Natural, unusual, and time-tested ways to combat summer meltdown Summer is the season most of us look forward to all year (even during our globally-warmed winters). It means having the freedom to romp, bond with nature, and dress way down. Yet when it finally arrives, we”re quickly reminded that although the grass may be greener, it”s also wilted and sticky. Fortunately, cooling off doesn”t have to mean cranking up the air conditioner. Here are natural ways to beat the heat – with almost no fossil fuels required.
1- Get Misty
You”ll need pure essential oils; a 4-ounce spray bottle; and water. (If you”re pregnant or diabetic, or have a history of seizures, we advise you checking with a doctor before trying this.) Pour water into the bottle until it”s about half full. Add the following oils: eleven drops of orange, eight drops of bergamot, five drops of rosemary, and two drops of lavender. Then, fill the rest of the bottle with more water. Keep the mixture in a cool, dry place and shake it before using. Spritz it on your body anytime throughout the day except before bed; it”s an energizing blend. It should also give you a gentle mood lift with a dash of mental focus, emotional clarity, and cheerfulness.
2- Rock Out
Hot stone massages feel great in the winter, so why not try a cold stone treatment when the weather heats up? To save money by doing it yourself, go to the nearest outdoor space and select some smooth rocks that are palm size and smaller. Once you”ve got your rocks, rinse them and lay them in your freezer on top of a bandana or piece of fabric. After about an hour, they”ll be cold enough to rest on your wrists, neck and other pulse points for maximum coolage. The stone may also - if you believe in this sort of thing - help ground you. At the very least, you”ll feel like a human being for an hour or so instead of human black top.
3- Eat for the Season
In Ayurveda, India”s science of life and medicine, beating the heat is all about balancing the dominant element of summer - pitta, or fire. "Like increases like, so we have to have a diet and lifestyle that is opposite to the qualities of pitta," says Krupali Desai, a New York-based Ayurvedic doctor. For example, in blazing summer, she recommends avoiding spicy, heavy foods and eating watery fruits and vegetables (melons, grapes, plums, apples, cucumber). Dairy, known for its cooling properties, is also recommended to take the sting off the heat. In India, says Desai, people often end their warm days by drinking a small glass of buttermilk with a dash of salt and cumin powder.
4- Run From Ice
No matter how relieving that frosty drink feels, traditional Chinese medicine holds that icy fluids and foods impair the ability to digest. "The digestive system is like a pot over a fireplace," explains Elizabeth Fay, an acupuncturist with offices in Cambridge and Newton, Massachusetts. "If the fire under it isn”t warm enough, we”re not going to “cook,” or digest, our food properly." This can lower overall energy and harm your ability to fight illness - not to mention the sweltering heat. During summertime, Fay advises drinking room-temperature fluids.
5- Imagine Cool
Close your eyes, sit comfortably, or lie down. Visualize yourself lying in a soft, grassy spot; you are totally safe. Imagine that the heat in your body is hot water circulating through your system-now watch it as it starts flowing out your pores. The water is running out of you and being absorbed into the cool earth. Now feel the sweetest, mistiest summer rain dusting over you, cooling you down completely. Open your eyes and wake up to a calmer, balmier you.
