Curing the Ails of Summer
(Page 2 of 7)
June/July 1994
Mother Earth News Editors
Take an antihistamine
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Benadryl or another nonprescription antihistamine will ease swelling and pain in adults. An antihistamine-containing cough syrup such as Benylin works better for children, advises Dr. Koehler.
Dress plainly
Bees are attracted to brightly colored clothing — particularly floral prints and dark colors. Wearing white, khaki and other light colors is a good way to keep bees away.
Don't smell so sweet
The sweet smell of flowers isn't the only fragrance that attracts bees. Wearing perfume or aftershave may entice them. So skip the refined scents if you know you're venturing into bee-filled territory.
Up your zinc intake
Certain nutrients such as zinc appear to offer protection against some insects, possibly by altering body odor. George Shambaugh, Jr., M.D., professor emeritus of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, advises taking 60 milligrams a day — about four times the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Good dietary sources of zinc include oysters, red meats and fortified cereals. Besides zinc, thiamine (vitamin B) may also help. Check with your doctor first, though, because high levels of some nutrients can cause problems.
ID your bees
No matter what the species of bee, the spot it stings will appear red and swollen. But all bees are not the same, and neither is their method of stinging, according to Edgar Raffensperger, Ph.D., professor of entomology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Honeybees, which have a fuzzy, golden brown body, sting only once and then die. That's because their stingers remain embedded in your skin. Wasps and hornets can sting repeatedly because they have smooth stingers that can exit pierced skin easily. Don't smash them, because when destroyed, their venom sac releases a chemical that incites other yellow jackets to attack.
When to see the doctor
Allergic reactions to bee stings can be life threatening. In fact, as many as 100 people a year die from bee stings. That's more than the number who die from the bites or stings of all other animals combined, says University of California Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer. How do you recognize an allergic reaction?
- You have trouble breathing, tightness in the throat or chest, dizziness or nausea.
- Swelling spreads to a large area — for example, your entire arm swells, or a large section of the trunk puffs up.
- Pain and swelling continue for more than 72 hours without any relief.
FOOD POISONING
Eat some potato salad left unrefrigerated, or have some luncheon meat handled by someone with unwashed hands, and you may find out what stomach rebellion is all about. Food poisoning is usually the result of eating food or drinking water that's been contaminated with infectious bacteria. Some bacteria work by secreting toxins that affect the whole body, including the digestive tract. Others work by directly attacking the lining of the intestines. Typically you'll experience abdominal cramps, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 to 48 hours after dining. You may also experience sweating, itching or even a slight fever. These symptoms usually end after a day or two. It usually hits hardest when your immune system is already weak from previous illness.
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