Beating the summer heat can be a challenge. But what happens when the heat becomes overwhelming? Recognizing and treating heatstroke quickly is crucial. This article explores common mistakes in dealing with heatstroke, effective treatment options, and the best beverages to stay hydrated during hot weather.
Common Mistakes in Dealing with Heatstroke
One of the worst things you can do for someone suffering from heatstroke is give them cold sugary drinks. This practice not only fails to improve the person's condition but also exacerbates the symptoms of heatstroke by increasing blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Additionally, the digestion of sugar requires water, leading to increased water loss from the body.
Furthermore, consuming caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee also increases thirst and dehydration. Therefore, it is not recommended to consume sweet and caffeinated drinks during heatstroke. Avoid consuming items such as black cumin, milk, and fatty foods.
What to Drink During Heatstroke
During heatstroke, consuming diluted and moderately sweetened Sekanjabin or honey vinegar syrup, pomegranate juice, barberry juice, and fruits with cooling properties is one of the best traditional medicine remedies for preventing heatstroke.
Best Beverages to Combat Heatstroke
1- Flixweed seed (Khakshir) and Basil Seeds: These are permanent remedies for treating heatstroke. Flixweed seeds should be consumed in a frozen state with lemon juice; otherwise, it may cause nausea instead of relieving heatstroke. To avoid the constant hassle of cleaning and soaking flixweed seeds , prepare a large amount, wash it, and place it in ice cube trays, covering it with water. This way, you will always have clean, cold flixweed seeds readily available.
Basil seeds, derived from the basil plant, turn into a gel-like substance when combined with water, absorbing the water and helping to relieve thirst and heatstroke. Other benefits of basil seeds include treating infections, relieving constipation, and aiding in weight loss.
2- Lemon Juice: Given the heat and pollution, lemon juice is also recommended due to its vitamin C content, which has antiseptic properties. It is advisable to use one lemon in drinking water every two days.
3- Sour Doogh (Persian yogurt drink): Non-synthetic sour doogh is also suitable for heatstroke relief.
4- Barberry Juice: This is an incredibly beneficial drink for health due to its diverse antioxidants and vitamin C content. It helps strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. Consuming barberry juice in the summer can prevent heatstroke and provide a refreshing feeling.
5- Honey Vinegar Syrup (Serke-angabin): This syrup is excellent for relieving thirst and eliminating excess bile from the body, making it an effective treatment for heat-induced inflammation. Mixing it with chicory seeds and rosewater enhances its properties. It is a beneficial and remarkable drink, particularly for those with a warm liver and stomach or those suffering from stomach cramps and bloating. However, it is not recommended for individuals with a weak stomach, uterine issues, or gastrointestinal ulcers. Additionally, avoid consuming this syrup during episodes of nausea.
To prepare Honey Vinegar syrup, combine one tablespoon of natural vinegar with one and a half tablespoons of honey and two tablespoons of organic mint distilled water in a glass of chlorine-free water. Adding diced cucumber, ice cubes, and fresh mint can enhance the flavor.
6- Sekanjabin Syrup (Sugar Vinegar syrup): If you replace honey with sugar in honey vinager syrup, you get a traditional sekanjabin drink.
7- Jujube: Known as red date or Chinese date, jujube is effective in combating heatstroke. It has moderate and moist nature, making it useful for treating dry skin, sunburn, and redness. Jujube is also beneficial for fighting cancer cells. Boil jujube in water with a bit of red sugar and drink it chilled to alleviate heatstroke, soothe nerves, and combat depression and stress. Jujube tea is also a traditional remedy.
8- Orange Blossom and Honey Syrup: This combination is one of the best natural remedies for heatstroke due to honey's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and soothing properties and orange blossom's immune-boosting effects.
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9- Lemon Verbena Tea: This fragrant herb, native to South America, is harvested in late summer. It has a pleasant scent similar to quince and lemon.
Lemon verbena tea is highly calming and is used to treat seizures, headaches, bloating, indigestion, colds, and insomnia. It is also effective for heart palpitations, stress, and mental fatigue. Cold lemon verbena tea is traditionally used to relieve heatstroke.
Treating Heatstroke
To treat heatstroke at home, consume anything that helps balance your body temperature.
Drinking water is the most crucial step, followed by consuming natural organic salts, fruit juices and cooling herbal extracts like chicory distilled water.
Avoid energy drinks and sugary beverages. Tea and coffee, being diuretics, reduce body fluids and can worsen heatstroke symptoms.
Coffee and Tea Dehydrate You
Tea and coffee have diuretic effects, meaning they increase urine production, which can lead to dehydration and exacerbate heat stress. This is concerning for individuals who are habitual tea and coffee drinkers. Dehydration occurs when there is a loss of body water, which is particularly problematic during hot weather. People addicted to tea and coffee should be cautious as these beverages can reduce overall water intake.
In addition, carbonated beverages are not recommended during the summer season. They can disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system, leading to discomfort and gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, it's advisable to limit consumption of these beverages to maintain optimal hydration and digestive health during warm weather.
External Sources
- 6 healthy drinks that can help deal with heatstroke
- Dehydration and Heat Stroke
- Staying cool in summer: Top tips to keep cool in hot weather
Thank you for reading our article. We hope the information helps you stay cool and healthy during the summer months. Your feedback is important to us! Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review.