5 Home Remedies for Dehydration

There are many upsides of summer. Kids get holidays, you get to go out on a vacation, you get various fruits to eat, you get to eat lots of ice-cream.. and so on. However there are some downsides too. It is sometimes terribly hot and chances of dehydration are very high. Though dehydration seems to be a simple illness which can be treated symptomatically, if ignored and not treated in time, dehydration can cause lot of damage to human body. Let us take a detailed look at dehydration.

What is Dehydration? Dehydration is the condition in which our body is deprived of water. Every single cell in our body needs water and oxygen to perform its functions properly. Needless to say, when our body is deprived of water, the cells cannot perform their functions. Body also loses potassium and sodium through sweating. When these minerals are lost in excess due to more sweating, the body gets dehydrated.

Causes of Dehydration? Dehydration occurs when our body uses up the water inside it, and is not provided timely hydration. It could be when we do exercises in hot weather, or when we are struck with bouts of diarrhea or vomiting, or even when we are out in the hot sun – sweating. All of these activities lead to loss of water in our body.

Signs of Dehydration? When detected early, dehydration can be resolved by simply supplying more fluids. But what are the signs? The symptoms of dehydration depend on the severity of the situation. Mild dehydration can be identified by symptoms like dry mouth, dry skin, less urination, muscle cramps, tiredness, and dizziness. When someone is severely dehydrated, they feel extreme thirst, no urination, low blood pressure, increase in heart beat, and they may even feel delirious at some point.

What are the Solutions? Immediate simple solutions include sipping water, taking fruit juices, drinking coconut water, having yogurt etc. However, we can also make some DIY Home Remedies when someone in our house experiences dehydration.

Home Remedy #1 –  Buttermilk: Mix ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder in 1 cup of buttermilk. Drink this 3 to 4 times a day. Buttermilk contains minerals like potassium and magnesium, that our body loses when we sweat. You can make buttermilk more flavorful by garnishing it with coriander and curry leaves.

Home Remedy #2 – Barley Water: Take 1 cup barley and add 1 litre of water to it. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for around 15 mins. Strain the liquid, add a bit of salt and drink it at frequent intervals. Barley is rich in antioxidants and minerals. Drinking barley water replenishes the nutrients lost by our body due to dehydration.

Home Remedy #3 – ORS:  A quick, easy and effective solution for dehydration is ORS. ORS is the acronym for Oral Rehydration Solution. ORS is available with pharmacists and comes in various flavours. But if you don’t have a sachet handy, you can quickly prepare the solution at home. All you need is half a teaspoon of salt and 5-6 teaspoons of sugar. Mix these two ingredients into a litre of drinking water till they are dissolved. Drink this at regular intervals. ORS is very effective in refilling our dehydrated body. It is recommended by doctors too.

Home Remedy #4 – Essential Oil Drink: Essential oils are not only good for skin, they have benefits for our overall health too. Essential oils are loaded with antioxidants. They also add a subtle flavour to the fluids you intake. And when it comes to Essential oils, less is more. Just add a drop or two or Mesmara Peppermint Essential Oil or Mesmara Lemon Essential Oil to a glass of water and drink it. The flavourful water is not only refreshing, but is also enhanced with minerals such as potassium and magnesium.

Home Remedy #5 – Epsom Salt Bath: Epsom salt contains magnesium, which is helpful in fighting dehydration. Simply add a cup of Mesmara Epsom Salt to your bath water and soak in it for sometime. However, it is advisable to keep infants and children away from such baths.

While dehydration is one of those problems which can be resolved easily, it can be pretty nasty if it becomes severe. Though there are many remedies for dehydration, prevention is always better than cure. In summers it is always advisable to take sufficient amounts of fluids and keep the body hydrated. When you venture out in the sun, always keep a bottle of water or fruit juice handy and wear a hat or carry an umbrella. Take special care of children, as they tend to forget to drink enough water. Stay prepared, stay safe. Happy Holidays!!