The Latest from Evan's Garden

In the matter of temperature, our bodies are not equipped to withstand much departure, up or down, from a rather narrow comfort range. It’s best to have some solutions worked out for very hot or cold conditions. Here are some ideas for making it through a heat wave or just the occasional night when you’re too roasting-hot to sleep.

In low temperatures, I can warm up as long as I have lots of woolen blankets, quilts, socks. But when it’s very hot, we can remove at most all our clothes and covers. At times, even air conditioning or a fan are not enough to alleviate the heat. Here are some ways I cool down.

Disclaimer: Do check with a health care professional for what he/she says about any food or supplements, dosage and need as regards any ideas I write here. This is what I do that works for me.

Loss of water and minerals can sneak up on you suddenly. You may feel weak, woozy — you know the feeling? It’s smart to have on hand replenishment of what the heat is draining from the body.

First of all, we exude, breathe out, perspire water regularly, as I’m sure you know. We lose water faster in the heat, since a key purpose of sweating is to cool us down.When it’s hot, drink extra (pure) water. Know you know it, still couldn’t leave this one out.

Heat can bring on leg cramps due to dehydration. My natural doctor taught me that leg cramps may indicate that the heart is working harder pumping blood that’s thicker than it should be. Drinking water can help relieve this. I keep a lidded glass carafe of spring water by the bed with a cup already full. In the heat, I set aside any consideration of possibly having to get up to go to the bathroom during the night in favor of downing a good deal of water. And keep my leg oil in easy reach, just in case.

It’s wise to replace minerals lost in sweat. I take homeopathic Cell Salts, Hyland’s Bioplasma Cell Salts and a potassium supplement. The cell salts replenish what is lost from the cells with sweat. They go under the tongue. A doctor told me years ago that if you touch some cell salts pills, don’t put those back in the bottle…true for any homeopathic pills. Cell salts are fabulous to have along if you’re headed into some heat for more than a short time or into extreme heat. Great to have in purse or pocket.

True sea salt is an important part of a diet. The word “salary” derives from the Latin word for salt — people were paid in sea salt way back when. Include in your diet (if your doctor agrees) unbleached, unstripped, natural sea salt, Himalayan Pink, whichever great salt you love.

Some sea salts on the market are not up to snuff. Trace minerals are used in industry so some companies go for the profit of removing and selling these. People have a fetish about white foods, so bleach may be used. Find out if a sea salt is the real thing by reading labels — valid sea salt companies do sport informative labels — and choose unbleached and complete sea salt.

Potassium works with sodium (minerals work in pairs, balance each other). For supplements, I prefer the low dosage, organic, whole food ones such as from Standard Process and Vibrant Health. Again, check with your health pro.

Evan’s Garden Air Freshener, Ice

I make a wonderfully refreshing Air Freshener Spray called Ice. A couple of sprays into the room can make it feel cooler in there. When it’s extremely hot, I use it in another way as well. If I start to roast, I wipe my forehead, neck, chest, back of knees and elbows, etc.,, with diluted Ice Air Freshener.  (Avoid eyes, mouth, other mucous membranes).

Ice Air Freshener is too concentrated to spray onto skin. It’s important to cuts its strength with water. I wet a face cloth with purified water and spray the face cloth once, a small spray, with Ice. I mush up the face cloth, move it around against itself, to spread the Ice over it more evenly.

Another way to do this: Shake the bottle of Ice, unlid it and pour about one teaspoon into anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of pure water, stir well and dip the little towel into the glass. Excuse my being obvious here, but hey, it’s just smart to throw out what’s left so no one drinks it — it looks like water — and wash the glass, of course.

This wipe-down is very cooling and usually gives me enough relief that I can fall asleep. Keep the wet towel handy on a very hot night and wipe down as needed.

It’s helpful, too, if your air conditioning is out in your car and you must travel under these circumstances to bring Ice along as well as drinking water, a cloth for the above wipe-down, cell salts, etc.

Hope this helps!  What bright ideas and methods of staying cool do you know?