Health

Home Remedies For Mild Summer Ailments

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Nothing can ruin a family outing in the summer like a bee sting or carsick child. And with the kids spending so much time outside, a great day can turn to chaos instantly.

Mindy Apple tries to be ready for any little incident that can wreck the time her kids play outside. "I just recently kind of got our pool bag ready, and I made sure I put some band aids and bug spray."

Dr. Hillary McClaferty, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says parents have many options to try at home before calling the family doctor. For example, if a child gets water in their ear after swimming, you can try a hair dryer on low heat, held a foot away. "You can gently dry out the moist areas before infection sets in."

For bug bites with stingers, use a credit card to gently scrape the stinger out. That is suggested instead of a tweezers, which may break the stinger off under the skin. Sliced cucumbers can ease swelling, as can baking soda. Dr. McClaftery explained, "When mixed into a simple paste with a few drops of water, and then placed on a bug bite, it can help soothe the inflammatory response."

Here's one that might surprise you: duct tape applied over a wart can work wonders when it comes to making it disappear. Change it weekly, more often if it gets wet, for about a month and a half. Dr. McClaferty admits that it sounds strange, but says it's actually very effective.

For kids who get car sick, try giving them a stick of chewing gum. "That can help the digestive tract flow in the proper direction," explained Dr. McClaferty.

One home remedy that is not a good idea - applying butter to a burn. That actually can keep the heat in, and make the situation worse. Of course if there is anything that even appears serious, you should get professional medical attention right away.

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