Your medicine cabinet will no doubt reflect the stage of life your family is at. It’s wonderful to have a few go to’s that have stood the test of time. Certainly there are many natural remedies to have on hand to help ease uncomfortable symptoms and assist the body in healing itself. This is just a handful of old favorites. Please use your discretion, this list is for informational purposes only. These are not intended to be used as a replacement when medical attention is needed.
Lavender Essential Oil is well known for it’s relaxing and calming effect on the body and mind. It is highly regarded for the skin and can be used to clean cuts or scrapes as well as to relieve sunburn. Dab a spot on a fever blister to reduce the pain and help healing, It also brings relief to chapped lips.
Peppermint Oil is a wonderful digestive aid. Add a drop to a herbal tea or drink peppermint tea to relieve indigestion. Inhaling peppermint oil also helps with nausea from motion sickness. Peppermint oil is also said to be a natural appetite suppressant by triggering a sense of satiety (fullness). Because peppermint oil is a carminative it is really helpful in removing excess gas as well as bring relief to irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Clove Oil has many amazing benefits. It is antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic and antiviral so can be helpful in treating a variety of health disorders. Clove oil has seen many a throbbing tooth through the night. Clove oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, insect bites and stings. It is very strong so should be diluted and applied with caution to sensitive skin. It can be inhaled for nausea and to clear a stuffy nose.
Tea tree Oil is a popular cure-all because of it’s many excellent attributes. It is excellent for spots and scrapes as it promotes healing and is antibacterial. Apply a drop or two of tea tree oil to your shampoo to combat lice, dandruff and to slow down hair loss. Tea Tree oil is nn effective insect repellent, rub on your exposed skin when going hiking or walking in the bush. It is excellent for bacterial or microbial infections as it inhibits fungal growth like dermatitis and Athlete’s Foot. A word of caution, never ingest Tea Trea Oil, it is toxic when taken internally.
Arnica Oil is wonderful to have on hand for it’s pain relieving properties. It is especially nice to rub on tired muscles and exercise related injuries such as bruises or sprains. Pure Arnica essential oil is very potent and could be toxic to individuals, so always use a reputable brand of diluted oil. Do not apply to broken skin.
Aloe Vera Gel is is great as a first aid for sunburns,rough chapped skin, eczema, burns, insect bites, wounds and treating fungal infections. It relieves pain from muscle injuries and reduces bruising and inflammation. It is handy to grow it in the garden along with other herbs so you always have fresh supply. – Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel
Witch Hazel has always been a popular facial cleanser and toner but it has a number of other benefits too. It is very helpful for sores, bruises and swellings but also very helpful in clearing up spots and diminishing acne. It’s very effective in clearing diaper/nappy rash and some moms use it in their homemade wet-wipe recipe. Witch hazel combined with Aloe and glycerin will shrink and stop the bleeding of external hemorrhoids. It can help heal sunburn and minimize peeling.
Echinacea is a well-known and popular herbal remedy. If combined with vitamin C it has a marked effect in helping the immune system to fight cold and flu viruses.
Ginger tablets are an amazing remedy for nausea especially motion sickness and can easily be taken on a journey. Ginger tea is made by infusing some grated ginger in boiling water. It is helpful for improving digestion and loosening phlegm in the chest.
These wonderful natural remedies are worth having for those minor trials of life. As you get to know them, there might be others you add to your list. However remember that just because it is natural doesn’t mean that it is safe. Make sure that you always read the labels and store the remedies as directed.
“TheHealthyMom” researches and writes for a health and nutrition website Detox For Life . Her passion is to make research available to those who are looking to improve their well-being and revolutionize their health through better nutrition and alternative medicines.
References:-
The South African Journal of Natural Medicine – August 2008 issue
http://wellnessmama.com/3516/natural-first-aid-kit/
http://draxe.com/clove-oil-uses-benefits/
