Natural Medicines and First Aid

I have been thinking much lately about what we would do we would do in certain situations where there were no doctors, or no medications available. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that I need to learn more about natural kinds of medications, herbs, oils, and natural cures. I do use essential oils on a regular basis, and I love them, and I believe strongly in natural medicines, but I don’t know and understand a lot about them. So I have done some research.

For many years people used plants / herbs to cure all kinds of things. Throughout the Bible and other scriptures, throughout history, herbs have been the norm for medicines. Then we all of a sudden jump to modern science and we now use both natural and man-made medications, some of which have nasty side effects and some which just are simply not good for us. When a virus strikes us, the first thing we do is run to the doctor to get a prescription. While in reality, that prescription is not going to do us any good. The thing that will help us most is to treat the symptoms and get lots of rest. Now I am not knocking modern science, but I think there are some things that we miss out on by not using our natural sources first. Natural antiviral treatments can be very powerful for treating a virus. They are known to reduce the healing time, and the side effects are practically non – existent compared to the nasty side effects from the prescription medications. Some of the best antivirals include garlic, oregano, Astragalus, Echinacea, mullein, elderberry, green tea, and licorice.

We should have a variety of these essential oils and herbs in our emergency first aid kits. I also think that it is important to carry with us in the first aid kit a guide to herbs for first aid. Whether this is one that we make up ourselves, or one that we purchase,(such as the one here), make sure you have one and read it, and know how to use it. For your first aid kit, how about purchasing a simple lunch box of some kind and pack it with your herbal remedies so that it is always ready to use.

I must put in my disclaimer – I really don’t claim to know a lot about these herbs listed here in this article. I have done a lot of research to find this information, but please use common sense also. Don’t take anything I have said and expect it to be the “gospel truth”. Some things might work great for one person and not another. And, this list is in no way a comprehensive list. Do your own research, and consult your physician if you have any concerns. Also a great resource would be to check with your local natural medical doctor. They do much research into these things and could be of great help. However – in an emergency situation where there are no doctors available, it would be great to have on hand the following things, and know how to use them well.

Okay first a few great sites that I have found:

Essential Oils for medicine - lists the top five essential oils for emergency preparedness that you should have.

The Vinegar of Four Thieves - making your own four thieves vinegar

Ten medicinal herbs - Ten medicinal herbs you should know

Herbal First Aid Kit - Making an herbal first aid kit. Definitely one of my goals is to make a first aid kit with herbs and spices, complete with a guide on what to do with each of the items in it.

Medicinal herb and spice cabinet - Preparing your medicinal herb and spice cabinet

30 popular herbs - 30 most popular herbs for natural medicine

Now for some of the natural meds:

Aloe – is of course fabulous for burns, and will also help to soothe and heal cuts. This plant will easily grow in your house and all you have to do is cut a piece of the leaf off, open it up, and place it directly onto the cut. You can find aloe gel in most stores and it is fairly inexpensive. Use it on any burns including sunburns, and use on cuts or wounds to aid the healing process.

Lavender - is a wonderful multipurpose herb. The essential oil basically is an all-purpose remedy. It can be helpful for anxiety, insomnia, headaches, wounds, and burns. It can be applied directly to the skin, unless you have very sensitive skin.

Echinacea – helps boost the immune system, the liquid extract is versatile and can be used internally or externally. But if all you have are the tablets, you can also break them open and use the oil for skin irritations. It can also be used as a great herbal tea. Echinacea helps to stimulate the white blood cell production to help fight more effectively against viruses. It is best taken early in the viral illness to be most effective, and is recommended only for short term use. A gargling solution can also be made with the tea to use with a sore throat. For cases that are not strep throat related: add 10-16 drops to water or to sage or ginger tea and use as a gargling agent. If a person is fighting strep throat: every two hours, gargle with the above mentioned teas to which you add a drop of Echinacea extract. If only tablet or capsules are available, take then every two hours during the acute stage

Ginger root – when dried and made into ginger tea is great for pain. 1 tsp of dried ginger in 1 cup of boiling water. You can also add sweetener. This can be drank several times a day to help relieve pain or stomach upset, and to shorten the illness. It is an excellent remedy for nausea and diarrhea. It is also has antioxidant effects, which are important for preventing free radical damage, and strengthening the immune system.

Oregano – can be used as ginger root. 1 tsp of dried to 1 cup boiling water. This will also help to relieve pain. The oil of oregano is an excellent antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal oil. It has been used for hundreds of years to fight infections. It can be applied to minor cuts. It can be dropped one or two drops of oil, into ear for ear infection. Take caution though because it is very strong and can burn if skin is sensitive or too much is used.

Cloves – clove oil will deaden toothache pain almost immediately. Carefully rub the oil on the gum surrounding the tooth and even put a drop into the cavity.

Mint – spearmint or peppermint are all very useful to help open stuffy nose and throat. You can chew the raw leaves, or brew a tea, or use the essential oils. Peppermint will sooth an upset stomach, and help relieve itching from insect bites. It will help clear sinuses. If you have sensitive skin, dilute it before applying. Use it to treat headaches, colic, heartburn, gas and nausea. It also has properties that will help improve circulation. Drinking a fresh tea will help relieve these symptoms. It is great for helping relieve morning sickness.

