Why Go Herbal?
As Homesteaders, Preppers and people that just want to eat and feel right….we have learned that “Whole” foods are best for us. If we nod our heads in agreement with that statement, then why do we continue to use man-made chemical pills, syrups and drugs when we get sick?
The best course of action in my opinion would be the “whole” route…granted the road less traveled, but getting busier everyday! Your bodies were created to break-down, metabolize and use effectively whole foods, plants, spices and the like….so, let’s look at several reasons why it would be good for us to “Go Herbal!”
Herbs are nature made…so they are really and truly natural.
We know what’s in them; they have a very small ingredient list!
Very inexpensive to grow, harvest, create and use.
They work!
I am sure there are many more very good reasons but this is an awesome start! Let’s take a peek at #2 for a minute: The ingredient list….have you looked at that cough syrup you take, lately? I have been dealing with allergies this season quite badly…and instinctively reached for a leading name brand allergy syrup to relieve my symptoms. But lucky for me, I have been on this reading labels kick so I did! Wow…take a look:
“Diphenydramine HCI, anhydrous citric acid, D&C red #33, FD&C red #40, flavors, glycerin, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, poloxamer 407, purified water, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sucrose.”
Some of the ingredients I actually know like glycerin and purified water, but the ones I cannot pronounce I am quite sure I don’t want in my body!!
Your fully stocked Herbal Medicine Kit
The Herbal Medicine Kit – Your Basic First Aid
So let’s create an Herbal Medicine Kit that you can have in your home for any minor medical emergency and everyday aches, pains and illnesses. The beauty of this kit is YOU make it; so you know what’s in and YOU customize it for you and your family! This also means YOU can decide how far you want to go in deploying your Herbal Medicine Kit; bit by bit or cold turkey!
Herbal Medicine Kit 101 will deal with just the basics to get us all started. But look for future postings for information and recipes for specific ailments, and issues that come with the changing seasons. These postings will help you expand your Herbal Medicine Kit and create a very personalized kit just for you and yours!
What’s In the Herbal Medicine Kit?
Thought you would never ask. Here’s a run down for you:
Dried Herbs
Herbs we will look at and use in-depth:
Arnica
Lavender
Tea Tree
St. Johns Wort
Yarrow
Astragalus Root
Baptisia Root
Echinacea Root
Comfrey
Calendula
Yellowdock
Grindelia
Goldenseal
Oregon Grape Root
Essential Oils
Essential Oils we will look at and use in-depth:
Lavender
Peppermint
Eucalyptus
Cinnamon
Clove
Marjoram
Chamomile
Lemon
Tea Tree
Citronella
Pennyroyal
Cedar
Rose Geranium
Oils, Tinctures and Salves!
What products will I make?
Aloe Burn Spray
Arnica Tincture
Herbal Compresses
Herbal Healing Salves
Herbal Liniment
Homemade Aloe Vera Gel
Insect Bite Oil & Repellant
Lavender Smelling Salts
Antiseptic Spray
Poison Oak, Ivy & Sumac Past
Ant Bite Remedy
St. John’s Strain & Sprain Oil
Wound Healing Tincture
Yarrow Tincture
Looking Forward
Twice a week, Herbal Medicine Kit 101 will be updated with new information ranging from detailed info on each of the herbs and essential oils listed, recipes for the products listed above and fun trivia and pics thrown in for good measure! I hope you look forward to traveling down the Herbal Road with me…as much as I do! As we both become more and more familiar with herbs and gain greater knowledge of them I feel confident that we will all find ourselves turning to herbs first in most first aid and everyday illness situations. I hope you will enjoy and find useful the tutorials (printable too), in-depth descriptions of plants, tips, tricks and recipes that will be a part of this series.
Disclaimer
Nothing in this post is to be construed as medical advice, simply a sharing of things that have worked for me & my family. If you have any symptoms of serious illness, taking medication, pregnant or nursing, or have never worked with herbal materials before, please consider consulting a medical professional before use. I am unable to offer advise for your particular medical situation; please ask your doctor, nurse practitioner or naturopath for further guidance. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.
