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    • Dec 6, 2017
    • 10 min read

My Holistic First Aid Kit


One of my favorite assignments in my studies with the American College of Healthcare Sciences is that we get to practice putting together a holistic first aid kit. I am excited that this time I get to write about it in a blog post and share it with you!

A holistic first aid kit can be a very beneficial package of holistic tools that can assist in a variety of situations that can occur. This kit can include products and items from multiple modalities including aromatherapy, herbalism, acupressure (or acupuncture of you are licensed), reflexology tools, and more. My personal holistic first aid kit is always changing and evolving alongside my studies with ACHS. The more that I learn, the more that I incorporate into it. So there are definitely going to be items that I do not have in mine, that you might incorporate into yours. I have linked to the products web-sites so you can research the ingredients and safety information yourself. The links are NOT affiliate links so I do NOT get any monetary gain from sharing them with you.

So let's explore my holistic first aid kit!


In this first photo, we have as follows...

* King Bio Medicine Multi-Strain Flu Relief: This is a wonderful homeopathic medicine that I have used with my children for several years. It covers a variety of flu symptoms which include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, swollen tonsils, cough, body aches, and chills.

* Dr. King's Regional Allergies Southwestern U.S.: One thing that I really appreciate about this product is that it is zone specific to regions across the United States. I am in Texas and this one is indicated for my state. This product is also a homeopathic medicine that we use. It is indicated for symptoms such as runny nose, hay fever, congestion, sneezing, irritability, headache, itchy skin around eyes and nose, hot flushes, puffy eyelids, hoarseness, itchy throat, eye twitches, stuffy nose, sinus congestion, watery eyes, and eye tenderness.

* Ginger Root Capsules: Ginger root capsules are a great addition to a holistic first aid kit. Ginger root has commonly been used in the aid of nausea and vomiting. A short article abstract on NCBI PubMed gives a bit more information regarding ginger root. More information can also be found here in an article published on the University of Maryland Medical Center web-site.

* Activated Charcoal Capsules: The American Red Cross actually has activated charcoal listed in their Family Emergency Supplies Kit pamphlet which the University of California Los Angeles. The University of Florida put together a very informative pamphlet about activated charcoal. Activated charcoal can be used in the situation of stings, bites, splinters, and also if a person has ingested toxins or poisons (please call 911 and/or Poison Control before giving or taking activated charcoal for this situation).

* Boiron Oscillococcinum: Another wonderful homeopathic remedy commonly used for the common cold and flu-like symptoms. I always make sure to carry some of this in my purse also since it is so versatile.

* Apple Cider Vinegar: This can be used to soak herbs (which we will get to herbs later), as well as taken orally to help with gastric upset. Taken before a meal can help to avoid this issue. A published article on NCBI PubMed speaks about the medicinal uses of vinegar including its anti-infective properties. Apple cider vinegar is one of my go-to old fashioned remedies when I start feeling like I am catching a bug.

* Rubbing Alcohol: This is a staple for disinfecting minor cuts, scrapes, etc. I have also included sterile alcohol prep pads in addition to the liquid.

* Bach Rescue Remedy: Oh how I adore Bach Rescue Remedy. This is a product that I have been using for many years for various ailments. I definitely feel that it should be something that people carry with them or keep in their home. Bach Rescue Remedy is available in dropper bottles, sprays, creams, and even pastilles. It is the most commonly used flower essence product produced by Bach. It is a wonderful combination of the flower essences from impatiens, star of bethlehem, cherry plum, rock rose, and clematis. It can be used internally and externally. It is great to use when under stress, in a trauma crisis, and any other situation where your nervous system is rapid-firing.

* Gin Gins Chewy Ginger Candy: I like to keep a few of these in my holistic first aid kit as another alternative to taking the ginger root capsules or using the capsules in a tea.

* Gauze, Bandages

* Boiron Belladonna 30c: Another homeopathic medicine from Boiron. Belladonna is indicated for high fever with a sudden onset with perspiration.

* Boiron Arnica Montana 30c: Arnica Montana is a homeopathic medicine indicated for trauma, bruises, and soreness of the muscles. I include this remedy in my kit in pellet form as well as a gel form for topical usage.


* Cotton Washcloth: I include this in my holistic first aid kit because it can be valuable in emergencies which involve lacerations or where you need a compress to put pressure on an area of injury. It can also be used for making herbal compresses, cleaning away debris in the incident of a fall for example, as well as to use on the head for headaches as a warm or cold compress.

* Dudu-Osum Black Soap: Our family liked this soap so much that we ended up buying it by the case! This soap is made from a combination of natural ingredients and herbs from Africa which include pure honey, shea butter, osun (camwood), palm kernal oil, cocoa pod ash, palm bunch ash, aloe vera, lime juice, lemon juice, water, and fragrance. We like to use this soap in instances that involve skin irritation or a rash. My daughter has eczema and she finds it soothing to her skin without drying it out at all. This can be used to help clean the skin from debris or blood in an accident.

