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What to Include in a Natural First Aid Kit
Whatever reason for going out, you should have a good remedy kit in hand. Children love playing outside, so going on a holiday or just popping into the nearest park – be prepared. An ideal natural remedy kit should treat burns or sunburns, topical injuries, skin infections-both fungal and bacterial, insect bites and stings, colds and flu, fever, acute internal infections, stomach and digestive issues. Here is a list top remedies to include in your first aid kit.
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Aloe Vera Gel. Cooling and healing, aloe vera (Aloe vera) soothes the inflammation of sunburn and common kitchen scalds and burns.
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Chamomile tea bags. With its delicious distinctive flavor, chamomile makes a tasty tea. Gentle enough for children, chamomile has mild sedative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It promotes relaxation, relieves indigestion and, when applied topically, soothes skin irritations.
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Echinacea is a great immune remedy, suitable for children over 2 years old. Use it as herbal infusion or in a form of syrup for short periods only.
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Thyme is a great herb for the respiratory infections. If your toddler has a sore throat or is coughing, make him a nice thyme tea around 30min before going to bed.
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Vanilla extract. Rubbing a little bit on baby’s gums not only feels warm and calming. Vanilla is known as a soothing yet energizing agent that reduces anxiety and promotes feelings of well-being. Vanilla has long been used to cure stomach distress: a baby whose stomach is mildly upset may find vanilla soothing to the tummy as well as the nerves.
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Salve. To make your own salve with soothing and anti-inflammatory effects, you will only need 20g beeswax, 50ml calendula oil, 30ml coconut oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil and 5 drops tea tree essential oil. Melt the beeswax in a double sauce pan, add the base oils when cooled to 40’C, and finally add the essential oils and mix. Pour into a glass container and keep it in a cool and dry place and away from direct sunlight. The benefits of the salve are many: insect bites and stings to aid itching, swelling and irritation; it may be rubbed on the feet and chest in the event of a respiratory infection and to help control a cough, it’s useful for some headaches (may be too stimulating for heat-related headaches), it’s excellent for bruises and for topical fungal infections.
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Propolis tincture. Bees create propolis by collecting a resinous sap from trees and then mixing it with wax back at the hive. Propolis has antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties. Taken orally, it acts against viruses, which antibiotics do not. In a glass container mix one part of propolis with 9 parts ethyl alcohol and leave it in dark place for 20days, shaking it daily. You can give it to you child to take it orally: one drop of the tincture for every child’s year, 3 times a day. For example if your child is 2 years old, hive hip 2 drops x 3 times a day. This will straighten his immune system and will fight bacteria. This may help runny or blocked nose, too. Mix 10 drops propolis tincture in 10ml sea salt water. Use it as nasal drops.
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Raw honey. Honey is an ancient remedy for the treatment of infected wounds, which has recently been ‘rediscovered’ by the medical profession, particularly where conventional modern therapeutic agents are failing. There are now many published reports describing the effectiveness of honey in rapidly clearing infection from wounds, with no adverse effects to slow the healing process; there is also some evidence to suggest that honey may actively promote healing. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to have an antimicrobial action against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi.
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Witch Hazel is rich in tannins and gallic acid. Distilled witch hazel is highly astringent, anti - inflammatory and helps stop bleeding, making it an excellent first aid remedy for cuts, nosebleeds, bruises and sprains.
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Vinegar. A small bottle of vinegar is helpful in cleaning wounds to prevent infection.
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Sea salt. For toddlers you may try to soak their feet in warm water with a handful of sea salts for 10min just before going to bed, then put on socks, and put an additional blanket over him. Check him in 30 min – 1 hour as it will be probably sweating. But this is great, as the body will eliminate the toxins through the sweat. Just wake up your child to change his clothes, remove the additional blanket and wish him good night.
You could also use sea salt water in a form of nasal drops, simply by mixing ¼ teaspoon in small 100ml-bottle with warm-like water, shake well, and place 1-2 drops in each nostrils using a dropper from your local pharmacy.
Also don’t forget to add some organic cotton-wool, thermometer, cotton bandages and organic plasters to your kit.
Homeopathic Remedy Kit
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Arnica 30C - Helps reduce bleeding, inflammation and bruising and to promote rapid healing. Use it in the first minutes after insect bites or injuries. Helpful for shock and great stress after injury.
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Belladonna 6C – Helpful remedy for fever, redness and teething
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Chamomilla 6C – Great teething and soothing remedy. Give it to your child if clingy and unsettled, if in pain, especially when associated with teething.
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Aconite 30C - Use in the first stages of cold or flu, especially if the child has been recently exposed to dry, cold wind. Frequent sneezing, watery discharge. Comes on suddenly. Give it to your child in the first 24 hours.
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Nux Vomica 12C – It will ease stomach pain and diahorrea, vomiting, and nausea.
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Pulsatilla 6C – It may help your child if having runny nose or coughing with thick, green-yellow discharge, feeling clinging and tearful.
Please refer to our Homeopathy Section for more information.
Aromatherapy Kit
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Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) has many properties: analgesic (soothes nerve pain); anti-spasmodic for muscles topically; headaches, including migraines; insomnia and general relaxation; burns and sunburn; relieves itching and pain from bug bites and stings; and anti-bacterial. Use it diluted in base oil and massage it gently on affected areas, or in a bath to soothe the child, help relaxation and better sleep.
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Tea tree (Melaluca alternifolia) is known for its antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It is effective remedy for cold sores; infected wounds with puss, for respiratory and sinus infections, mouth infections, and to ease the pain of sore throats.
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Vegetable base oil – Extra virgin olive oil, calendula oil or apricot oil on your preference, to use is a base for the essential oils.
Please note: It is important to follow directions when using essential oils, especially if treating children. Refer to our Aromatherapy section for more information on how to use essential oils.
Learn how to naturally treat: Cold & Flu, Colic, Diarrhoea, Constipation, Nappy rash, Baby and toddler eczema, Cradle cap, Poor appetite, Teething, Soothing your baby, Toddler tantrums
Also in this section: Homeopathic remedies for common illnesses