Nourish - How to Put Together and Use a Natural First Aid Kit – Part Two
Welcome to part two of our How to Put Together and Use a Natural First Aid Kit blog series.
For Part one click here.
Sunburn
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is top of the list when it comes to natural first aid kits. Either use the fresh gel from the plant or buy a tube of it and keep it in the fridge to instantly soothe burnt, itchy or irritated skin. (It doesn’t have to be in the fridge, it can also be carried with you on the road. The fridge option is just to give the additional benefit of being cold).
A side note, if you’re out in the heat and struggle with prickly heat, aloe is your go-to guy here too.
Lavender
Lavender is a very versatile essential oil to help ease sunburn.
- Try mixing a few drops of Lavender into some cool water, shake well and spray the over sunburn
- Add a couple of drops to a good squeeze of aloe vera gel and spread across the area of sunburn.
- Make a compress by adding a few drops of lavender oil to a bowl of cold water add soak and wring out a damp cloth and cover the sunburned area. Repeat each time the compress warms up.
- Take a cool bath, with cider vinegar and Lavender Essential Oil and or Peppermint oil to promote healing and help “take the heat out”.
- After the first day, add 5 drops of Lavender to 5 ml (one teaspoon) of your favourite carrier oil and gently apply to the burned area.
Cold tea may also be applied to burns and scalds – its high tannin content helps to reduce ‘weeping’ wounds.
Cuts, Scrapes and Grazes
After getting a cut or graze, first stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the area with a clean cloth, tissue or your fingers. After the bleeding has stopped, clean the area thoroughly. Then consider any of the following herbal remedies to facilitate the healing process and prevent infection:
Calendula Cream
A traditional herbal remedy used for promoting healing of minor wounds, cuts and grazes. Calendula is soothing and healing, and when used as a cream it’s also great for irritated or inflamed skin rashes and eczema.
It’s a definite companion in any natural first aid kit.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is excellent for use on cuts, scrapes and grazes.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties that make it a natural first aid kit must-have. It can be used in place of an antibacterial agent for cuts, sores, fungal infections and more. Make sure to dilute it first, placing two drops of the oil in one cup of warm water. Then you can either soak the area directly or apply the solution using a soaked cloth.
Honey
Honey is a well-known remedy for minor cuts due to its skin-friendly enzymes and natural antibacterial properties. It also keeps the affected area moisturized, clean and free from infection to facilitate healing.
If you have any Manuka at hand, Manuka honey is also great for skin repair. It helps promotes skin regeneration, repair cellular damage and reduces scarring.
Simply add honey onto the affected area, bandage it and leave it on for 1 hour. Remove the bandage and rinse the area well with water. Follow this remedy several times a day for a few days.
Aloe Vera
you can also use aloe vera to speed up the healing time of cuts and grazes. It is soothing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, helping to heal minor cuts, scrapes and grazes.
Break open a small leaf from an aloe vera plant and extract the gel or use gel in a tube and apply the gel on the affected area and allow it to dry on its own. Repeat every few hours.
Turmeric
Though this one might surprise you, turmeric is another very useful remedy for minor cuts and grazes. This is due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can help stop bleeding, reduce pain and prevent infection.
To stop the flow of blood from a cut, place a little bit of turmeric powder on it and press gently.
To aid healing, prepare a paste of some turmeric and enough water to make the right consistency and apply it on the affected area. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. Repeat twice daily for a few days.
Cayenne Powder is also great to use topically as above to help stop bleeding rapidly.
Sore Muscles, Sprains and Bruises
Arnica Cream or Gel
Arnica is a traditional herbal medicine used for the relief of muscular aches, pain, stiffness, sprains, bruises and minor sports injuries. No natural first aid kit is complete without it.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil in a carrier oil may help to soothe the ache of overused muscles. Use 5 drops to 5 ml (one teaspoon) of the carrier. Repeat as necessary.
Toothache
A toothache is usually an indication of a larger problem, like tooth decay, and can get worse quickly so you should see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse. However, if you can’t get to see a dentist right away here are 2 natural remedies to help:
Clove Oil
Clove oil can be used to numb gums, mouth and teeth during a toothache. Put the clove oil on a cotton ball and then apply it directly to the tooth to ease the pain.
Warm Salt Water
Swish and rinse the mouth out with warm water mixed with salt. The salt kills the bacteria while the warm water can help ease pain and reduce swelling in the gums.
Learn more about caring for your teeth naturally here.
Minor Burns
Lavender and Aloe Vera
Blend a couple of drops of lavender and the juice of a fresh aloe leaf and apply. Aloe Vera gel may be used if no fresh aloe is available. Aloe will be more effective at immediately easing the pain of a burn, and the lavender will help promote faster healing with less likelihood of scarring.
Alternatively use aloe alone, or lavender oil alone by applying 2-3 drops directly on the site and gently spread over the affected area.
Manuka Honey
Quite the treasure to any natural first aid kit is Manuka honey. Great for skin repair, promoting skin regeneration, repairing cellular damage and reducing scarring. It also keeps the affected area moisturized, clean and free from infection to facilitate healing.
Cold or Flu Symptoms
Elderberry Syrup
A wonderful herbal concoction to keep in your fridge or bring along on your travels should you find you’re coming down with something.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try making your own Elderberry Syrup.
Otherwise, we have you covered with Pukka Herbs Elderberry syrup. This syrup contains elderberry, manuka honey, trikatu and thyme, along with the other herbs to help alleviate the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu. The herbs in this syrup have long been used to help support the respiratory system and seasonal health. It’s suitable for adults and children from 2 and up.
Thyme
The high volatile oil content of thyme contributes to its strong antimicrobial and diaphoretic action. Thyme is good for cold and wet respiratory conditions and can help stimulate expectoration. Consume as a tea, use in sinus steams and make into herbal syrups. It’s especially helpful for sore throats and coughs due to its antispasmodic action. Try this syrup out:
Lemon Honey and Thyme Syrup
Lozenges
Lozenges help soothe sore throats. We stock Echinacea, propolis, manuka and zinc varieties.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This oil is excellent for respiratory type problems.
- use this essential oil in a facial steam for congestion or sinus troubles.
- run the shower for a few minutes to generate some steam and then add a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil into the corner of the shower. As you’re showering make sure to take deep inhalations. Soon you should feel your nasal passages open up and your head clearing.
- dilute with coconut oil or olive oil and apply externally to the feet and chest to help open nasal passageways. It’s basically the herbal equivalent of Vix.
Your first aid kit should also include:
- disposable gloves
- bandages and dressings
- a few adhesive bandages and gauze dressings to cover wounds
- scissors
- tweezers (tweezers to pull out splinters, ticks, thorns etc.
- thermometer
Put everything in a waterproof and airtight container and store in an easily accessible location.
If you missed part one check it out here.
Emily Nöth
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*Please note that while we are knowledgeable about our products and nutrition, this blog should never be a substitute for medical advice and attention
Please remember that you should always obtain the all-clear from your doctor before starting any new supplement plan or diet if you’re on any medication
