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Prevention Tips and Must Haves for an All-Natural First Aid Kit
Janette Rizk for Whole Body/Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods MarketWednesday, May 14, 2008
Summer time will come up quickly and our friends from Whole Foods are sharing their great prevention and all-natural first aid tips with us.
1. Sunscreen/Sunburn
Mineral or physical suncreens are good options vs. conventional - our experts can explain the difference.
Prevention:
The basics - cover up with a hat, clothing, sunglasses and shade, re-apply sun block every few hours and remember some medications make the skin more sun sensitive
For sunburn relief:
- Peppermint oil, calendula oil or St. John’s Wort extract helps reduce body heat and promote a healthy inflammatory response; add drops to lotion or a cool bath.
- Witch hazel or green, white or black tea (brewed and cooled) contain tannins for promoting healing and a healthy inflammation response.
- Aloe vera gel (undiluted) soothes and promotes healing; look for high percentage in products.
- Lavender essential oil diluted in water or carrier oil, Vitamin E or avocado oil all promote healing.
2. Insect Bites
Prevention:
- Taking B-complex vitamins and eating garlic and onions may make skin less tasty to mosquitoes.
- Avoid floral and sweet-smelling scents, whether artificial or natural, including dryer sheets!
- Disguise your body scent and change the taste of your skin with essential oils that bugs don't like. Dilute essential oils in water or a carrier oil, then rub or spray on skin and clothes. Reapply often.
- Essential oils for mosquitoes: citronella (lemongrass), evergreen and/or eucalyptus.
- Essential oils for biting flies: lavender, basil and/or geranium.
- Neem oil and geraniol (from lavender) are effective also.
- Try a natural DEET free insect repellent such as Jason's "Quit Bugging Me" repellent spray (safe for kids)
For Relief:
- Lavender or peppermint essential oil soothe itching and promote healing; one undiluted drop on each bite.
- Garlic soothes pain; hold crushed clove on sting 20 minutes then rinse.
- Colloidal (or crushed) oatmeal bath soothes and promotes healing.
- Basil leaf (crushed or extract) and topical clay soothes itching and stinging pain.
- Homeopathic remedies include: Ledum (wild rosemary) for swelling; Apis (honey bee) for stings.
3. Poison ivy, oak & sumac
For Relief:
- Homeopathic remedies include: Rhus tox, Anacardium Orientale, Graphites, Urtica urens, Sulphur ·Jewelweed, eucalyptus or witch hazel essential oils promote healing; use undiluted drops or a compress.
- Calamine lotion or topical clay soothe, help relieve itching and promote healing.
- Oatmeal (colloidal crushed) baths soothe and promote healing.
4. Minor cuts, burns, scrapes & splinters
For Relief:
- Tea tree oil or witch hazel in products or diluted cleans and soothes.
- Lavender or calendula ointment promotes healing and a healthy inflammation response.
- Comfrey ointment or a compress promotes healing.
- Slippery elm compress may help dislodge splinters.
5. Motion Sickness
Prevention:
- Ginger capsules, crystallized pieces, powder or extract; take 20 minutes before (and during) travel.
For Relief:
- Peppermint essential oil calms the stomach; sprinkle on tissue to inhale aroma ·Raspberry tea calms the stomach.
- Homeopathic remedies available as well
6. Muscle soreness bruises & swelling
Prevention:
- Avoid the "weekend warrior" scenario by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
- Stretch with deep breathing and warm up muscles slowly before activity.
- Herbal supplements such as ginger, turmeric, holy basil, green tea and rosemary support a healthy inflammation response, both preventatively and for relief.
Relief:
- Homeopathic Arnica gel or cream relieves swelling and pain.
- Bromelain (pineapple enzyme) helps soothe sprains and bruises.
- Capsaicin cream (from cayenne pepper) helps soothe aches and pains.
- Homeopathic remedies include: Arnica Montana, Magnesium phosphorus, Hypericum perf, Ruta grav, Ledum pal, Rhus tox
Posted by Wound First Aid on 07/16/2009 at 12:55 AM
2 Laminated Directions Cards: Includes basic “How to use Herbal Medicines”,
Quickly look up problems listed A to Z, Names of remedies are color coded to match labels, Simple for anyone to use..Wound First Aid
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Posted by Marti on 05/03/2010 at 01:16 PM
Great information and just in time for summer! Wish I’d had this guide when my kids were young. I’ll be sharing this, you can be sure!