Natural First Aid Kit

June 28th, 2013 · 5 Comments · Healthy Living, Herbs for

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We’re gearing up for summer and making plans for hiking and biking trails and getting out into the great outdoors for some camping. While a first aid kit is a necessity no matter how short your trip, the staff at Hanna’s Herb Shop would like to share some of our favorite natural items to add to a store bought kit that will help you and your family ease scrapes, treat upset stomachs, prevent infection, and more. Check out our picks here.

Collodial Silver Gel has anti-microbial properties and is an effective dressing for cuts and scrapes and can relieve pain from burning, insect stings, itching, and minor inflammation. Sun burns, blisters, acne and eczema can also benefit from the topical application of this gel. camping

Insect repellent is a must for quick hikes or overnight adventures in the woods and Herbal Armor makes a DEET free version that is effective and not overpowering. This repellent contains six essential oils, is all natural, environmentally friendly, and supports environmental groups!

Tea Tree Oil is antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and should absolutely be included in your first aid kit. Only a small amount is needed to treat a cut or scrape and using a carrier oil may be a good idea to lessen the sting of application. Try applying tea tree oil to bug bites and stings to dry them up quickly! Learn more about tea tree oil.

Ginger tincture is great to have on hand for upset stomach and nausea when you need fast relief. Including ginger tincture in your natural first aid kit is a great idea because it won’t expire for several years and can see you through many camping trips! Use the tincture to ease a sore throat as well.

Peppermint essential oil from Young Living is a great addition to a natural first aid kit because it can quickly ease a headache when applied topically to your temples (careful, it’s potent!) as well as easing digestive issues when added to your water. You need only a few drops in your water and if you choose to apply it topically, consider a carrier oil as the peppermint is powerful. We have specified Young Living oils here because their product labels include supplement facts and their standards of purity are so high that ingestion is often a preferred method for some types of oil. Always check the label! Learn more about Young Living.

Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap has a variety of uses and should be a part of every camping trip. Use it as a gentle and effective soap, mouthwash or insect repellent. Castile soap is gentle enough for babies and pets, is easily diluted to suit the use, and with a 4 oz. size available, it’s small enough to fit into your natural first aid kit.

Hand Sanz is a natural antiseptic hand sanitizer made with aloe and vitamin E. Having a natural sanitizer in your first aid kit is important as you may need to dress a wound quickly and not have time to wash your hands with soap and water.

biking in the mountainsWhile enjoying the great outdoors be sure to apply a naturally safe SPF like this one from Taspens Organics made with minerals and chemical-free to protect your skin from UVA & UVB rays. A little of this sunscreen goes a long way, but always reapply sunscreen throughout your adventures, especially if you’ve enjoyed a swim or are perspiring heavily. Get sunscreen tips.

Arnica Gel is a healing and soothing gel that relieves bruises and sore muscles and makes an excellent addition to a natural first aid kit. Whether you’ve woken up with a sore back from a sleeping under the stars or overdid it on a hike or bike ride, applying arnica-ginger lotion will help ease the discomfort.

These are only a few of our favorites to include in a natural first aid kit. We’ve compiled a list of herbs and homeopathics to include in a natural first aid kit, and are interested to know, what does your family include in yours?

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