Make Your Own Natural First-Aid Kit

[Guest guest]

Make Your Own Natural First-Aid Kit

Hit the road with herbal remedies.

By Laurel Vukovic

I love to travel, and experience has taught me the benefits of

packing light. But no matter how lightly I travel, I always carry

along an herbal first-aid kit. Being prepared with my favorite

remedies gives me peace of mind on the road or trail, and keeps me

from having to search out herbal products in an unfamiliar town — or

from having to resort to padding my heels with mullein leaves to ease

the agony of a broken blister while on a backpacking trip.

 

I've had plenty of opportunities to put my first-aid kit to use, from

treating blisters and bug bites to motion sickness and colds. I

choose simple, multipurpose remedies and store them in a small padded

nylon lunch box that's always ready to toss into the car. For

backpacking trips, I pare my kit down to arnica gel, echinacea,

peppermint and chamomile tea bags, crystallized ginger, insect

repellant, a tin of herbal salve, a tiny bottle of lavender essential

oil, and an assortment of bandages and moleskin.

 

With the following herbs and essential oils, you should be able to

treat just about any common condition you are likely to encounter in

your travels.

 

The Herbal First Aid Kit: What to Buy

These are my favorite remedies — the ones I consider indispensable

for a travel first-aid kit. All of the remedies are available at any

well-stocked health-food store and by mail-order. Be sure to buy pure

essential oils, not fragrance oils. To prevent breakage, wrap glass

bottles in small pieces of thick flannel.

 

Aloe vera gel: Cooling and healing, aloe vera (Aloe vera) soothes the

inflammation of sunburn and common kitchen scalds and burns.

 

Arnica gel or cream: Arnica (Arnica montana) flowers have anti-

inflammatory and circulation-stimulating properties; the gel or cream

is excellent for sore muscles, sprains, strains and bruises. Do not

apply arnica to broken skin.

 

Along with a good map, a well-stocked first-aid kit is essential to

enjoying the outdoors.

 

Calendula-comfrey salve: The bright yellow-orange blossoms of

calendula (Calendula officinalis) have astringent, antibacterial,

antifungal, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Comfrey

(Symphytum officinale) contains allantoin, a compound that stimulates

the growth of new tissue and helps heal wounds.

 

Chamomile tea bags: With its delicious distinctive flavor, chamomile

(Matricaria recutita) makes a tasty tea. Gentle enough for children,

chamomile has mild sedative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and

antibacterial properties. It promotes relaxation, relieves

indigestion and, when applied topically, soothes skin irritations.

 

Citronella-based insect repellant: Most herbal repellants contain

citronella, a pungent citrus-scented essential oil distilled from an

aromatic grass that grows in southern Asia. Herbal insect repellants

work well, as long as they're applied liberally and frequently (as

often as every two hours).

 

Echinacea liquid extract: Rich in immune-stimulating chemicals,

echinacea (Echinacea spp.) can be used for any type of infection.

Liquid extracts are the most versatile because they can be used both

internally and externally.

 

Elderberry capsules or liquid extract: Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is

essential for stopping a cold or flu from ruining your vacation. The

berries contain compounds that prevent cold and flu viruses from

invading and infecting cells. If you're flying or otherwise

potentially exposed to viruses, taking elderberry is a good

preventive. If you do come down with a cold or flu, taking elderberry

can hasten your recovery time.

 

Eleuthero standardized extract: An excellent adaptogen, eleuthero

(Eleutherococcus senticosus) can help prevent jet lag; it was even

used by Soviet cosmonauts to help them adjust to space travel.

Standardized extracts guarantee that you're getting sufficient

amounts of eleutherosides, which herbalists consider to be the herb's

active compounds.

 

Eucalyptus essential oil: A potent antibiotic and antiviral,

eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is excellent for treating colds,

flus and sinus infections when used as a steam inhalation. Dilute

with oil or witch hazel extract before applying to the skin, and do

not take internally.

 

Ginger capsules, tea bags and crystallized ginger: The antispasmodic

and gas-relieving properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) soothe

digestive upsets. Ginger also has been proven to relieve motion

sickness better than Dramamine, the conventional drug treatment.

 

Goldenseal capsules or powder: A powerful antimicrobial, goldenseal

(Hydrastis canadensis) is effective against a variety of

microorganisms that cause traveler's diarrhea. The powder has

antiseptic properties and can be sprinkled onto cuts or wounds to

stop bleeding. Do not take goldenseal internally during pregnancy.

 

Grindelia poison oak/ivy tincture or spray: Grindelia (Grindelia

camporum), also known as gumweed, contains resins and tannins that

help to relieve the pain and itching of plant rashes. It's available

as a tincture and also as a spray specifically for treating poison

oak/poison ivy rashes.

 

Lavender essential oil: Virtually an all-purpose remedy, lavender

(Lavandula angustifolia) has sed- ative, anti-inflammatory and

antiseptic properties. It's helpful for anxiety, insomnia, headaches,

wounds and burns. For most people, lavender essential oil can be

applied directly to the skin. Do not take more than 1 to 2 drops

internally.

 

Laxative herbal tea bags: Travel constipation is a common complaint.

Most herbal laxative teas rely on senna (Cassia senna), which

contains compounds called anthraquinones that stimulate intestinal

activity. Because senna has a bitter, unpleasant flavor, it's often

combined with tasty herbs such as cinnamon, fennel, licorice and

ginger.

 

Peppermint essential oil and tea bags: With its high concentration of

menthol, peppermint (Mentha xpiperita) soothes an upset stomach,

clears sinuses and curbs itching from insect bites. If you have

sensitive skin, dilute peppermint oil before applying. Taken

internally, peppermint may aggravate heartburn.

 

Valerian tincture: The sedative properties of valerian (Valeriana

officinalis) make it useful for relieving anxiety, insomnia and

tension; it's also a mild pain reliever.

 

Witch hazel extract: Distilled witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) has

mild astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making

it useful for insect bites and skin irritations. It's also an

excellent base for diluting essential oils for a variety of simple,

topical herbal first-aid remedies. Do not take it internally.

 

Additional

First-Aid Essentials

Adhesive bandage strips: Various sizes, including butterfly closure

bandages.

 

Alcohol: Small plastic bottle for removing poison oak/ivy oils from

the skin.

 

Bandage materials: Sterile gauze pads, a roll of gauze, adhesive

bandage tape.

 

Cosmetic clay: With drying and drawing properties, clay is useful for

healing skin rashes and insect bites. Store in a small plastic

container.

 

Elastic bandage: For sprains or strains.

 

Electrolyte replacement: Powdered drink packets such as Emergen-C.

 

Moleskin: Blister treatment.

 

Scissors: Small pair for cutting bandages, adhesive tape, moleskin.

 

Thermometer: Instant-read type.

 

Tweezers: For removing ticks and splinters.

 

Waterless hand sanitizer: Travel-size bottle

 

 

http://www.herbsforhealth.com/index.php?page=article & story=19