeric Paste
An ancient Ayurvedic remedy, these herbs have a incredible healing affect on irritated skin. Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Sandalwood is naturally anti-septic helping to keep the skins pH balanced, promoting quick new skin growth.
>>> Our favorite Sandalwood Powder <<<
Mix equal amounts of these two herbs with a little cool water (+ little coconut oil for extra skin credit) to form a paste. Apply to sunburned area and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Turmeric has a tendency to stain, be mindful of what you touch.
. : Heat Rash : .
Prickly heat, or heat rash, is a skin condition caused by blocked sweat ducts and trapped sweat beneath the skin. Mix that with excessive heat and friction from tight clothes and voila, heat rash.
It is red and bumpy, stingy and itchy and incredibly irritating. Especially because it likes to show up on sensitive areas of the body like the neck line, chest, armpits, waste line and inner things.
Sometimes heat rash will resolve quickly and on its own after the body simply cools down. On other occasions the skin may need a bit more support.
Baking Soda Bath
Baking soda is Bicarbonate of soda. It is a natural chemical compound that is weakly alkaline in nature and can help balance pH levels by break down acids and proteins. It has quit literally hundreds of awesome uses. One of them happens to be treating skin problems such as heat rash, acne and insect bites.
All you have to do is add about 1 Cup of Baking Soda to a lukewarm bath and soak for 15-20 minutes.
Chickpea Flour + Neem Paste
Gram flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, chickpea flour and besan, is a gluten-free flour that is a popular Indian beauty ingredient for skin. It contains saponin, a natural skin cleansing and purifying agent. Neem, is a tropical Old World tree that yields mahogany like timber, oil and medicinal products. The Sanskrit name of the neem tree is Arishtha, meaning 'reliever of sickness'. Various parts of the indigenous Indian tree are used in traditional Ayurvedic healing. When it comes to treating the skin the leaves and oil in particular are the most beneficial. The traditional Indian remedy calls for crushed neem leaves, but the neem oil is an equal substitute
>>> The Neem Oil we use <<<
Mix ½ cup of chickpea flour with 1/2 Tablespoon Organic Neem oil. Add required water to make a dense paste. Mix well and apply the paste on the affected areas. Leave on for 15 to 20 mins. Wash off with cold water.