Garlic – a natural antibiotic. Garlic dates back to ancient Egyptians. It offers antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial benefits. It has been effective in clearing up the common cold and flu, as well as Bacillus, Strep, and Staph infections. During WWI and WWII it became known as the Russian Penicillin. It is most effective when used fresh. Eat it whole, dice it, or juice it. Garlic capsules can also be used if you don’t like the taste or the after taste. Garlic draws out the pain from joints, toothaches, and earaches. Place a crushed raw piece of garlic in some gauze and place the gauze over the area of pain. For the joints, use a garlic paste. For the ear, use slivers in gauze. It takes about 5 days to cure the ear infection.

Arnica – this has great anti-inflammatory properties and will stimulate circulation. It is excellent for sore muscles, sprains, and bruises. Not good to apply to broken skin.

Calendula – comfrey salve – great healing properties. Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula stimulates the growth of new tissue and helps heal wounds.

Shepherds Purse – The juice from this plant will stop bleeding and is perfect for minor scrapes and cuts. You can crust the plant and place it directly onto the cut or scrape.

Thyme – is great for treating whooping cough. Make a syrup of thyme tea and honey to treat a strong cough. It can also help relax the nervous system and relieve headaches. It has also been used to help get rid of internal parasites.

Cinnamon – it has been proven that 99.9% of viruses and bacteria cannot live in the presence of cinnamon. Cinnamon capsules are available, as well as it can be added to teas of many kinds to make a great tasting tea.

Sage – a tea made from the common garden sage has been known to help with depression. Ginseng can also be added to this to help lift and energize. The American Indians were known to use sage tea rub downs and baths to bring down a fever. Adding apple cider vinegar to the tea can be very effective in reducing fever. Sage leaves can be wrapped around a wound like a band aid to help heal it faster.

Chamomile - Works as a mild sedative, helps promote relaxation, relieve indigestion and can soothe skin irritations when applied to skin. It can also be used as a warm compress on ear infections or eye problems. It can also aid indigestion, morning sickness, and nervousness.

Elderberry – this is essential for stopping a cold or flu. This can be used as a good preventive and if you already have a cold, it can be used to hasten your recovery time. Studies show that it is effective against all strains of the flu virus and can also help prevent the spread of viruses.

Elderberry tincture - information on making your own elderberry tincture

Eucalyptus essential oil – potent antibiotic and antiviral – excellent for treating colds lus and sinus infections when steam inhaled. Dilute with carrier oil before applying to skin, and this oil should not be taken internally. Can be used as a massage oil or rubbed into pulse points to be most effective. Can be added to a warm bath.

Astragalus –a powerful antiviral herb that helps strengthen the immune system. It is very effective against the cold or common flu. It has a warming effect which helps sooth the body. It is probably best taken in capsule form or made into a tea.

Astragalus - a great article on how Astragalus can help to boost the immune system and help fight a number of illnesses including cancer

Mullein – properties include, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, calming, expectorant, antihistamine, and emollient. For viruses with congestion it is an excellent choice. It is available as a tea, syrup, infusion, tincture and decoction

Mullein - A great article about Mullein

Green Tea – you can buy this one decaf so it is better for you. There are a couple of things in green tea called catechins that are known to be very effective at inhibiting the replication of the flu virus. It can be taken in tea form, but can also be taken in capsule form. It definitely has caffeine in it, so precautions should be taken if this is something that you want to avoid.

Licorice – a great antimicrobial that is effective against yeast, fungi, bacteria and viruses. However it can raise blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure already, you should avoid eating it.

Tea Tree Oil – a great oil that is known to treat a wide variety of problems. It can be applied full strength to any affected area up to three times a day. It can be mixed with warm water and gargled. It can be used as a shampoo to keep away lice or other unwanted bugs, add drops of oil to a fine tooth comb and comb through hair to catch lice eggs and remove adult lice. It can be used as an insect repellent and rubbed on your skin to keep away bites. Tea tree oil is also great in healing warts, cold sores, athlete’s foot, and yeast infections.

Juniper Oil – is a potent antiviral. It is found to be effective against both the herpes virus and flu viruses. It can be used in a diffuser, as a massage oil, in a bath, in lotion form, or applied as a compress. It is not recommended during pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus.

Lemon Balm Oil – has many uses. When used on cold sores and other herpes sores, is has helped to heal them and prevent them from spreading. It can soothe the digestive system and help relieve gas and bloating.

Lemon Balm - a great article on Lemon Balm

Cayenne Pepper – a few grains in hot tea will aid in sluggish digestion. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C. An anti-flu drink might include 2 tsp of cayenne pepper, 1 ½ tsp salt, 1 cup boiling water, 1 c apple cider vinegar. Mix this together and take 1 tsp to 1 tbsp every half hour (adult dose). This will help cure the cold or prevent the cold from coming on. This can also be gargled to help control a sore throat.

Dandelion – yes the nasty little weed – gather the flowers and a few leaves and make a tea that will treat the acids in the blood. It will help treat gastric disorder that can be caused by liver or gall bladder. A tea can be used to cleanse the liver, pancreas, spleen and female organs. Dandelion has been known to lower high cholesterol levels and normalize blood sugar levels in diabetics.