Assembling An Herbal First Aid Kit

Assembling An Herbal First Aid Kit

With better weather finally here, we are all heading to the outdoors for fun. My husband and a group of our friends went camping last weekend. There were quite a few children in our group, as well as some not-so-graceful adults, and the herbal first aid kit I always carry was really put to good use. This has prompted me to want to share some of the information I’ve acquired over the years about my favorite herbs for those little emergencies.

The first thing I always have on hand is Capsicum or Cayenne Pepper. In powdered form, just like you use for cooking, just shake it on a cut and it will stop bleeding. It doesn’t sting like you might think, and I have found that it speeds healing and lessens scarring. Cayenne in extract form is also great to have on hand. I combine a few drops of it with a few drops of Peppermint Oil to make a soothing liniment for strains, sprains, and sore muscles. It smells a lot better than most liniments, too.

The next thing I never travel without is Arnica. A few drops of arnica on a bruise will quickly relieve the pain. In fact, I use arnica on every kind of injury except open cuts or scrapes. I carefully apply it around the cut or scrape, being careful that it doesn’t enter the wound. It relieves pain and swelling and speeds healing, but it should never be taken internally except in homeopathic form.

Oil of Cajeput is also a staple of my first aid kit. Oil of cajeput is from the same tree as Tea Tree Oil, but I have found the cajeput to be the stronger of the two. This highly aromatic but soothing oil is wonderful when applied to any kind of rash, sting, or bite. It will relieve the pain and itching almost immediately. It is also wonderfully soothing when applied to minor burns.

For poison oak or ivy, I always carry either Virginia Snake Root or Plantain Extract. I apply them externally and take about 20 to 40 drops of the extract internally. Both of these are also very effective for bites and stings.

Of course, no first aid kit would be complete without Aloe Vera. I always carry the whole leaf aloe extract for both internal and external use. internally, it soothes upset tummies, heartburn and indigestion. Externally, it’s great for all kinds of minor injuries, especially sunburn.

Echinacea and Bee Propolis are a must as natural antibiotics. They can both be taken internally for infection. Echinacea powder is very effective when sprinkled directly on infected areas. When taking echinacea, remember to only use it for 10 days at the time or it loses its effectiveness.

Any injury leads to emotional stress and trauma, so I make sure to pack something for the nerves. Rescue Remedy, one of the Bach flower remedies, is one of my favorites. Just a few drops of this directly on the tongue or sipped in a glass of water will have an immediate soothing effect. It works great for kids because they don’t have to swallow a capsule or an icky tasting extract. I also like to carry Kava Kava, Scullcap or Valerian for longer term emotional distress. These are all very calming and will help with restful sleep. Valerian is especially helpful for pain, although I don’t recommend its use over a long period because it can lead to mild depression in some people.

I have used all of these remedies for years and on a great number of people and animals. I have found them to be very safe and extremely effective. Always use caution, though, when you are using an herb for the first time. Everyone reacts differently, even to the food we eat, and some people can be allergic to herbs just like they can to other things. If you decide to try some of these remedies,I hope you will find them as useful as I always have.

The information contained in this article is meant to educate, not prescribe. If you are ill, seek the help of a health professional.