Natural Medicine- Natural First Aid Kits, How-To Make A Natural Kit, Matural Medicine

Sometimes it’s best to visit the past for inspiration into the healing arts. Back then first aid was simple and used the gifts of Mother Nature. With changing seasons comes restocking and supplying the medicine cabinet. Forget purchasing a new first aid kit though; instead, make your own using natural items and supplies from around the house.

1. Alcohol and Witch Hazel
Alcohol is a great sanitizer for utensils and even your hands when no soap and water are available. Although ammonia is often the reported cure for de-activating jelly fish tentacles, alcohol actually works just as well but does not require dilution as ammonia does. Another antiseptic, Witch Hazel, provides similar qualities but additionally soothes wounds and is far more comforting than pure alcohol.

2. Essential Oils
Two essential oils are so useful they could probably make up the whole kit on their own. Tea Tree and Lavender can both be applied neat, without a carrier oil, and should be used sparingly. Both are antiseptic in addition to antimicrobial and antibacterial. Lavender offers a cooling effect making it an optimal choice for first and, sometimes, second-degree burns. When using either oil, it’s best to buy from local organic farmers whom you trust. In urban communities, find a reputable health food store or herbalist for quality oils. Remember, a little goes a long way so one drop should suffice for most wounds.

3. Tweezers, Needles and Scissors, Oh My!
You’ll need traditional first aid tools of the trade. Outdoors people know how important tweezers are, especially after a day working with wood, including gardening. Sometimes those branches won’t go down without a fight and nothing removes a splinter faster than tweezers. Remember all equipment should be sanitized with alcohol before using.

4. Baking Soda and Clay
It may sound like the makings for a science project, but these two ingredients work wonders on various critter stings. After removing bee stingers, slathering a paste of baking soda and witch hazel to neutralize the venom while soothing the area. Indigenous people have long used clay in the same matter. Choose green French clay or bentonite for making a paste with witch hazel and a few drops lavender or tea tree essential oil. The clay pulls venom from the wound helping slow the damage caused by envenomation. Use it as soon as the bite is noticed for best results and choose only cosmetic grade quality.

5. Cloth, Gauze and Cotton
Recycle a white t-shirt into various shapes and sizes for the perfect bandages. You can still use first aid tape for closure, safety pins, or repurpose the sleeves for holding bandages in place. Purchase gauze or crochet strips from thin, cotton string. Once the items are ready, you will want to launder and sanitize them appropriately for storage. It’s important to keep them in a plastic or glass airtight containers.

Safety Precaution: As with any traditional medications and first aid treatments, adult supervision is always required and precautions are necessary to keep the first aid kit out of children’s reach.
How natural is your first aid kit? Share your ideas and tips in the comments below.