The Perfect First-Aid Kit

Vegetarian Times, April, 1999 by Tracy Epp

Accidents happen.

Occasionally they're serious enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, but most of the time, minor mishaps or aches and pains can be treated at home--provided you're prepared for them. Along with bandages and gauze (to dress a wound), tweezers (for removing stingers or splinters) and alcohol (for sterilization), an herbal first-aid kit should be stocked with a variety of powders, capsules, tinctures and essential oils. These natural items are ready to use, fast-acting, highly versatile and generally inexpensive. On top of that, they have a long shelf life and can fit into a case that's small enough to store in a cabinet at home or stash in your luggage when you travel.

Situation                   Herb             Function

While cutting up            Cayenne          Stops bleeding in
vegetables, you nicked      powder           minutes, reduces pain,
your finger, which is                        encourages scab
now bleeding                                 formation

Mosquito and/or ant         Lavender         Reduces bite-related
bites have you scratch-     essential oil    itching and swelling
ing like crazy

You tripped and             St. John's       Relieves pain, reduces
strained an ankle           wort oil         swelling and heals
                                             tissues  quickly

You stayed out in the sun   Aloe vera gel    Soothes pain and speeds
too long and now you're                      healing from first-
as red as a tomato                           degree burns.

A nature hike left you      A combination    Stops discomfort and
covered with poison ivy,    of peppermint    the spread of the rash
oak or sumac                and lavender
                            essential oils

You've gone sailing with    Ginger           Halts nausea fast
friends, but each time
the boat tosses, so does
your stomach

You've developed a          Clove            Works as an anesthetic
throbbing toothache or      essential oil    and antiseptic to
inflamed gums                                reduce pain and prevent
                                             infection

An annoying itching         Tea tree oil     Fights fungal
signals a vaginal yeast                      infections and relieves
infection                                    discomfort

Pain and/or difficulty      Uva ursi         Kills bacteria that
urinating indicates a                        cause infection in
urinary tract infection                      urinary tract

You ate the whole thing,    Peppermint       Relieves gas,
and now you've got a                         indigestion and
killer bellyache                             heartburn

Situation                   Dosage(*)

While cutting up            Sprinkle cayenne directly on
vegetables, you nicked      the cut and apply pressure.
your finger, which is       For profuse bleeding, swallow
now bleeding                two 00-size capsules of pow-
                            dered cayenne

Mosquito and/or ant         Mix a teaspoon of lavender oil
bites have you scratch-     with a tablespoon of vegetable
ing like crazy              oil and store in small, light-
                            resistant glass vial. Apply
                            directly to bites as needed

You tripped and             Massage into affected area
strained an ankle           until pain subsides

You stayed out in the sun   Apply topically as needed
too long and now you're
as red as a tomato

A nature hike left you      Add 4 drops of each oil to 4
covered with poison ivy,    cups of colloidal oatmeal and
oak or sumac                1 cup Epsom salt and pour into
                            lukewarm or cool bath water.
                            Soak for 15 to 30 minutes

You've gone sailing with    Eat 1 to 2 cubes of crystallized
friends, but each time      (candied) ginger or take 1 to 2
the boat tosses, so does    qrams of ginger capsules a
your stomach                day (in divided doses)

You've developed a          Dip a cotton swab in the oil
throbbing toothache or      and apply directly to sore
inflamed gums               teeth or gums

An annoying itching         Soak a tampon in a solution
signals a vaginal yeast     that's 4 parts tea tree oil and 6
infection                   parts water. Insert into vagina
                            and leave in overnight.
                            Repeat as needed

Pain and/or difficulty      Take 10 grams a day in
urinating indicates a       capsule form
urinary tract infection

You ate the whole thing,    15 to 30 drops of tincture,
and now you've got a        3 times a day
killer bellyache

Situation                   Warning

While cutting up            Cayenne burns slightly. Once
vegetables, you nicked      bleeding stops, wash and disin-
your finger, which is       fect cut with 2 drops of lavender
now bleeding                oil in 1/4 cup water. Dab 1 drop of
                            oil on cut before bandaging

Mosquito and/or ant         None
bites have you scratch-
ing like crazy

You tripped and             None
strained an ankle

You stayed out in the sun   Preparations that contain less
too long and now you re     than 98 percent aloe vera may
as red as a tomato          not be effective

A nature hike left you      None
covered with poison ivy,
oak or sumac

You've gone sailing with    None
friends, but each time
the boat tosses, so does
your stomach

You've developed a          Clove oil can irritate, so use
throbbing toothache or      sparingly
inflamed gums

An annoying itching         Change tampons regularly to
signals a vaginal yeast     prevent more serious problems,
infection                   such as the infection toxic
                            shock syndrome

Pain and/or difficulty      Uva ursi only works if urine is
urinating indicates a       alkaline, so don't mix it with
urinary tract infection     cranberry juice or vitamin C sup-
                            plements, which acidify urine

You ate the whole thing,    Do not use if pregnant
and now you've got a
killer bellyache