Top 10 Home Remedies for Sunstroke

The sweltering summer days make life miserable, heating you up inside and out. It also raises your body temperature. One of the most disastrous impacts of this unforgiving sun is sunstroke. It happens when your body temperature rises above its normal level of 37 degrees Celsius. Studies show that prolonged exposure to the scorching sun can overheat your body, putting your vital organs at risk.

So, why does sunstroke happen, and could you prevent it? These are two questions many of us ask. Well, dehydration is one of the primary causes of sunstroke. So, it’s essential to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated.

Maintaining your electrolyte balance is key to protecting yourself from sunstroke. Kids often don’t like drinking water. So encourage them to drink water and eat fruit-rich veggies and fruits to help protect them from the deadly sun attack.

Yet, there are times when you fall prey to the scorching sun despite taking adequate precautionary measures. In such cases, you could always rely on one or more of these home remedies to ease yourself or the injured person.

First Aid for Sunstroke: When It Is a Medical Emergency

Sunstroke, also known as heat stroke, is the most serious heat illness and a medical emergency. It happens when the body can no longer cool itself and the core temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher. Warning signs include confusion, slurred speech, fainting, seizures, hot skin, and a fast pulse. Without quick cooling, it can damage the brain and other organs, so acting fast can save a life.

If you think someone has sunstroke, call your local emergency number first, then start cooling them right away while you wait for help:

• Move the person to a cool, shaded, or air-conditioned place.
• Remove extra clothing.
• Cool them fast. A cool bath or shower works best. If that is not possible, sponge or spray them with cool water and fan them, and place cold packs on the neck, armpits, and groin.
• If the person is fully awake, give small sips of cool water or an electrolyte drink. Do not give fluids if they are confused, vomiting, or unconscious.
• Stay with them until medical help arrives.

The home remedies below are best used for mild heat discomfort, recovery, and prevention. It should never be used as a replacement for emergency care in a true sunstroke. Trusted guidance is available from the Mayo Clinic and the CDC.

Heat Exhaustion vs Heat Stroke (Sunstroke)

Heat exhaustion is the milder warning stage, while heat stroke is the dangerous emergency stage. Knowing the difference helps you act in time.

Top 10 Home Remedies For Sunstroke

1. Cold Water

Lower your rising body temperature by soaking in cold water. Make sure the water is cool, not cold, as direct contact with cold water after sun exposure can bruise your skin. Fill a bathtub with cool water. Add a cup of baking soda and soak for 10 minutes to help lower your body temperature.

2. Keep yourself hydrated with water

Drink water when you are thirsty, but never on an empty stomach, as it can worsen sunstroke. Drink warm water as soon as you take shelter from the sun. Grandmothers advise that like repels like, and warm water helps you sweat and prevent the effects of sunstroke.

3. Raw Mango Juice

Aam Panna, as it is known in India, is one of the best refreshing and tasty ways to eliminate the negative effects of sunstroke. Enriched with a wide array of spices like cumin, black pepper, and rock salt, this raw mango drink has the power to cool your body. It also contains a good dose of potassium and vitamin C, which help restore electrolyte balance and eliminate free radicals.

Related Article: Health Benefits of Mango

4. Tamarind

Tangy tamarind is a good source of natural electrolytes, along with various minerals and vitamins, making it a wonderful natural cooler. Soak gooseberry-sized tamarind in warm water for half an hour. Extract the pulp and mix in a little jaggery, cumin seed powder, and black pepper. Allow the mixture to cool. Dilute with water as needed and sip this concoction. This drink also helps in easing dizziness, upset stomach, and nausea caused by sunstroke.

5. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is rich in probiotics that help replenish the body with essential minerals and vitamins lost through continuous sweating. Remove the fatty portion and dilute the buttermilk with enough water. Add crushed curry leaves and coriander leaves along with a pinch of rock salt and asafetida to this diluted mixture. Drink as and when necessary!

6. Tender Coconut

Tender coconut is one of the best ways to rejuvenate a tired, fatigued body. Along with bringing down soaring body temperature, tender coconut also provides essential vitamins and minerals. It also helps restore the body’s pH level, offering quick relief from sunstroke.

