12 Things for Your Herbal First Aid Kit

First aid kits are an important means of taking care of yourself and your family. I have two of them. One contains all the standard items recommended, and the other contains a selection of herbal remedies. Both have come in handy. Here are a few of the items in my herbal first aid kit, and why.

1) Aloe: Aloe vera is great for burns and some rashes. Unlike some over the counter products, it can be uses as needed instead of once every few hours. Aloe should *not* be ingested.

2) Oats: Oats are useful both internally and externally. When eaten, it can calm someone who is anxious or over excited, it helps with some stomach aches and is very nourishing. Externally, it’s good for the skin, and may be helpful with some rashes, insect bites and stings.

3) Cloves: Cloves can help with a tooth ache and for some sore throats. Be careful with clove oil, if that is the form you choose, it can cause burns.

4) Chamomile: Chamomile can be gently calming, and can be given to children over 5. Giving herbal preparations to children under the age of 5 should be supervised by a pediatrician or qualified herbal practitioner.

5) Lavender: I use lavender in several ways. Lavender tea is gently calming, and also helpful in aromatherapy as a calmative.

6) Peppermint: There are a lot of reasons to keep peppermint on hand. It can ease a sore throat, help with a cough and may be useful for upset stomachs. That’s particularly true for pregnant women suffering morning sickness. It may also help as a stimulant. Peppermint oil should never be used around children, especially those under five, as it may cause problems with their breathing.

7) Garlic: Garlic is also a "workhorse" herb. It may help lower blood pressure, and help with illnesses such as sore throats and respiratory problems.

8) Corn Silk: Those little threads around the cob may be helpful for minor kidney problems, at least until you can get to the doctor. If you suspect a kidney problem, it is best to have a physician check it out.

9) Corn Starch: Putting a half cup of corn starch in a bath may ease rashes, from chicken pox to poison ivy. In a paste or a wash, it can be put on smaller rashes.

10) Licorice: Most people are familiar with the candy made from licorice, but probably don’t know of it’s usefulness as a home remedy. Licorice coats the throat (not to mention the rest of the digestive tract). Sore throats and some stomach aches may be eased by using licorice. One warning about this herb; it can cause a rise in blood pressure. If high blood pressure is already a problem, you should avoid using licorice.

11) Baking Soda: Strictly speaking, baking soda is not an herb, but it is in my herbal first kit for a similar reason as corn starch. It can also be put onto bee stings to ease the pain.

12) Salt: Salt was once so valuable, it was given as pay. It has been used to preserve and flavor foods, and it has also been used as a home remedy. Gargling with salt water may ease a sore throat, and it can be used in the nasal passages to ease sinus congestion or hay fever. While eating a lot of salty foods isn’t good for you, these other applications may be of benefit.

Herbal first aid is just that, however. It’s best to consult your doctor if symptoms are severe or if you have an underlying health condition. The very young and the very old should also consult the doctor. Self diagnosing, etc. is not usually a good plan.

Natural Herbal Remedies
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