Make a Natural First Aid/ Home Remedy Kit

It’s every mother’s nightmare to have an injured child and not know what to do. As a nurse, I felt a bit more prepared for the inevitable viruses, bruises and assorted ‘owwees’ that were likely to come along, but I since I had studied herbs and holistic health I had some different ideas about what to do. I believe in modern medicine, but more as a last resort when simple, safe and natural remedies just aren’t enough. For any serious complaint that is beyond your scope of knowledge, always get a diagnosis and weigh your options for treatment with the help of qualified professionals. But surprisingly, the vast majority of childhood aches and illnesses can be managed quite well with some simple remedies that should be kept on hand.

A good Natural First Aid/Home Remedy Kit should help you to treat minor burns or sunburns, topical injuries, skin infections (both fungal and bacterial), insect bites and stings, colds and flu, mild fevers, earaches, teething pain, stomach aches, muscle strain and to ease nervous stress or shock. You’ll notice that many remedies are used for multiple conditions! Also don’t forget to add some organic cotton-wool, some calendula or apricot oil to use as a base for applying essential oils, a thermometer, cotton bandages and bandaids to your kit.

Here is a list top remedies to include in your first aid kit:

For minor burns and sunburn:

Pure Aloe Vera Gel is cooling, soothing and healing. You can keep a plant and use the juice from one of the leaves or buy it as an ointment or gel or as a liquid for drinking. In fact, the health benefits of aloe vera juice are extensive. It has been used historically as a soothing balm, applied externally for cuts, scrapes and burns and can be taken internally to treat numerous conditions.

Two to four ounces a day for an adult is reputed to: improve circulation, help regulate blood pressure, promote healing of bones and joints, strengthen the immune system, defend the body against bacteria, heal internal tissue damage such as ulcers, eliminate constipation, help regulate blood sugar, and reduce itchiness in psoriasis helping it to heal.

Lavender essential oil (Lavendula angustifolia) has many properties: analgesic (soothes nerve pain); anti-spasmodic for muscles topically; headaches, including migraines; insomnia and general relaxation; burns and sunburn; relieves itching and pain from bug bites and stings; and anti-bacterial. Use it diluted in base oil and massage it gently on affected areas, or in a bath to soothe the child, help relaxation and encourage restful sleep.

Topical Injuries:

Witch Hazel is rich in tannins and gallic acid. Distilled witch hazel is highly astringent, anti-inflammatory and helps stop bleeding, making it an excellent first aid remedy for cuts, nosebleeds, bruises and sprains.

Vinegar. White vinegar is helpful in cleaning wounds to prevent infection.

Tea tree (Melaluca alternifolia) is known for its antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It is effective remedy for cold sores; infected wounds with pus, for respiratory and sinus infections, mouth infections, and to ease the pain of sore throats. It also is an effective treatment for athletes foot or other fungal infections.

Stomach Distress:

Chamomile tea is gentle enough for children to drink regularly and has mild sedative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It relieves indigestion, promotes relaxation and, when applied topically, soothes skin irritations.

Vanilla extract. Vanilla is known to reduce anxiety and promote feelings of well-being and has long been used to cure stomach distress. Rubbing a little bit on baby’s gums not only feels warm and calming but can relieve the distress of teething pain. Adding natural vanilla and raw honey to a warm drink may be soothing to the tummy as well as the nerves.

Nux Vomica 12C – It will ease stomach pain and diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

For chronic mild stomach distress, have your child eat 4 oz of live cultured yogurt daily to improve the helpful bacteria in the gut. This is especially important to restore colon health after a course of antibiotics. Also, see aloe vera juice.

Insect bites & Stings:

In the event that your child gets stung by a bee or wasp:

1. Extract the sting

2. Cleans the wound carefully

3. Apply soothing herbal compress or any of the below applications:

Baking soda: Mix baking soda with vinegar and apply the thick paste to the wound. Leave on and soon the sting will dissipate.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: If bitten or stung, dab apple cider vinegar as soon as possible on the bite to draw out any poison and to prevent swelling. Thyme and rosemary infused in the vinegar are especially effective.

Homeopathic Apis: Take 4 pellets under the tongue. Let them dissolve.

Tea Tree & Lavender Salve: To make your own salve with soothing and anti-inflammatory effects, you will only need 20 g beeswax, 50 ml calendula oil, 30 ml coconut oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil and 5 drops tea tree essential oil. Melt the beeswax in a double sauce pan, add the base oils when cooled to 40′C add the essential oils and mix. Pour into a glass container and keep in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight.