7. Mint

Mint’s cooling nature, along with its detoxifying properties, makes it a powerful home remedy for sunstroke. Crush a handful of mint leaves and add them to cool water. Flavor with a little honey and cumin seeds to ease your uneasiness. You can apply a mixture of crushed mint and baking soda to your skin to help heal sun-related bruises.

8. Onions

People of Maharashtra keep onions in their hands when they step out in the hot sun to protect themselves from sunstroke. Apply freshly extracted onion juice behind your ears and on your chest to ease and ward off sunstroke. Adding onions to your diet can also help ease the effects of the heatwave. Roast 2 tbsp onions until they turn brown. Mix them with cumin seed powder and half a teaspoon of sugar, and consume for immediate relief from sunstroke.

9. Lemons

Lemons are rich in Vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants that help in eliminating the ill effects of the free radicals induced by the sun. They help the body regain its electrolyte balance and promote detoxification. They also help ease nausea and diarrhea caused by sunstroke. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 pinches of salt, and 1 pinch of baking soda to lemon juice diluted with 300 ml of water. Drink this concoction before and after exposure to the sun.

10. Fenugreek

The cooling properties of fenugreek seeds and leaves are well-known. Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Drink this water on an empty stomach in the morning to cool your body and protect yourself from the heat. Apply crushed fenugreek leaves to the body to ease and prevent sun-induced sores.

Include plenty of water-rich fruits and veggies, like cucumber, oranges, and watermelon, in your diet. Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, aerated drinks, and sugary foods. Cut down on sodium intake. Exercise moderately.

More About Sunstroke

Common Symptoms of Sunstroke

• High body temperature (40 degree centigrade or even higher)
• Skin becoming dry and hot
• Persistent and agonizing headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Muscle contraction and pain
• Speedy breathing
• Rapid heart beats
• Redness of the skin
• Nausea followed vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness and fainting
• Palpitations
• Hallucinations

Causes of Sunstroke

• The first important cause is excessive exposure to high temperatures. Like working outdoors for a long time during the summer
• Drinking too much alcohol sometimes leads to sunstroke
• Heavy exercise for a long time, particularly in the summer, can cause sunstroke
• Working while having a high fever contributes to sunstroke
• When water and salt (sodium and chloride) become low (dehydration) in the body, sunstroke can attack at any time.
• Even less sweating increases the risk of sunstroke most of the time

Your opinions on the above home remedies that work well for sunstroke. Remember to contact a doctor immediately after trying these remedies as first aid. Prevention is better than cure. So take care and stay safe!

Sunstroke Prevention Tips

The best way to prevent sunstroke is to avoid it in the first place. These simple tips lower your risk on hot days.

Sunstroke FAQs

How do you cure sunstroke?

True sunstroke needs emergency medical care, so call for help first and cool the person quickly with a cool bath, damp cloths, or cold packs on the neck, armpits, and groin. For milder heat discomfort, rest in a cool place, sip cool fluids, and use cooling foods and drinks like coconut water, buttermilk, and mint.

What helps with sunstroke?

Getting out of the heat and cooling the body down fast helps the most. Cool water, shade, rest, and electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water, lemon water, and buttermilk help the body recover its fluid and salt balance.

What are the best natural remedies for sunstroke?

Popular natural coolers include raw mango drink (aam panna), tender coconut water, buttermilk, mint, lemon water, and soaked fenugreek. They help cool the body and restore electrolytes, but they are best for mild cases and recovery, not for a serious sunstroke that needs a doctor.

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and sunstroke?

Heat exhaustion is the milder warning stage, with heavy sweating and tiredness while the person stays alert. Sunstroke (heat stroke) is more severe, with a body temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or higher and confusion or fainting, and it is a medical emergency.

What are the best tips to prevent sunstroke?

Drink water often, stay out of the sun during the hottest hours, wear light and loose clothing, cover your head, and eat water-rich fruits like watermelon and cucumber. Limit alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks.

Is sunstroke a medical emergency?

Yes. Sunstroke, or heat stroke, can damage the brain and other organs and can be life-threatening. If someone is confused, faints, or has very hot skin after heat exposure, call emergency services right away and start cooling them.