* Arnicare Gel: This is the gel form of the homeopathic remedy arnica montana. It is meant for external use only and is indicated for muscle pain and stiffness, swelling from injuries, and bruising. My family is quite clumsy, myself included, so arnica gel is a staple in our household for when we randomly run into walls and door handles!

* Thermometer: Always comes in handy if you suspect a fever is present.

* Medicine Cups: I like to include these because some tinctures (like the ones I have included) are to be added to a bit of water or juice before consuming. So it is a small and compact way of being able to do this. It can also come in handy if you are needing to mix activated charcoal for a paste since it stains.

* Comfrey Salve: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a wonderful herb. According to WebMD, which pulled their information from the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, states that comfrey is used for skin ulcers, wounds, joint inflammation, and many other ailments. You can read the article here to learn more.

* Herb Pharm Kids Sinus Samurai: This is a kid-friendly, alcohol free, herbal tincture for seasonal support. It contains the herbs stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), eyebright (Euphrasia spp.), astragalus root (Astragalus mongholicus), reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale).

* Herb Pharm Kids Cough Crusader: Another kid-friendly, alcohol free, herbal tincture. This one is for just as it states in the product name, coughs. It is an herbal tincture blend of mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus), wild cherry bark (Prunus virginiana), anise seed (Pimpinella anisum), california poppy (Eschscholzia californica), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

* Herb Pharm Kids Throat TLC: One of my favorite Herb Pharm products, this herbal tincture is kid-friendly and alcohol free. It is an herbal tincture blend of echinacea root (Echinacea purpurea), Elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra), licorice root and stolon (Glycyrrhiza glabra), oregon grape root (Mahonia spp.) and sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis).

* Medical Masks: These are a staple in my household because I have a child with a rare disease so in the event of any illnesses or outbreaks, he has to be protected and so we use filtering medical masks.

* Medical Gloves: These should be in every first aid kit whether holistic or not. In the event of an emergency, gloves can help protect you from body fluids from an HIV positive infected person or an individual who is positive for hepatitis. If you do have to help an individual in an emergency and are exposed to body fluids, it is important that you get tested for HIV and Hepatitis after exposure.

* Tissues: I always keep travel packs of tissues available because they can be used for not only tears and runny noses, but also for cleaning injuries and making compresses.

* Salonpas Pain Relieving Patches: As someone who suffers from chronic pain, these little guys come in handy for me. They are thin and flat, you can purchase them in various sizes, and they have helped me tremendously when I have some minor joint pain. Definitely not a holistic product, but it is part of my first aid kit none the less. I am sure there are alternatives you can purchase that are similar.


* Apothecary Shoppe Organic Lavender Essential Oil: The essential oil of lavender has many wonderful uses. In a study published on NCBI PubMed, researchers found that lavender essential oil had analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This would be beneficial for skin irritations and localized pain and swelling.

* Herb Pharm Mullein Garlic Pure Ear Oil: Another favorite of mine. It might make your ears smell like fresh pizza, but this ear oil is wonderful to help ease discomfort of the ear. Do not use if you suspect a perforated/ruptured ear drum!

* DaVinci Laboratories Liposomal Melatonin Spray: Typically melatonin is used to help promote restful sleep. To me personally, sometimes a good night's sleep is definitely needed, especially being a mother. I find that a liposomal form of melatonin works quicker for me. Not only have I used it to help promote a restful sleep, but I have also used it in instances of high stress. Click here for an interesting article regarding melatonin published by Life Extension Vitamins.

* Apothecary Shoppe Organic Clove Bud Essential Oil: Clove bud essential oil has some wonderful therapeutic properties. Personally, I have only used it in the extreme case of toothache after having my wisdom teeth removed and my oral surgeon had a paste that was made from clove that he used since I ended up with four dry sockets. Ouch! AromaWeb has put together a wonderful essential oil profile on clove bud that you can find here and it provides some wonderful information about its chemical constituents, uses, and contraindications.


* Organic Yarrow Leaf & Flower (Achillea millefolium): I have included yarrow herb as it is my favorite styptic. It can be crushed (or chewed if water is not available) and mixed with water to form an herbal paste and applied to an injury to slow down and stop the bleeding. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that it is sometimes suggested to use it for inflammation, muscle spasms, and fever in this article that they published on yarrow.

* Organic German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): One of the most popular herbs used, chamomile offers some wonderful medicinal benefits which include aiding stomach/gastric discomfort, helping induce a restful sleep or state of mind, and also used topically to soothe skin irritations. The Penn State Hershey Medical Center wrote a lovely article explaining the uses of german chamomile which you can find here.

* Organic Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Peppermint is an herb that can be used as a tea to help with gastric discomfort such as flatulence, coughs, cold symptoms, and inflammation of the mouth and throat. You can find a list of many other therapeutic uses in an article published by Herb Wisdom about peppermint.

