I can still envision my medicine cabinet from growing up: vaseline, Benadryl, Nyquil, throat spray and bandaids. My mom literally kept anything and everything for any and every ailment you could imagine (she also had an embarrassingly large stash of hotel soaps, shampoos and conditioners that may have been obtained by illegal means, but that’s a story for another time).
When I had my daughter, I wanted as natural a medicine cabinet as possible, while at the same time having the essential Western items available as well. An important thing to remember is to check expiration dates 1-2x per year for all products. Although most herbal supplements and medications will only decrease efficacy over time, some may be dangerous to take when expired.
Mental Health
- Yoga Mat & Meditation Pillow: Okay, you can’t fit this in your medicine cabinet, but it’s good to keep one set up at home for that emergency child’s pose and/or meditation.
- Rescue Remedy: This is a Bach’s Flower Remedy that is good for anxiety or trauma. It can help with sleep and is made in a children’s form with no alcohol.
- Bone Broth: from a Chinese perspective, “blood deficiency” can cause a plethora of mental health issues including anxiety and depression. Bone Broth will build blood and you can get it in powder or pill form or make your own.
- CBD Oil: Reduces anxiety without the THC, or hallucinogen of regular Mary Jane.
Upper Respiratory & Immune
- Neti Pot & Salts: I will sometimes add a drop of tea tree oil to help with any potential sinus infection.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil: You can combine 10 drops with a 1/4 cup of coconut oil for your own at home vapor rub, you can also add a few drops to a bath or facial steam to clear the sinuses (peppermint oil also works WELL).
- Elderberries or Elderberry Syrup to boost immunity, can also add to a tea.
- Echinacea Tea: Traditional Medicinals makes an Echinacea Tea with Elderberry that is amazing!
- Throat Coat Tea: Also by Traditional Medicinals, soothes sore throats.
- Cool Mist Humidifier in the winter for dry air and to open up sinus passages.
- Essential Oil Diffuser: You can get these with or without water added, can add eucalyptus, peppermint, or any other essential oil you’d like.
- Some Other Vitamins/Herbs: Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, garlic, oregano essential oil
Ear Infections/ Ear Aches
- Dr. Mom Otoscope: A great way to check for inflammation.
- Colloidal Silver: Colloidal silver, unlike traditional antibiotics, has antifungal, antibiotic and antiviral properties. You can put a couple drops in your child’s ear as an alternative for ear infections.
- Garlic Drops: Garlic helps boost the immune system and reduces pain. You can also place a couple drops in the ear for pain.
- Onion: I know, I know, now I’m just getting CRAZY. However, this is one way to help ear ache. Heat up the onion so its warm, then scoop out enough of the center to fit an ear, place over the ear for about 10 minutes. You can also use onion drops if that’s easier.
- *Note: If your child’s eardrum is extremely red or irritated, they have a high fever or are feeling lethargic, please bring them to their pediatrician as soon as possible.
First Aid
- Calamine Lotion: Great for bug bites, burns and other skin conditions. Here’s a great recipe for DIY Calamine Lotion.
- Emily Cream Hot Skin Soother: Great for rashes or poison ivy.
- Bentonite clay: Bentonite clay makes a great face mask, but can also be used on cuts, scrapes, burns and other skin conditions.
- Arnica: You can apply this topically, or take pellets for pain reduction.
Stomach
- Peppermint tea & Ginger tea are great for anti-nausea.
- Probiotics: Probiotics help replace the healthy gut bacteria that leads to better digestion. They are great for restoring gut health and treating digestive issues.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Take a tablespoon of ACV with water daily to help promote better digestion, reduce inflammation and help with acid reflux and food regurgitation. It’s also great to take at the start of a cold to knock the pathogen out of your system.
Sore Throat
- Throat Coat tea: LOVE this tea! It helps with sore throat and discomfort. Make sure you let it seep for 10 minutes or so.
- Loquat Syrup: Helps to clear the lungs, build immunity and treat sore throats.
- Raw, local honey: You can take a tablespoon or mix it in with tea
- Warm/hot lemon water
Aches and Pains
- Arnica: You can apply this topically, or take pellets for pain reduction.
- 37 Cream: Available in-office, this Chinese Herbal version of icy hot is amazing for muscle pain and weakness.
- Epsom Salt Bath (find my favorite bath recipe here)
Insomnia
- Foot Soak: Put a quarter cup of epsom salt and 3-5 drops of lavender oil in a small to filled with hot water. Soak the feet 10-20 minutes before bed.
- Melatonin: This can be a great sleep regulator. It can help you fall asleep, and if you get the slo-release can help you stay asleep, too. Start with a smaller dose and work your way up as needed.
- Valerian Root: I’ll often alternate between Valerian Root and Melatonin so my body doesn’t get adjusted too much to one. Valerian can also help a lot with anxiety.
Constipation
- Cal/Mag: This combination of vitamins can help move bowel movements.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a natural laxative and because it is anti-inflammatory can also treat a plethora of digestive disorders.
Headache
- Peppermint essential oil: place a couple drops on a tissue and place it near your pillow as you rest.
- Epsom Salt Bath: Magnesium will relax you, and tension is one of the leading causes of headaches!
Seasonal Allergies
- Neti Pot: I can’t praise the nets-pot enough! It clears the nasal passages of allergens, reducing inflammation and allergic rhinitis.
- Raw, local honey: Raw honey contains local flower pollen, it is said that repetitive exposure to small doses of allergens can help treat allergies naturally.
- For more information on treating allergies naturally, visit my blog.
PMS
- Heating Pad: A good plug-in heating pad is an essential item to help reduce the pain of cramps and headaches that go along with PMS!
- Black Cohosh: Although known to treat Menopausal symptoms, black cohosh can also treat the irritability and sleep disturbances of PMS. Please be careful using this herb, as it is very moving and not safe to use while pregnant
- Wellness Mama has a wonderful blog about natural treatments for PMS you can check out here.
*Remember, most herbal remedies are not regulated or supported by the FDA. Make sure you are buying, whole food, organic vitamins from a quality source. Check with your healthcare practitioner before taking any vitamins, supplements or alternative therapies.
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Be Well,
Lexy