Athlete's Foot
Toes with redness and cracks indicate Pitta-caused conditions. Whitish, fungal-looking skin around the toes are Kapha-caused conditions. Athlete's foot can be caused by heat (Pitta-caused), dirt and lack of fresh air. Simple precautions include wearing clean socks each day, and after exercise washing (with neem or tea tree soap), completely drying feet, and changing socks and footwear.

Kapha-caused conditions develop from damp, wet feet. When drying feet, it is best to use a non-talc body powder found in most pharmacies. It is often sold as baby diaper powder. Health food stores also sell non-talc body powders. Talc may be a causative factor in skin cancer. If fungus already appears, applying a drop or two of  neem or tea tree oils several times daily will help heal the condition.


Cool-as-a-Cucumber!
One very cooling addition to summer meals is cucumber raita. Cucumbers (kheera) are best taken in the morning, or second best at lunchtime. It is not advised for evening use. There is a nice poem in India that says:

Prabhat me kheera ? heera hai
Din me kheera ? jeera hai
Rat me kheera ? peera hai

 In the morning kheera are like diamonds (heera)
In the afternoon kheera are like cumin (jeera)
In the evening kheera are like pain (peera)  


Simple Cucumber Raita
1 cucumber
? tsp. cumin powder
10 cilantro leaves
1 cup plain organic yogurt
Grate or thinly slice cucumbers and then mix all ingredients in a bowl.
[Serves 3 people.]

Dehydration
It is best to drink more water, fruit juices, soups and herbal teas to replenish the extra water that evaporates from the body during summer heat. In last summer's article we spoke of adding rose water and rose petals (gulakand) to water and foods respectively.

For those taking vacations and traveling by air, this causes further dehydration. Several glasses of water should be taken during the flight. To prevent jet lag, drink more water and juices for the next few days after flying. Also avoid drinking coffee and colas with caffeine.  


Insect Repellent and Bites & Stings
Neem is a natural insect repellent. Its oil can be applied to the body and to the room to keep insects and bees at bay. Neem oil also has antiseptic properties. Should you receive a bite or sting, the simplest method of addressing this condition is to apply some neem oil diluted in a sesame oil base, or to mix neem powder with water and apply it to the bite or sting.

Cilantro leaf is a natural antihistamine that may be applied to swellings due to bites or stings. Crush a handful of cilantro leaf into pulp and apply to the swollen area.


Sunburn
People can get sunburn from overexposure to the ultraviolet sun rays. Lighter skinned and sensitive skinned persons are more at risk, as are people who use chemical deodorants, soaps, perfumes, and allopathic medicines. Also, Pitta body dosha people are also more likely to develop sunburn. To prevent sunburn it is advised to stay out of the sun from 10 am to around 3 to 6 pm (depending upon the time of sunset). Try not to spend more than ? hour in direct sunlight. Apply neem oil (cooked/diluted in sesame oil) to the skin as a natural sunblock. If one develops sunburn, aloe vera gel can be applied to the skin to soothe sunburn. An alternative method is to apply crushed lettuce pulp to the sunburn. Coconut oil may also be applied to soothe the skin while indoors.


Skin Rash
Usually Pitta doshas develop rashes, but in the summer, the excessive heat may also cause rashes as the weather can raise anyone's Pitta levels. Drinking cilantro juice, applying the crushed pulp on the skin soothe and heal rashes.

Eating melons and rubbing the fruit side of the rind on the rash is another useful remedy. Sandalwood paste applied to the skin also heals rashes. Adding more Pitta-pacifying foods to meals is also important.

Rashes may also occur due to wearing synthetic clothing due to its inability to breathe. Thus it is advised to wear natural cotton fabric. Clothing should be loose-fitting to enhance air circulation as well. A part of Color Therapy relates to temperature as well. Wearing bright colors in the summer is more advisable. Whites, sky blue, pink, light green offer a cooling effect while the dark colors like black, brown, red, orange, yellow, and olive capture and hold heat from the sun.

Rash Remedy Drink
? tsp. cumin powder
? tsp. coriander powder
1 tsp.  cane sugar
1 cup organic milk
Bring the milk to a boil with the spices and sugar.
Let cool to tepid temperature before drinking.


Tips to Stay Cool
Lighter, less strenuous workouts are advised in the early morning or closer to sunset. Yoga poses that help cool the body include the Fish, Boat, and Cobra. Shitali (pranayama method) is quite cooling and thus most suitable for the summer. Stay cool with sandalwood or jasmine oils ? a drop or two on your pillow before sleep and in between your eyebrows during the day is beneficial.

Rub some coconut oil on your scalp and soles before sleeping, and sleep on your right side. Swim, take moonlight walks, work with flowers in the early morning. If you use an air conditioner, try to open the windows and let fresh air in the house or apartment for an hour or so.

If you spend all day in an air conditioned home or office, get outside for some fresh air as well. Above all, use common sense ? especially during heat waves.

This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe or heal any health condition. It is not intended to substitute for care from healthcare professionals.

Swami Sadashiva Tirtha, D.Sc., is the author of the Ayurveda Encyclopedia. He is the founder of the International Vedic Institute - School of Ayurveda. See details at http://vedicschool.com