The Sun, Sunburn and Some Remedies

[soutlaw92]

I'm sure you all might remember High Priestess Maxine's post about the Sun and its growing strength and how this can be deadly in some areas of the world. 
This can make absorbing solar energy dangerous and undesirable for a lot of us, especially those of you in warmer regions. In addition to using a light bulb at home to see and focus on the light, I still absorb energy from the sun but at different times of the day- early morning or an hour or two before sunset. Now that it is Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it is less severe. The strength of the sun is lower but nonetheless still a supreme source of energy. Also solar energy is needed for Vitamin D creation since it is slightly difficult for the average person to get it from diet alone. Those of us of black descent need more sun because of the melanin in our skin acts as a barrier to control the uptake of the solar rays.
The purpose of this little post is primarily for those who do have sensitive skin, those who must work out in the sun as part of your job, and for those who still would like to utilize the natural energy of it for spiritual and magickal purposes regardless of the season and place in the world you are. 
Diet is a very important factor here and what I have found from personal experience and from research, specific foods and supplements can offer protection from inflammation of the skin, skin cancer and mutation from possible dangerous sun rays. These things are a great alternative for sunscreen.
 I do not use conventional sunscreen because of its link to skin cancer and causing other health problems and studies show this. Skin cancer has risen despite people using more sunscreen and staying indoors more than they did in the past. Sunscreen also blocks Vitamin D production.
My natural sunscreen comes from my diet which is high in healthy fats and omega 3's( Cod liver oil, grass-fed butter, coconut oil, olive oil, unrefined sustainably sourced red palm oil, Vitamin C) and some topical products. 
Topically I use a combination of coconut oil and shea butter. I use this just to moisturize my skin and keep it taut and healthy. The benefits of it as a sunscreen is an additional effect. If you want to take it up a notch, one can get a natural sunscreen with zinc oxide.
Internally, I consume unrefined red palm oil especially during the summer months. A tablespoon once or twice a day. Palm oil is rich in saturated fats which are a benefit for the brain, hormones and cells of the body since that is what they are made of. The palm oil also contains lycopene and CoQ10( heart health, cell functioning and a powerful antioxidant and anti inflammatory, anti-cancer), Vitamin E and tocopherols and carotenoids of various kinds. All of these are also antioxidants and offer protection of the skin plus against various cancers. The carotenoids are also precursors of Vitamin A. Which is also an all important Vitamin. A master Vitamin.
This is one of the best kind of " internal sunscreen" I have found and offers other good health benefits. An added effect is that promotes glowing skin and prevents  skin damage from the sun. Palm oil can give one a glowing complexion especially if you sweat a lot while taking it. When you consume it, it comes out of the pores and the carotenoids stay at the surface of the skin (sun screen) and later absorbed back. This gives a glowing complexion. The Palm oil can be used topically too.
There are also links between processed hydrogenated oils and a diet high in sugar that acts to weaken the defenses of the skin. 
As always, always protect yourself from the sun's rays from 10am-3am which is when the sun is highest in power. Wearing long sleeves of light loose clothing and a sun hat is good protection.
For those who are interested, I get my Red Palm oil from a company called Jukasorganics.com or from Amazon which supplies from them. They get their palm oil from West Africa because many companies strip their palm oil and this reduces the benefits. You can see a difference in the color when you compare. Mix it with coconut oil for additional health benefits.

High Priestess Shannon

 

[Taol]

Nice post HP Shannon

I was thinking, they do use shea butter in combinations for body butter.

Now a body butter is made out of oils only so it has quite a long shelf life. Basicly it doesnt really spoil or grow mold or something.

In addition Id like to say that there are several herbs that cause oversensitivity to the sun and that it is adviced that you shouldnt take them when going out.

Ruta Graveolens is one of those, however I doubt anyone here would use that herb.
Also Bergamot, the thing used in earl grey tea causes after repeated use hyperpigmentation which results in having darker spots in the skin.
Not a good idea to use in a body butter or lotion or something.

As for sunburns lavender essential oil is said to help speed up the healing process.

However. Prevention is always better than curing it, so take precautions
There was an unusual hot summer in NL, there have been some hot summers which started with a short heatwave at end may, but I think this one even topped those. Also since it started end April.....

 

[jxk2080]

Very useful post HP Shannon thank you.

May I also add that actually this was a misconception I used to have about the sun as well, in that winter for the northern hemisphere means weaker solar energy.

Actually we are closer to the sun in the period approaching northern winter (perihelion) than we are at northern summer (aphelion).

The seasonal change has to do with the amount of solar energy per overal day culminating over the months as well as the day to night ratio, leaving is with colder weather based on how the earth absorbs and retains the radiation, despite the sun actually being closer.

Especially because in most of the north where winters are generally drier, the sky is a lot less obstructed by the translucent humidity, and therefore the UV has less to travel through.

The UV index is typically the same at mid day in a typical winter day, especially if you live closer to the equator in counter intuitive places like florida.

Even though you stated the thing about autumn being less severe, you ironically also correctly mentioned warmer places ie closer to the equator and southern hemisphere which gets way hotter summers than the north because of the tilt.

The confusion arises because when physicists say energy they usually refer to an overal time span of energy rather than instants of intensity.

So combining drier air, clearer skies, and the perihelion in the northern hemisphere, the sun may seem more beautiful but it is ironically more intense and harmful.

I read a lot about how the Sun can actually heal and that the naturally changing climate has been purposely maligned by the “scientific” authorities with ulterior motives, the same as those pushing the sunscreen “protects against sun damage” motto.

Even more annoying is when I read conflicting info where other unrelated scientists back the claims of sunscreen by saying those accusing it of cancer are conspiracies and myths, that the titanium compounds are not small enough to penetrate our skin or disrupt our hormones as claimed.

This controversy gives me a headache.

 

[centralforce6661]

With regard to the northern and southern hemispheres.. The main problem with the southern hemisphere, particularly over Australia and New Zealand is not that the summers are hotter per se, but that the ozone layer above these two countries is severely degraded.

Since ozone is responsible for the deflection of UVB rays away from the surface of the earth, this results in higher levels of this radiation reaching the ground.

Skin cancer rates in Australia as a result are quite high and persons with fair skin often burn even when wearing mild sunscreen.

Persons whose skin is darker or more pigmented, including Southern Europeans tend to have this problem less so.

 

[jxk2080]

Also great info, and a supplement to correct what I said about "warmer" in the south.  
I like this group, it is very constructive and down to earth, you two do very well.

 

 

[Taol]

Actually I think it is a little bit odd that the southern part of the globe has such a thin ozone layer..

But its probably been like that for a long time.

Anyway I have never been that far south.. So I cant say much about that.

 

[centralforce6661]

It is something to do with the attraction of CFC type substances to that area, when they were used as aerosol propellants prior to the realisation that they destroy O3 association bonds...

We learn about it in early schooling here as skin cancer rates in New Zealand and Australia are quite high.