Our beautiful summers are famous around the world.  It’s a season to enjoy time with the family and the environment, with many Australians taking advantage of picture perfect picnic locations and enjoying our endless beaches and water inlets.

All of this enjoyment in the outdoors however can expose us to a range of experiences which usually don’t occur at other times of the year like mosquito''s, sunburn, hangovers and sports injuries.  These do not have to put a dampener on our summer as we can prepare by having a range of effective treatments which can help to combat these problems quickly and effectively allowing us to enjoy as much of the summer as we can.

Mosquito''s

These insects would have to rate as on of the most annoying, especially on those summer nights when you are trying to sleep and all you can hear is something buzzing trying to locate exposed skin so it can have its lunch.  Citronella is a great natural alternative to help prevent mosquito bites.  The citronella oil can be used in an oil burner when outside to prevent mosquito bites or by using them near entrances to the house to prevent them from coming inside.  We have a range of natural insect repellents that do not contain large amounts of dangerous chemicals.  Some research has also indicated that the use of B vitamins can also help in preventing mosquito bites from occurring.

Sunburn

Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to sunburn.  It is much easier to apply sunscreen and to wear protective clothing than to cope with the burning sunburnt feeling for days which can also increase your risk of skin cancer.  If sunburn does occur it is worth having some Aloe Vera gel which is kept in the fridge which will help to cool you skin and to promote healing of the skin, it also helps as a moisturiser to prevent peeling which can occur in some cases.

Sports Injuries

Many sports injuries happen in summer whilst enjoying the outdoors.  It is important in the Australian climate to try and prevent unnecessary injuries from occurring.  Summer tempts many reptiles out to enjoy the sunshine.  This is why it is very important for people to wear shoes and long protective pants when walking outside in areas which are known to inhibit snakes.  Swimming can also contribute to a range of injuries during summer and it is important that children are supervised when swimming and warned of the danger which can occur when diving into shallow waters.  One of the best remedies for sports injuries is arnica which can be used as a cream or internally as a tablet.  When taken shortly after injury it can rapidly decrease the amount of bruising and trauma to the area which allows you to recover quickly and to get back into enjoying your summer.

Hangovers

Hangovers from partying during Christmas and New Years Eve can also cause a great deal of discomfort for those who have overindulged during the festive season.  It is important when drinking alcohol to drink at least one glass of water between drinks to prevent dehydration from occurring.  It is usually the dehydration which occurs that leads to most of the discomfort experienced with hangovers.  For those who are known to overindulge there are a range of products which can help prevent hangovers by providing the body with the nutrients it requires to recover whilst helping the body to remove toxins from the body.

The most important thing with these common problems is preparation.  Don’t wait until you get sunburn or insect bites before you purchase something which can help.  Purchase it in advance so you have the things you need when you need them, and enjoy everything summer has to offer.

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Ingredients:

• 1 large eggplant (approximately 1kg)
• 1 baked garlic clove
• ½ cup low fat yogurt
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 level teaspoons cumin powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• 1 ½ tablespoons tahini

Method:

1. Cut eggplant lengthwise into 4 pieces and place on oven tray, lined with baking paper.  Place into a 200^oC preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until eggplant is tender.  Cool and remove skin.
2. Combine all ingredients, including eggplant, in a food processor and process until smooth.

Varicose veins are a disorder in which the veins (usually in the legs) become distended, lengthened and tortuous. The underlying cause of varicose veins is a lack of tone in the tissues supporting the vein and subsequent failure of the valves further up (usually) the leg that normally prevents blood from flowing backwards as a result of gravity.

Varicose veins are four times more prevalent in women than in men. Approximately 10% of the population of Western nations are afflicted with varicose veins by the age of 30. The risk of varicose veins increases with age - more than 30% of persons in the age group 60 - 70 have varicose veins. Pregnancy increases the risk of varicose veins as pregnancy significantly increases pressure in the legs.