So now that you have taken a tour of my holistic first aid kit, what is in yours? Feel free to let me know!


References

Apothecary Shoppe. (n.d.). Clove Bud Essential Oil Organic - APOTHECARY SHOPPE. Retrieved from https://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/products/clove-bud-aromatherapy-essential-oil-organic

Apothecary Shoppe. (n.d.). German Chamomile Organic - APOTHECARY SHOPPE. Retrieved from https://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/products/german-chamomile-organic

Apothecary Shoppe. (n.d.). Lavender Essential Oil Organic - APOTHECARY SHOPPE. Retrieved from https://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/products/lavender-aromatherapy-essential-oil-organic

Apothecary Shoppe. (n.d.). Yarrow Leaf & Flowers Organic - APOTHECARY SHOPPE. Retrieved from https://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/products/yarrow-leaf-flowers-organic

Apothecary Shoppe. (n.d.). Peppermint Leaf Organic - APOTHECARY SHOPPE. Retrieved from https://www.apothecary-shoppe.com/products/peppermint-leaf-organic

Arnicare. (n.d.). Relieve Muscle Pain & Bruises Naturally with Arnicare® | Arnicare for Pain Relief and Bruising. Retrieved from http://www.arnicare.com/google/?gclid=CjwKCAiAx57RBRBkEiwA8yZdUB_BuSXOFbE8U5oNhVC-TxyBuHuv_WvENxkqz-1Zsb8wOrpPmIZ4BRoCvZsQAvD_BwE

Aroma Web. (n.d.). Clove Bud Essential Oil Uses and Benefits | AromaWeb. Retrieved from https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/clove-bud-oil.asp

Bach Flower. (n.d.). Rescue Remedy Drops and Spray - Original Rescue Remedy. Retrieved from http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-information/

Bode AM and Dong Z. (2011). The Amazing and Mighty Ginger - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22593941

Boiron USA. (2017). Oscillococcinum - BOIRON USA. Retrieved from http://www.boironusa.com/products/oscillococcinum/

Boiron USA. (n.d.). Arnica montana - BOIRON USA. Retrieved from http://www.boironusa.com/products/arnica-montana/

Boiron USA. (n.d.). Belladonna - BOIRON USA. Retrieved from http://www.boironusa.com/products/belladonna/

Davinci Laboratories. (n.d.). Liposomal Melatonin Spray. Retrieved from https://www.davincilabs.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=200361001

Dr King's. (n.d.). Multi-Strain Flu Relief - Dr. King's. Retrieved from https://www.drkings.com/en/shop/multi-strain-flu-relief/

Dr. King's. (n.d.). Regional Allergies: Southwestern US - Dr. King's. Retrieved from https://www.drkings.com/en/shop/regional-allergies-southwestern-us/

Dudu Osum. (2012, December 9). Dudu Osun Black Soap. Retrieved from http://duduosum.com/order/shop/dudu-osun-black-soap/

Herb Pharm. (n.d.). Kids Cough Crusader™ | Herb Pharm. Retrieved from https://www.herb-pharm.com/products/product-detail/kids-cough-crusader

Herb Pharm. (n.d.). Kids Sinus Samurai™ | Herb Pharm. Retrieved from https://www.herb-pharm.com/products/product-detail/kids-sinus-samurai

Herb Pharm. (n.d.). Kids Throat TLC™ | Herb Pharm. Retrieved from https://www.herb-pharm.com/products/product-detail/kids-throat-tlc

Herb Pharm. (n.d.). Mullein/Garlic Ear Oil | Herb Pharm. Retrieved from https://www.herb-pharm.com/products/product-detail/mulleingarlic-ear-oil

Herb Wisdom. (n.d.). Peppermint Benefits & Information (Mentha × piperita). Retrieved from https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-peppermint.html

Hisamitsu America, Inc. (n.d.). Salonpas® Pain Relief Patch | Salonpas® Pain Relief Products. Retrieved from http://salonpas.us/product/salonpas-pain-relief-patch

Life Extension Vitamins. (n.d.). ~ Melatonin and Stress. Retrieved from http://www.lifeextensionvitamins.com/meandst.html

NCBI PubMed. (2006, May 30). Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1785201/

Penn State Hershey Medical Center. (2015, March 25). German chamomile - Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Retrieved from http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000232

Silva GL , et al. (2015, August). Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26247152

University of California Los Angeles. (n.d.). American Red Cross Emergency Kit. Retrieved from https://disaster.dgsom.ucla.edu/files/view/family-preparedness/arcemergencykit.pdf

University of Florida. (n.d.). Activated Charcoal. Retrieved from http://emergency.med.ufl.edu/files/2013/02/Activated-charcoal.pdf

University of Maryland Medical Center. (2015, June 22). Ginger. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/ginger

University of Maryland Medical Center. (2017, January 1). Yarrow. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/yarrow

Web MD. (n.d.). COMFREY: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-295-comfrey.aspx?activeingredientid=295&activeingredientname=comfrey

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