The benefits of this salve are many: insect bites and stings to aid itching, swelling and irritation; it may be rubbed on the feet and chest to relieve a respiratory infection and to help control a cough, it’s useful for some headaches (may be too stimulating for heat-related headaches), it’s excellent for bruises and for topical fungal infections.

If you’re outside and away from your remedy kit, Plantain is well known to have amazing drawing power. Broad leaf plantain is preferred, but long leaf plantain works too. Plantain works for cut and scrapes and provides quick relief. This is a common “weed” found anywhere where soil has been disturbed. You’ll recognize it growing in the cracks of your neighborhood sidewalks. To treat a sting:

1. Pick a few leaves of plantain from a clean source. Try to gather it away from the side of the road. Also away from places where chemicals are sprayed.

2. Chew the leaves up real good keeping the plant matter and saliva in the FRONT of your mouth.

3. Remove from your mouth and place on the bee or wasp sting site.

4. Hold it on the sting site for a few minutes until you feel relief.

Colds & Flu:

Elderberry tonic: Can be bought at your health food store or ordered online from Swansons. This tonic can be taken throughout the flu season to boost your child’s immune response and minimize the effects of a cold or flu. You can also make it yourself, see my recipe in Home Remedies for the Cold & Flu Season.

Propolis tincture: Bees create propolis by collecting a resinous sap from trees and then mixing it with wax back at the hive. Propolis has antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties. Taken orally, it acts against viruses, which antibiotics do not.  In a glass container mix one part of propolis with 9 parts ethyl alcohol  and leave it in dark place for 20 days, shaking it daily. You can give it to you child to take it orally: one drop of the tincture for every child’s year, 3 times a day. For example if your child is 2 years old, give him 2 drops x 3 times a day. This will straighten his immune system and will fight bacteria. This may help runny or blocked nose, too. Mix 10 drops propolis tincture in 10 ml sea salt water. Use it as nasal drops.

Raw honey, garlic & lemon. Honey has an antimicrobial action against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. It can be used on a wound or taken internally to ease a cough or sore throat. To relieve cold and flu symptoms, blend the juice of 1 lemon and a clove of fresh garlic crushed. Add hot water and honey to taste and drink throughout the day.

Echinacea is a great immune support, suitable for children over 2 years old. You can buy it in tincture, tea or syrup, but read the instructions and use it only when needed. Dosage is one drop per 2 pounds of body weight every three hours during the first signs of a cold.

Thyme is also a great herb for the respiratory infections. If your toddler has a sore throat or is coughing, make him or her some thyme tea with honey around 30 min before going to bed.

Licorice (Glyzyrrhiza glabra) root sticks – Have your child suck/chew on the licorice stick, or buy the tea bags. It is a wonderful antiviral, as well as immune supporting and soothing to the inflamed tissues. Soothing for stomach and throat aches especially when raw honey is added.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) – Add it to soups or teas. Another great immune supporting herb.

Homeopathic Remedies are considered to be safe for even very young children but it’s always important to know what is causing the symptoms and so it is best to consult with a trained professional if your child is seriously sick. I like to have on hand:

Aconite 30C – Use in the first stages of cold or flu, especially if the child has been recently exposed to dry, cold wind. Frequent sneezing, watery discharge. Comes on suddenly. Give it to your child in the first 24 hours.

Belladonna 6C – Helpful remedy for fever, redness and teething.

Chamomilla 6C – Great teething and soothing remedy. Give it to your child if clingy and unsettled, if in pain, especially when associated with teething.

Pulsatilla 6C – It may help your child if having runny nose or coughing with thick, green-yellow discharge, feeling clinging and tearful.

Apis Mellifica – for bee stings, stinging pain, burning pain, swollen affected areas.

Ferrum Phosphoricum – Beneficial for breathing difficulties, Poor circulation, Fevers, colds, problems with the bowels.

Nux Vomica – Beneficial for stress, insomnia, colds, cystitis, painful menstruation, colic, constipation, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains and flatulence.

Muscle Strain

Arnica. Always have on hand arnica gel and arnica homeopathics. This is an invaluable therapeutic tool for the ‘day after’ aches from extreme exertion. It’s also my treatment of choice when a ligament or muscle is pulled or torn or something is just aching and not getting better quickly enough. You can also buy arnica massage oil which is wonderful for the young athletes in your family.

Shock and Stress

Rescue Remedy is a blend of homeopathic preparations of flower essences that has had a long history of providing relief to people who’ve experienced emotional or physical shock. It’s now available in most health food stores and is invaluable to ease the trauma out of an experience such as a dog bite or car accident or loss of a pet.