In addition to a home first aid kit, I like to keep an herbal “first aid” kit for emergencies. The following natural remedies are always good to have at home. Homeopathic remedies should not be stored next to strong smells, so keep your homeopathic tablets separately from your essential oils.
Useful Natural Remedies for a Herbal First Aid Kit:
Aloe vera: Aloe vera gel is a soothing remedy for sunburns and other types of burns. Grow your own aloe plant (Aloe barbadensis) at home or keep a jar of aloe gel in your natural remedy cupboard.
Arnica cream/ointment and homeopathic arnica tablets: Arnica cream (Arnica montana) is used externally on sprains, strains, bruises and sore muscles. Homeopathic arnica tablets are used internally for relief in injuries and shock.
Arsenicum album homeopathic tablets: a homeopathic remedy for stomach upsets such as diarrhea and food poisoning.
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/purpurea): Echinacea has traditionally been used to boost the immune system and to fight off colds. The easiest way to take Echinacea is in tincture form. I have also used the tincture (diluted in water, follow instructions in the bottle) to gargle a sore throat and to clean cuts and small wounds. Echinacea is sometimes combined with Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), another traditional folk remedy for colds and other upper respiratory tract infections. (Goldenseal is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.)
Eucalyptus essential oil: Eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus/radiata) is a great home remedy for colds, coughs and sinus infections when used in a steam inhalation or in a bath. It is also a natural insect repellent – the lemon-scented Eucalyptus citriodora is especially good for homemade bug repellents.
Ginger, Peppermint and Chamomile herb teas: ginger tea relieves nausea, including travel sickness and morning sickness. Ginger tea is also a great help for colds and sore throats. Peppermint tea relieves indigestion, flatulence and travel sickness. Chamomile tea helps with diarrhea and other stomach upsets.
Tea Tree essential oil
Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia/officinalis/vera): Rub a drop of lavender oil on the temples to relieve headaches or make a Lavender compress to relieve muscle aches, headaches and period pains. Lavender oil is also a good home remedy for insect bites: a drop of pure Lavender oil on a mosquito bite relieves the itching.
Propolis lozenges: propolis lozenges are a gentle natural remedy for sore and irritated throats.
Rescue Remedy: Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy*(Recovery Remedy) is a safe natural first aid treatment in a shock or in any stressful situation. It also comes in spray form or as pastilles. (*affiliate link)
Tea Tree essential oil: Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is antibacterial and antiviral. It is a traditional home remedy for colds and other respiratory tract infections (use it in a steam inhalation or in a bath), and it can be used to clean cuts and wounds (dilute it to avoid irritation). You can also use a drop of pure tea tree oil on a wart or on a cold sore.
Which natural remedies do you always stock at home?
Photos:
Aloe vera: Erin Silversmith
TeaTree Oil: Wikimedia Commons user Kriplozoik
I didn’t see black elderberry on your list. It has amazing anti-viral properties. Up until now, I’ve purchased ours (it is yummy enough to eat on ice cream). This year, I’ll be trying to make our own.
We transplanted some elderberry saplings from a friend’s fence row and they have taken off. The jam we make each summer I use in the fall during “flu season” and the kids love it.
Tea Tree Oil is also used (dilluted) for eczema, and is the best treatment for ring worm and impetigo!
I’m a huge fan of tea tree oil and as another Susan commented above, elderberry juice is so powerful as an anti-viral… but I buy it.
I love how simple your list is. Mine get too complicated quickly! Yarrow and Valerian are both must haves in our h
*home along with Frankincense and Lavender Essential Oils. (sorry baby pressed enter before I was done 😉
I love this post! When I was a kid, my grandmother always had medicinal plants growing everywhere in her yard/home, and when I was a teen I had gotten such a bad sunburn that I got tiny water blisters all over my shoulders, and my grandmother made me carry around a baggie full of aloe leaves, so that I could keep applying the gel. I reluctantly did what she told me to and was so amazed that within 24 hours the burn had started to heal. I have been hooked on using plants, and plant materials to heal our ailments ever since. I love that you included all these things in one post!
This is great. I would have added coconut oil to it though. I love CO! Mixed with TTO it’s a no fail replacement for things like neosporin!
I love coconut oil too, although most of the time I use it as a hair treatment! Elderberry is now on my shopping list, I have to try it since so many people seem to swear by it.
I keep meaning to buy an aloe plant to keep in the house for summer time burns.