MBOMBELA – While the athletics season is well under way, the scorching spring sun is also out to play.
On Saturday the JJJ schools athletics event at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira nearly ended in horror due to a case of heatstroke which saw emergency medical workers attend to a man. With a long summer still ahead, everyone better take care not to fall victim to this serious condition.
Also read: Extreme heat hits the Lowveld region
Symptoms of this condition include body cramps, light-headedness, a throbbing headache, rapid breathing, an increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, redness in the face and excessive sweating. It is possible to beat the heat and avoid becoming a victim to heatstroke. Below are five natural ways to treat heatstroke, as described by Smart Cooky.
1. Buttermilk and coconut water
Buttermilk is known to have a large amount of probiotics, which replenishes essential minerals which may have been lost by excessive secretion. Coconut water rehydrates the body.
2. Apple cider vinegar
This substance is fast becoming a superfood to keep in the house. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and honey mixed with water will refill those needed vitamins and minerals. The water again serves as a rehydrant.
Also read: How to deal with heatstroke in children – naturally
3. Onion juice
This may seem strange, but rubbing onion juice behind the ears and on the chest can actually lower your body’s temperature. Eating raw onions also helps regulate body temperature.
4. Aloe vera juice
It is known for its healing properties and its high level of vitamins and minerals. Though it has a bitter taste that only a few can stomach, mixing it with honey might make it more bearable. Also, according to www.food.ndtv.com, it actually improves the body’s natural defence mechanisms, which are needed to combat internal inflammation caused by heat stroke.
5. Plums
Plums are not only high in vitamins and minerals, but rehydrate the body and help to restore body temperature.
