Summertime is here... any for many people that means travel! Don't leave home without your appropriate First Aid Kit to address issues ranging from emotional upsets to food poisoning to those pesky biting insects. Here are some suggestions for stocking an herbal first aid kit which you can use at home and on the road. Each family's first aid kit is unique and what you put in your kit depends on your own personal needs. My top picks for an herbal first aid kit includes items that address the following issues.
Trauma: Every first aid kit needs something for mental/emotional upsets and jangled nerves.
- Flower Essences. Rescue Remedy is a well-known Flower Essence formula originally made by Dr. Bach. Flower Essences are gentle yet effective remedies that are suitable for the whole family (including your pets!). We recommend Solace and Strength, a formula made by local Herbalist & Medicine Maker, Catherine Abby Rich of Combining Forces, an essence similar to Rescue Remedy.
- Passionflower or Kava Kava. Both these herbs are extremely helpful for anxiety. I like tincture best as it works quickly and is easy to carry. A dropperful or two as needed up can help calm and quiet a worried mind and ease nervousness and angst.
Tummy Upsets: This can range from motion
sickness to food poisoning to parasites and all of those are distinct
possibilities when traveling, especially when going out of the country.
- Ginger Tea (or Candied Ginger). Great for nausea. Ginger is also helpful for aiding with digestion when taken before meals (good for people who run cold and have little digestive fire)... and for dispelling gas and indigestion thereafter.
- Activated Charcoal and/or Bentonite Clay Capsules. Charcoal and clay both rock at absorbing pathogens within your digestive tract to be carried out. (Be sure to drink extra water when taking these supplements as they can be binding). I always carry these in my first aid kit when traveling out of the country, when food poisoning or parasites are a possibility. Because of their absorbent qualities, these capsules are also helpful for traveler's diarrhea.
- Gut Soothing Herbs. To soothe inflamed mucus membranes of the digestive tract, Slippery Elm Bark is my go to choice of herb (simply add a heaping teaspoon to 4 ounces of water, stir and drink down). Repeat as necessary up to 4x a day. Slippery Elm will also help with acid reflux. Other herbs that can help an inflamed gut include Meadowsweet, Marshmallow Root and Fennel Seed.
- Bulk Laxatives. If constipation is an issue, try adding chia or flax seeds to your diet. I like to add chia seeds to my water bottle and drink throughout the day. Psyllium husks are also helpful for constipation. Drink plenty of water... at least 8 glasses a day.
- Aloe Vera Gel, Honey or Lavender Essential Oil. All are soothing and will help prevent infection. (A spray of lavender essential oil dilute in distilled water makes a great after-sun spray for sunburns. Add up to 30 drops of essential oil to one ounce of water. I like to keep mine refrigerated.).
Abcesses, Bug Bites. Here we want a drawing agent to pull out venum, toxins, pus, etc.
- Clay or Slippery Elm Powder both work well here. Make a paste of the clay or slippery elm powder by adding water and apply to the area. Clay and Slippery Elm powder have a multitude of uses and are handy to keep on hand for topical application as well as internal disharmony. Tips: Clay paste with the addition of a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil will ease the itch and reduce the swelling of poison oak!
Bumps, Bruises, Swellings, Rashes.
- Herbs that promote wound healing include Comfrey, Calendula, St. John's Wort, Yarrow and Plantain. (Don't use Comfrey on a deep wound). For ease of use, infuse the herbs and oil and add beeswax to make an herbal salve.
- Arnica Homeopathically. Arnica tablets and gel are wonderful for reducing swellings and bruising.
- Calendula cream, salve or oil is an excellent aid in healing rashes including mild eczema and diaper rash.
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