Sun , oh Sun ,
You take away all our fun .
Heat cramps , Sun stroke ,
Buying sunscreen makes us broke !
Our skin you burn and tan ,
And all the time we need fan .
There’s Dehydration and Exhaustion ,
And Prickly heat causes so much irritation !
How can we forget, you make us perspire ,
Quick relief from you we aspire !!


With April – May nearing and the mercury rising , all of us are surely feeling the heat . But besides just feeling the heat there are a number of ailments one can suffer from during summer . Let us see what these ailments are and how to beat them .

Why the sun harmful
Hot and humid environment slows down the evaporation of sweat . While atmospheric temperature continues to rise, our body cannot cool down fast enough . There is a state of elevated core temperature or Hyperthermia . This can lead to Heat Exhaustion and in severe cases ( core temperature > 40 degree Celsius ) Heat Stroke .

Extracellular sodium depletion following electrolyte loss as a result of persistent sweating with replacement of water but not salt can lead to painful cramps called as Heat Cramps .

Dehydration can occur if fluid loss due to perspiration is not compensated .

Skin problems are the commonest ranging from simple sun tan to skin cancer due to harmful effect of Ultra Violet rays of the sun . As Patricia Farris , a famous dermatologist has rightly said - “ Your skin remembers every bit of sun it ever had ! ”

Bad effect of sun heat leads to

HEAT EXHAUSTION- Elevated core temperature associated with hyperventilation and symptoms of tiredness , fatigue , muscular weakness , dizziness and collapse .

HEAT STORKE – Life threatening condition when core temperature of body is > 40 degree Celsius .Symptoms of heat exhaustion occur in addition to headache , nausea , vomiting .Coarse muscle tremor and confusion which may
progress to loss of consciousness may be seen as a neurological manifestation .

HEAT CRAMPS – Painful muscle cramps occur most commonly in the legs of young people following vigorous exercise in hot weather.

HEAT RASH – Skin redness , dryness , irritation from excess sweating .

PRICKLY HEAT / MILIARIA RUBRA – Papular itching eruption of the skin due to blockage of sweat ducts .

CATARACT - Long term UV exposure increases formation of free radicals which injures the lens and can cause its opacity .

PHOTOAGING - More the exposure to sun , more are the signs of aging like dry rough skin , sallow complexion , etc .

SUN BURN – Erythema caused by exposure to critical amounts of UV light .

SUN TAN – Brownish discolouration of skin from exposure to sun .

FRECKLES – Asymptomatic small circular brownish macules appearing on face , forearms , and other sun exposed areas of the body .

SOLAR PURPURA – Easy bruising , bleeding into the skin with bleeding from mucus membranes .

SKIN CANCER – Main risk factor for most forms of skin cancer is exposure to UV radition in absence of adequate melanin pigment .

HEAT TETANY – Hyperventilation on exposure to heat leading to respiratory alkalosis manifesting as tetany .

SOLAR KERATOSIS – Actinic keratitis ( inflammation of cornea )

HEAT SYNCOPE / FAINTING

CONJUNCTIVITIS

DYSPEPSIA

VERTIGO

EPISTAXIS FROM NOSE PARTICULARLY

EXCESSIVE OFFENSIVE OR STAINING PERSPIRATION

SUN HEADACHE

Homeopathic Approach
With homoeopathy as our weapon we can surely beat the heat ! Following are useful homoeopathic remedies for these solar ailments .


HEAT EXHAUSTION – Antimony crude , Gelsemium , Natrum carb , Selenium , Lachesis , Nux mosch .

HEAT STROKE – Glonoine , Natrum carb , Belladonna , Lachesis , Amyl nit .

HEAT CRAMPS – Colocyinth , Cuprum met , Gelsemium , Belladonna , Natrum mur , China .

HEAT RASH – Kali bich , Ledum pal .

PRICKLY HEAT – Acon , Bry , Jaborandi , Ammonium mur , Arsenicum album , Ledum pal , Syzigium , Urtica urens .

CATARACT – Pulsatilla , Natrum mur , Euphrasia .

HEAT SYNCOPE – Gelsemium , Aconit , Antimony crude , Lachesis , Nux vomica .

FRECKLES – Lyc , Phos , Antimony crude .

SOLAR KERATITIS – Acon , Bell ,Kali bich ,Merc cor .

CONJUNCTIVITIS WITH < HEAT – Acon , Bell , Ferrum phos , Puls , Kali bich , Natrum mur , Calcarea carb , Nux vomica .

DYSPEPSIA IN SUMMER – Antimony crude , Bryonia , Lycopodium .

SUN HEADACHE –Gels , Glon , Natrum carb , Bell , Kali bich , Lach , Antimony crude , Bry , Calcarea carb .

VERTIGO WITH < HEAT – Acon , Agar , Bell , Natrum carb , Nux vomica .

EPISTAXIS FROM NOSE WITH < HEAT – Acon , Bell , China , Nux vomica , Croc , Lach , Puls , Natrum mur .

OFFENSIVE PERSPIRATION WITH < HEAT – Lycopodium , Nux vomica , Pulsatilla , Graphites .

PERSPIRATION STAINING LINEN WITH < HEAT – Lachesis ,Belladonna , Graphites .
 

Protect Your self

Stay in a cool shady place as much as possible specially during afternoon .

Wear light coloured light weight loose clothes .

Do not go out without a hat or scarf or an umbrella

Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher .

Reduce the consumption of tea , coffe ,cola , alcohol .Do not drink liquids with large amount of sugar .

Drink lots of water , clear juice , electrolyte containing drinks .

Eat small meals and more often .Avoid foods high in protein which increase the metabolic heat .

Do not exercise too hard .Cool down yourself with a cool shower .

In case of heat stroke use cold wraps and fan the person . Seek medical help as quickly as possible .


REFERENCES
BOOKS :- Oxford medical dictionary
Davidson Medicine
Kent’s repertory
Boger Boenninghausen’s repertory
Boericke’s repertory

WEBSITES :- Mayo Clinic
Medline Plus