7 Foods That Soothe Summer Ailments

Oatmeal

As 100-year-old Russian peasants can attest, oatmeal is great for your insides, but it also works wonders on irritated skin. If your kids are unlucky enough to run into some poison ivy or oak on their summer adventures, make a poultice by placing cooked, cooled oatmeal into a cotton cloth and apply to the affected area(s). 
Learn how to turn this remedy into a soothing, full body treatment!

Peppermint

Drinking everyday peppermint tea can fight headaches, indigestion, bloating or gas, and cold and flu symptoms. You can also use this powerful herb topically to soothe itchy, irritated skin caused by hives, poison ivy, or poison oak.
Learn how to make and apply a healing peppermint paste.

Vanilla Extract

Summer travel can lead to anxiety and car-sickness, and plain old vanilla extract is a great remedy for both. To treat a nervous stomach or nausea, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to 2 tablespoons of warm water mixed with honey. Vanilla’s soothing scent alone can calm nerves. 
Learn how to easily create a fragrant massage oil to combat nervousness and jitters.

Ginger

This great root just might come in handy during long summer road trips. If someone in your family is prone to carsickness, bring along some ginger, which is a well-known nausea and upset-stomach fighter. Peel and slice a 1-inch section of the root and steep it in hot water for at least 10 minutes for a potent (and spicy) ginger tea. 
Try these on-the-go ways to get your ginger fix, too!

Honey

Everybody knows that honey is great for relieving a sore throat or helping with a cough, but did you know it’s also a natural antibiotic that can treat minor burns? It’s true; honey has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties that may work even better than antibiotic ointment when applied to burns. Simply apply it directly to the affected area and cover with a piece of gauze or band-aid.
Plus did you know baking soda can help soothe sunburn? Here's how!

Cinnamon

If summer fun has led to a generally upset stomach in your child, try adding some cinnamon to their diet. The spice is known to help soothe an upset digestive tract â€" just don’t overdo it. Start with a little bit and then work up to a teaspoon or so a day. 
Here are some easy ways to incorporate cinnamon in your kids' snacks!