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Develop Your Home's Natural Medicine Chest What to do in case of ... Perhaps you are old enough to remember when a large percentage of the population lived in rural communities, perhaps not. Back in the 1960s about 40% of the population lived in the rural areas while the other 60% was urbanized. Today almost 85% of the population is urbanized and the other 15% is rural. We mention this because with the urbanization of the population, there has been a tendency to do less for ourselves and rely more on various experts, especially in the area of health care. Today, many parents head to the doctor or emergency room for even small injuries and common ailments. Maybe it is because these services are so convenient that we have forgotten it is possible to care for many of these ailments ourselves, very simply, and very effectively. With increasing health care costs and a growing understanding of some of the risks of allopathic medicine, perhaps it is time we started relearning on how to care for common ailments at home. To do so, however, requires we reestablish the time honored tradition of having a home medicine cabinet. Iodine, alcohol, alum, ipecac, baking soda, salt, gauze bandages, cotton balls (real ones!), cotton swabs on wood sticks, and the ever proverbial supply of Band-Aids have been traditional components of the trusty home medicine cabinet. Remember begging mom to put a Band-Aid on every little cut or scratch? Hey, it was cool to have a Band-Aid on the knee, elbow, or wrapped around a finger. Ahhh, the memories. A home medicine cabinet is more than a first aid kit, although first aid supplies should be part of the kit. It needs to have remedies for coughs, colds, flu and any other ailments the family is commonly prone to catch. If you are into natural health care, it is vitally important to keep a good supply of basic remedies on hand, since you cant get them from the local grocery or drug store, and health food stores and herb shops are often closed on weekends and holidays. The first thing to do is head out to your local sporting goods store or the outdoors sporting department of a local K-Mart, Wal-Mart or Shop-Ko. You are going to purchase a large fishing tackle box. We have found over the years that this item has stood the test of time as the most cost effective, convenient, easy to use means of putting a home medicine chest together. They can be as roomy as you choose to get. They are compartmentalized with different size spaces for differing items. If you get one of the better ones (which we highly suggest), it will be sturdy and can take quite a pounding. And they are portable which in todays world is a real plus. Inside, you will find suggestions for what to put into your medicine chest and how to use it. Keep this article with your chest as a handy reference. Stocking Your Home Medicine Cabinet Here are some suggestions for items to keep on hand to care for your family's health and well-being. Start with some standard first aid supplies, like bandages, gauze, tape, real cotton balls and so forth. A Swiss army knife that has scissors and tweezers is very handy. If you don't have a Swiss army knife, at least have a pair of scissors and/or a small pocket knife. A couple of sewing needles and a pair of tweezers for extracting slivers are useful items as well. Now it is time to stock our natural medicines. The following is a list of items we have found valuable in our own medicine chests. Feel free to add or subtract items according to your own family's needs. #1 IS DISTRESS RENMEDY - A MUST HAVE! Distress Remedy is a homeopathic preparation that aids the bodys recovery from trauma. Distress Remedy is a flower essence that can relieve both emotional and physical shock. It can also be applied topically to speed the healing of minor injuries. This excellent homeopathic product can also be used with children... they love it! Apply on solar plexus (to relax when stressed for ex.) with a few drops under the tongue. Keep for a few minutes under the tongue and then swalow. Have difficulty sleeping? try distress remedy! Food Poisoning - Diarrhea Activated Charcoal is an absorbing agent. It is useful in cases of food or chemical poisoning and should always be kept on hand in homes with small children. It absorbs gas and rapidly relieves bloating. It is excellent in severe cases of diarrhea. It can also be used topically for spider bites, but use caution as it will stain clothing. Respiratory congestion - Allergies AL-J is available in capsules, tablets and as a liquid. For your medicine cabinet we