In a post-collapse survival situation having recourse to your own private, natural home medicine cabinet will be critical. You can begin to prepare now by stockpiling time-tested treatments that will allow you to delay or even avoid a trip to the Doctor. Included in the ailments you can treat on your own are: sore throats, infections, toothaches, back aches, stomach pains, chest pains, fever, cough and headaches. Here are some easily obtainable items that can go a long way toward treating the most common health problems.
Sore Throats
Sore throats are a common symptom of several diseases and are especially common in children. Usually these ailments are minor and will cure themselves in a few days. What is needed is a way to relieve the symptoms and prevent the infection from becoming worse. One of the basics in your home medicine cabinet will be the staple baking soda. Gargling rinses of salt water, baking soda, green tea extract or garlic can all provide relief and help kill the streptococcus bacteria that are multiplying in your throat. Begin gargling as soon as you feel the first signs of a sore throat (usually a tickle) and continue until the symptoms disappear.
Inflammation
Inflammation can range from simple soreness after muscular exertion to chronic diseases such as arthritis. Nature provides us with several treatments for inflammation that allow us to avoid the side effects associated with man-made inflammatory drugs. Among its many other positive health effects, resveratrol has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory. This is the ingredient that gives red wine its health benefits and is now available in capsule form. SAMe, available in health food stores, is also a good treatment for inflammation. It can help with the pain brought on by osteoarthritis and has proved as effective as the leading arthritis medication, Celebrex.
Headaches,
Headaches are a common problem caused by numerous conditions and it can be extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. A recurring headache could signal the existence of something more serious, but most headaches are caused by tension, dehydration and other minor problems. Magnesium supplements can help alleviate many of these minor headaches. Other supplements that can help are iron and CoQ10. Women are especially susceptible to iron deficiency and often suffer from headaches during menstruation.
Chronic Sinus Infections
This condition is usually caused by a fungal infection. It is fairly common in people who spend a lot of time in the waters of humid environments. Oil of oregano is a simple, natural product that can help fight this fungal infection. Oil of oregano can be found in health food stores in capsule form.
Intestinal Gas
Activated charcoal is very effective at eliminating gas and should be kept in all medical kits for use in cases of accidental poisoning. Fennel seed, common in Indian cuisine, is also effective in calming the stomach and intestines, and aiding in digestion.
Check out these herbs for natural healing and growing your home medicine cabinet!
Indigestion and Heartburn
These conditions are most commonly caused by lifestyle, diet and nutrient deficiencies. Avoiding alcohol, spicy foods and over-the-counter pain medications will alleviate most symptoms. Mastic gum capsules and Quercetin are two supplements that can help with heartburn. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine found in red onions and red apple peel that can also be effective in relieving seasonal allergies.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an effective treatment for many types of infections, especially colds, flu, respiratory and middle ear infections. An hour of sunlight a day can produce 10,000 IU of vitamin D. If you can’t get the sun exposure, supplements can give you the needed dosage. Children are especially susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.
Bronchitis
Sulfur, which was commonly used to treat and prevent infection before antibiotics, is still an effective treatment and can be purchased over the counter. Sulfur supplements can be found in health food stores. An especially effective form is called N-acetyl Cisteine (NAC).
Hydrogen Peroxide
No home medical kit is complete without this simple, highly useful substance. Besides being effective in cleaning wounds, it can also be used to treat gum disease, toothaches, sore throats and ear infections. At the first sign of an ear infection, begin rinsing the ear with peroxide several times a day. Remember that ear infections in children can be serious and must be monitored closely.
The old treatment of using cloves to treat toothaches is still one of the most effective treatments, even in a world of thousands of man-made medicines. Depending on your condition, a clove or clove oil can be applied to a bad tooth to ease the pain until the problem can be treated. Clove oil has been shown to be as effective as benzocaine in treating dental pain.
Food Poisoning
Food safety should always be practiced, but even the best efforts can’t always prevent food contamination and food poisoning. This is a serious condition and needs to be treated quickly. To prevent food-borne bacteria, use a variety of powerful spices such as garlic, chile, onion, oregano and allspice. If you contract food poisoning, natural antibiotics must be taken. Garlic and oil of oregano are both effective in treating food poisoning and don’t lead to drug resistance the way man-made antibiotics do.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be a serious health threat if not controlled. Pepto Bismol or Milk of Magnesia are still some of the best substances available. This is often enough to cure the diarrhea, or at least slow it down long enough to allow you to get further treatment. Remember to drink plenty of fluids when you have diarrhea.
Many trips to the doctor can be avoided by either practicing prevention or by using a few simple home remedies. Start putting together a home medical kit and continue learning about holistic medicine and prevention. Though there are times when a doctor is needed, there are many other times when we can treat ourselves and our families. Once the health care system is overburdened with millions of additional patients, home treatment will become increasingly important.