The sun beckons
When, after many cold months, we finally feel the first warm rays of sunshine that we have missed for so long, we are drawn outside into the fresh air, where we now prefer to spend as much time as possible. Especially after a long winter in which your skin has weaned itself from the sun, you shouldn't forget to use sun protection, otherwise sunburn is almost inevitable.
However, not everyone is a fan of sunscreen because many products are too oily or difficult to spread and leave white residue on the skin. In addition, many commercially available sunscreens contain paraffin, and looking at the INCI list is often rather scary. Natural cosmetic products are therefore the first choice here too. You don't have to worry about the ingredients, and if you try out what's on offer, you'll definitely find creams or lotions that feel really great on your skin. Don’t forget: your face needs sun protection too! A good face cream with a sun protection factor is recommended here. And speaking of sun protection factor - all low factors are not intended for extensive direct sunbathing, but should be basic protection, especially for light skin types and skin that is not exposed to the sun. If you want to sunbathe intensively, you are advised to use a correspondingly high sun protection factor.
Cool down – after-sun tips from the editorial team of YOGA AKTUELL magazine
Everyone deserves to enjoy the joys of summer. But as soon as you've spent half an hour outside, your skin has taken on the shade of a tomato, and you're so overheated inside that a large bathtub full of ice cubes is your only thought? Oh yes, and the mosquitoes seem to magically attract you again? Sunburn, overheating, insect bites - you don't have to let these spoilsports spoil your summer: we have tips that can help you quickly remedy the situation!
Fire extinguisher for sunburn - measures if there was too much sun
However, sunburn is not something to be trifled with because it can cause irreversible long-term damage to the skin and lead to the development of skin cancer. The sun, divine source of light and energy, is - just like the Kundalini Shakti, for example - something to whose concentrated power people are not allowed to be exposed directly because they are simply not up to it. It is best to avoid the sun at its peak time and in the hours before and after (i.e. between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and otherwise protect yourself with appropriate clothing and sun cream with a high sun protection factor. Ayurveda also recommends a mixture of neem and sesame oil as a sunscreen.
But if you get sunburned, you should quickly calm down the high Pitta that is now burning on your skin. If possible, take a cool bath immediately and enrich it with a few drops of sandalwood, rose or vetiver essential oil - all three have excellent cooling properties. Lavender is also a good cooling bath additive, and chamomile calms the skin and has a healing effect. By the way, a cup of baking powder is also an alternative. Then carefully pat the skin dry and pamper it with an additional cooling, nourishing oil: coconut or sunflower oil are ideal here. It is particularly recommended to add some honey to the oil, as it contains healing enzymes and provides lasting moisture to the cells. According to Ayurveda, pitta is also reduced by aloe vera, and applying aloe vera gel also cools and soothes sunburn (you can of course combine oil and aloe vera gel by mixing them together). Another Ayurvedic recommendation is coriander: Apply it pureed with a little water to the affected skin areas and cover the areas with gauze.
Compresses with ingredients such as pureed lettuce or cucumbers, which restore lost moisture to the skin, or buttermilk or yoghurt, which take away the heat, also provide natural relief.
You can also help your skin regenerate with special nutrients: Pay particular attention to an adequate supply of vitamin C (good sources include peppers, citrus fruits and especially sea buckthorn and amalaki) and vitamin E (e.g. found in abundance in nuts and soybeans). The healing process can also be promoted by increasing the intake of essential fatty acids, such as those found in: B. are contained in linseed: Flaxseed oil is a useful dietary supplement for sunburn (take a portion of around two teaspoons).
So you will certainly soon be able to do your sun salutations again in a very peaceful way!
If it itches and stings: What to do if you have an insket bite?
Jaina monks in India even wear a face mask so that the flight-worthy ones among these tiny inhabitants of our planet do not accidentally get into their mouths and be swallowed. But sometimes the tiny creatures can be real little pests and really get on your nerves with their bites. In order to stay safe, it is helpful not to perfume yourself with sweet scents, but instead to rub your skin with neem oil. Wearing khaki-colored clothing is also a good tactic, while bright flower colors are more attractive to insects. But should you ever find yourself the food source of a busy little bloodsucker or the target of the slightly poisonous sting of a fellow creature that feels threatened, the recommendation is once again neem: neem oil has both disinfectant and healing properties and is a good antidote when dissolved in a little sesame oil . Instead of using the oil, you can also make a paste of neem powder and water.
For bee and wasp stings, you are well advised to use a remedy made from coriander: This herbal plant contains substances that counteract the toxic substance histamine, a component of bee and wasp venom. Apply pureed coriander leaves to the puncture wound and also drink a few sips of coriander water two to three times a day. It's most practical if you make both together: Mix at least two handfuls of coriander leaves with a cup of water and squeeze the mixture through a cloth - this way you get the puree and the coriander water at the same time.