recommend the liquid, because it is faster acting. AL-J is for most types of respiratory congestion, including colds, seasonal allergies and chronic sinus problems. It also aids digestive problems. Sunburn - Scratches Aloe Vera gel, is for sunburn, scratches and minor skin irritations that are of a hot, dry nature. It can also be used to moisten skin where excessive wind exposure is a problem. It is cooling and protective. It can also be taken internally as an emergency laxative. Open wounds - Stop Bleeding Capsicum is available in both capsules and tincture. For first aid purposes both are acceptable. The tincture is faster acting and more easily applied topically. Capsicum can be used internally for shock (either in tincture form or by opening the capsules and dumping the powders directly into the mouth). The powder or tincture can also be applied directly to open wounds to stop bleeding. The tincture can be rubbed on body sur-faces to increase circulation after or during exposure to cold. It can also be applied topically (alone or in combina-tion with lobelia) for relief of pain. Taken internally at the onset of a cold, it can help to ward off the cold. Upset Stomach - Colic - Gas Catnip and Fennel a liquid combination which helps to settle an upset stomach. It is used for colic, gas and mild acid indigestion. It can also be used in cases of heat stroke or to help break a fever. Colds - Infection Ultimate Echinacea It can help contain infections and stimulate the body to fight off microorganisms. Useful for colds, infection, blood poisoning and wounds (especially where sepsis or tetanus are imminent, such as cuts on rusty metal or puncture wounds). Antibiotic - Infection fighting Garlic, the most time honored and proven botanical antibiotic, is also useful for high blood pressure and respiratory congestion. For your kit we recommend the Garlic Oil in the gel caps or the High Potency Garlic. These are more potent infection fighting remedies. To reduce Swelling - bruising - tissue healing Healing AC Cream is a homeopathic cream made using Arnica and Calendula which reduces swelling, stops bruising and speeds tissue healing. This cream can be applied to almost any injury except puncture wounds or deep cuts. Induces vomiting in large doses Lobelia Liquid is an antispasmodic that relaxes muscle cramps or spasms and can be used to ease pain, relax the body during anxiety attacks and stress, ease asthma attacks, and relieve tension headaches. Lobelia can also be used as an emetic to induce vomiting in cases of food poisoning or flu. Blue Vervain is a milder alternative some people prefer for young children. Settling the stomach Peppermint oil settles the stomach and helps promote mental alertness. Apply on the stomach area. Headaches, muscle aches, arthritis Tei Fu Oil is a topical analgesic and can be rubbed in to ease the pain of headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, sore throats and much more. It can be inhaled for respiratory congestion and makes a great remedy for bites and stings. Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers): A small, painful mouth ulcer usually is called a canker sore. Apply Tei Fu oil or Peppermint oil directly to the sore to ease pain and promote healing. Acne, measles, chicken pox, rashes and hives Red Clover Blend Liquid is a blend of bitter herbs that is used for blood purifying purposes. This is needed where infection is present in the bloodstream and for all skin eruptive diseases including acne, measles, chicken pox, rashes and hives. When taken with Garlic and Echinacea, Red Clover Blend is an excellent preventative as well as corrective for infection. The liquid form (which we recommend) can be diluted with water and used to wash wounds and burns. Topical disinfectant and antiseptic Tea Tree oil is an excellent topical disinfectant and antiseptic. A drop or so can be applied directly to cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns and other in-juries. It does not sting. In a pinch, it can be used to sterilize a knife, tweezer or probe in the absence of matches or fire. A drop or two added to water can be used as a gargle or mouthwash. It can be diluted in olive oil (1 drop tea tree oil in 10 drops olive oil) and used as ear drops. Tei Fu oil is used for bruises, aching muscles and tension headaches. Just place a few drops on the finger tips and rub into the sore spot in a circular fashion. It can also be used as an inhalant for stuffy congestive con-ditions. To Calm Nerves Valerian Root extract is used to calm the nerves so a person can relax and rest. This is especially effective