{"id":1833,"date":"2020-08-04T16:13:11","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T16:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wintergreenbotanicals.com\/?p=1833"},"modified":"2025-01-09T13:43:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T13:43:35","slug":"firstaidkit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wintergreenbotanicals.com\/2020\/08\/04\/firstaidkit\/","title":{"rendered":"Build Your Own Natural First Aid Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Herbal Healing on the Go! ~ <\/h3>\n
A few weeks after I graduated from college, I stuffed a backpack to the brim and headed across Europe. I\u2019d just begun to delve into herbal medicine, and one of my traveling companions had a new degree as an athletic trainer. We both squeezed first aid kits in our packs with remedies for similar purposes, but the actual contents varied according to our philosophies. She carried Neosporin and antiseptic wipes, I carried honey and tea tree essential oil. When someone got nauseous, they could choose Dramamine or crystallized ginger. And although my medical-minded friend poo-pooed most of my kit\u2019s contents, 20+ years later she admits I was on to something.<\/p>\n

No home is complete without some kind of first aid kit.\u00a0Stashing a kit in the linen closet, car, purse, or suitcase provides a little\u00a0extra security no\u00a0matter where you are. It\u2019s easy and invaluable to incorporate\u00a0herbs and natural remedies into your kit, but it\u2019s still only useful if you\u00a0actually\u00a0have what you need in an emergency. Before you compile your kit, first\u00a0ask yourself some questions so you can create the most useful kit for\u00a0your family.<\/p>\n

Location & Shelf Life:\u00a0<\/b>Your home kit has the most flexibility because you have plenty of space, good storage conditions (cool, dark, dry cabinets and closets), and even access to a refrigerator. But if you plan to stash your kit in the car, you\u2019ll need something smaller with remedies that can withstand the elements. Water-based liquids will freeze and break containers. Oil-based remedies go rancid quickly in a hot car, salves will melt, alcohol might explode (unlikely but could happen at 170\u00b0F or higher, depending on the proof), and dry herbs and teas will get cooked to oblivion. Tinctures work well for car kits because they will last for a few years and the combination of alcohol and water makes them unlikely to freeze or explode. If you\u2019re traveling or always carrying your kit, just bring the bare bones necessities and nothing that requires refrigeration. When I go on 120-mile kayak\/portage treks, I carry just a few tiny bottles and think creatively about what wild plants I can use in a pinch. Keep small servings of your most-needed remedies in your purse. For kits-to-go, keep 1\/4- and 1\/2-ounce dropper and spray bottles on hand for easy packing and administering. I prefer glass, but plastic may work better in some situations. Poke around herb shops and online (or break out your sewing equipment) for cute cloth carriers that hold bottles so they\u2019re unlikely to break, or just wrap the bottles and store in Ziplock baggies or reusable silicone bags like these ones with sliders, which are a bit more secure,<\/a> or these zip-style ones from Stasher<\/a>. (If you don\u2019t, something\u2019s sure to break or leak!) Individually wrapped products from the natural food store are great for first aid kits: tea bags, herbal candies, homeopathic remedies, electrolyte and magnesium packets, natural antiseptic wipes, blister packs of probiotics and other natural remedies, etc. Homeopathic remedies are also perfect for first-aid kits.
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\nWhat You Will Need:<\/b>\u00a0Where are you going, and what will you need? When I traveled to Guatemala, I\u00a0knew my normally rock-solid digestion\u00a0would be challenged. I packed\u00a0shelf-stable probiotics, hard ginger candies (which held up to the heat and\u00a0humidity better than chewy candies\u00a0and crystallized ginger), ginger capsules,\u00a0and electrolyte packets. But if you\u2019re packing for summer vaca with kids,\u00a0remedies for bumps,\u00a0bruises, wounds, splinters, bug bites, and poison ivy will\u00a0more likely be in order. Think about what kinds of ailments are most likely to\u00a0pop up for\u00a0your family in a variety of situations, and stash remedies where you\u00a0think you\u2019ll need them. It\u2019s easy to go nuts and pack everything under the\u00a0sun\u2026\u00a0only to have it all go unused and get tossed a year or two later when it\u2019s out\u00a0of date.<\/p>\n

Multitask:<\/b>\u00a0When\u00a0possible, choose remedies with more than one purpose. For example,<\/p>\n

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lavender\u00a0essential oil helps with almost any topical\u00a0ailment you can think of: rashes,\u00a0itchy skin, infections, burns, general sanitization, repelling bugs, etc.\u00a0(Store-bought lavender wipes work in a\u00a0pinch, but the straight essential oil\u00a0also works well.) The scent of lavender also aids anxiety and insomnia.\u00a0Echinacea\/goldenseal\/propolis\u00a0throat spray does double-duty for topical\u00a0infections. Lemon balm tincture (made with fresh leaves) helps heal cold sores\u00a0externally while\u00a0soothing nerves and digestion internally. Kava tincture works\u00a0across the board for most adults with anxiety or insomnia. For\u00a0children, go for\u00a0chamomile, which also helps with indigestion and teething. I keep homemade calendula and\u00a0St. John\u2019s wort salve in lip balm tubes for itchy\u00a0rashes, diaper rashes, wound\u00a0healing, and hemorrhoids; remove salve from the tube with your finger or a\u00a0cloth so you can use one tube for\u00a0multiple purposes without contaminating it.<\/p>\n

The Basics:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Almost every first aid kit should include the following.\u00a0Pick the one(s) that you prefer and work best for your family.<\/p>\n