after shock has begun to wear off or a person is still in a fitful state of anxiety. It can also help induce sleep. Bacteria, fungi, protazoa and viruses Silver Shield is an effective anti-microbial substance. A natural antiseptic is a must for a first aid kit and Silver Shield is one of the best. Silver Shield has been shown to kill every pathogenic microbe known. The liquid can be taken internally or applied topically. It can also be sprayed on the throat for sore throats, or into the sinuses for sinus infections. It can safely be atomized and inhaled or used as eye drops. The Silver Shield Gel is excellent for all topical applications and is safe to use on open wounds. The very minute ionized particles of Silver suspended in pure water appear to inhibit the function and metabolism of bacteria, fungi, protazoa and viruses. It works quickly on contact. Many people think of Silver Shield (Colloidal Silver) as becoming a second immune system and report that they feel much better, more energetic, more relaxed. Boils, splinters/slivers Black Ointment is a drawing, healing salve. Used on boils, splinters/slivers, infection, tumors, insect bites etc. Seems to help draw foreign and unhealthy materials to the surface and expel them. Apply generous layer of the slick black goo topically and cover with a bandage. Not for internal use. Contains: Lobelia, comfrey, golden seal, plantain, red clover, mullein, marshmallow, chickweed, myrrh, in a base of olive oil, beeswax, pine tar and vitamin E oil. FIVE OILS by Pure Herbs, Ltd. also a good product to have as insect repellent. Antiseptic, healing salve Golden Salve Small jar of light greenish-yellow ointment. Helps tissues rapidly. Use on any external tissue damage including burns, sores, scratches, cuticles, diaper rash, etc. Useful for hemorrhoids and as lubricant for the insertion tip for enema. Eucalyptus oil, sage and gum benzoin, White oak bark, black walnut, marshmallow, mullein, lobelia, scullcap, yarrow, wheat germ, vitamin E have been added. Golden Salve helps to soothe and moisturize rough, chafed, or chapped skin and lips. Apply liberally as often as needed. Ear Infection - Earache Two remedies which make good ear drops for ear infections are lobelia (which cases pain) and Silver Shield (which fights Infection). Before putting these into the ear they should be warmed to body temperature. You can do this by putting the bottle into a cup of warm water or holding under your armpit or some other warm spot of your body. Here are two other simple home earache remedies. One, cook an onion and put some body temperature drops of the juice from the cooked onion in the ear. Two, cut a clove of garlic in half, coat it with olive oil and place It on the outside of the ear. Internally, AL-J, Ultimate Echinacea or Immune Stimulator can be helpful for earaches. It is also a good idea to avoid wheat and dairy foods in children with frequent earaches. Pain Remedies in the first aid kit that can be helpful for pain include IF Relief and Lobelia, which can be taken internally. You can also apply Tei Fu oil or Lotion, Peppermint oil, Distress Remedy, Nature's Fresh, Healing AC Cream, Aloe Vera Gel or Lobelia and Capsicum mixed topically for pain. FIVE OILS by Pure Herbs and ARNICA OIL Other Day to Day "safe" items to consider (In place of chemical products) Herbal Shampoo Xylibrite Toothpaste Xylitol Mouthwash Sunshine concentrate cleaner Nature's Fresh Irish Moss Hand and Body Lotion Argiletz Clay Crystal Fresh Deodorant You can, of course, add anything else you feel might be useful in an emergency. Just keep the items small and have a variety so as to meet a variety of different needs. We encourage everyone to get serious about putting your own Home Medicine Chest together. You never know when you might need one or more of these remedies. Once you have it assembled, you can insert a copy of this newsletter for a quick reference on how to use your kit. If you need additional information, consider some of the following: • The How to Herb Book by Velma Keith and Monteen Gordon • Natural Remedies for Common Health Problems by Steven Horne • Home Medicine Chest tape by Steven Horne • The ABC Herbal by Steven Horne This information is for educational pur-poses only. Consult with a qualified health practictioner for all serious or persistant illness. Copyright 1999 by Robinson & Horne, L.C., P.O. Box 1028, Roosevelt, UT 84066. This material may be printed from this database (in single copies only) for educational pur-poses only (not for resale) provided it is not altered in any way. Distributed by: Four Winds Nutrition Club