Tis’ the season for flu shots and boogers. I wish I were kidding, but we all know what this time of year means for anyone who has a little kid in a classroom with a cajillion other little kids, and it’s not pretty.
I’m sure you’re stocking up on all things over-the-counter, like tissues, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol, but if you’re looking for a few things al’ natural to help you avoid a modern day plague, allow me to equip you with an arsenal that could light up a circuit. Although I respect the benefits of a good immune system exercise, these are the natural things I keep on hand to prevent the avoidable and combat the “just in case.”
Colloidal Silver with Olive Leaf and Wild Oregano
Silver compounds have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and research shows it’s pretty awesome at fighting a wide-range of bacteria, including those that are commonly resistant to other antibiotics. The microscopic silver nanoparticles we use today do not disrupt the intestinal microflora and is relatively nontoxic, making colloidal silver an absolute must-have. Organic wild leaf oregano and olive leaf make an already amazing remedy for all things bacteria a potent antagonist to fungi and viruses also. I source my colloidal silver here.
Peppermint Oil
I keep peppermint oil on hand for all things gas, pain, fever, and a “long list of other things” that shall not be mentioned. When I need to bring down a temp, it’s into the bath with a few drops of this goodness … and BOOM. You can also dilute a few drops in raw coconut oil and rub it on your child’s chest or back for symptoms relief.
Lavender Oil
There are a ton of essential oils, but lavender is the universal oil for a reason and it’s my go-to for colic, sleep issues, you need to calm down right now issues, and those “you fell on your bottom and got a boo boo” problems. For sleep and mood, I diffuse it. A drop is all that’s needed for a bath, and for skin, I dilute it. I also use lavender oil in our homemade hand sanitizer.
Zinc and Elderberry Syrup
I’m a huge fan of zinc for preventing colds and for all of the “uncomfortables” associated with them. A little zinc can help T-cells regulate the immune system and attack infected cells and when taken within the first 24 hours of onset of symptoms, has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of a cold. Supplementing with zinc has been shown to reduce cold incidence and the need for antibiotics in children.
Elderberry syrup is also something I always have on hand. A substantial amount of research has shown that elderberry can prevent colds and flu, shorten duration, and relieve symptoms, especially if taken during the first 48 hours. It has been studied with influenza A and B, sinusitis, common colds and flu, upper respiratory infections, inflammation, and more. Elderberry is high in phenolic acids, vitamin C, flavonols, and anthocyanins, protective against oxidative stress, and boosts the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Elderberry by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration found that there was very good evidence to support its use with influenza.
I take Living Whole’s elderberry syrup, but if you’re not DIY-challenged like I am, you can make your own elderberry syrup or gummy lozenges from scratch, or you can order a kit that has everything you need to make it yourself.
Apple Cider Vinegar
It’s apple cider vinegar. Need I say anything more about this magic elixir of amazingness? People go back and forth on whether apple cider vinegar is anything but fermented apple juice, but anyone into anything natural knows how awesome it is. The ACV comes out in my house for stomach upset, digestive complaints, and UTIs.
Raw Coconut Oil
Raw coconut oil has some pretty sweet antimicrobial properties and is a must-have for diluting essential oils, making salves on the fly, and anything skin problem.
Epsom Salt
I’m not sure how the world every survived without epsom salt. Epsom salt is a pure mineral crystal derived from magnesium and sulfate that’s readily absorbed through the skin, making it super awesome at doing all sorts of health-building things. Magnesium plays a huge role in the body, regulates over 325 enzymes, reduces inflammation and high blood pressure, soothes the nerves and improves function, and is important for circulation. Sulfates help flush out toxins, improve nutrient absorption, and can ease even the worst migraine. There is nothing better for a sore body than a warm epsom salt bath or a high fever than a cool one. If you don’t know how to use epsom salt, read THIS.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Priced at a few dollars, there’s no excuse for not having a bottle of H2O2 in your medicine cabinet. I keep a bottle on hand as an antiseptic and for the “just in case my kid should ever have an ear infection or wayward tonsil” scenarios.
Oscillococcinum
After four years of studying homeopathy, I am admittedly, not a huge fan. However, this is one homeopathic remedy I do keep on hand. Oscillococcinum has been clinically shown to help reduce the duration and severity of fatigue, headaches, body aches, chills, and fever.
Miscellaneous
There are some supplements or natural remedies that may be good to keep in your medicine cabinet depending on your situation: liquid lobelia, licorice root, activated charcoal, homeopathic cough syrup, witch hazel, bentonite clay, and vitamins D, C, and A are just a few that make this list.
There are literally 200 more things that could be beneficial to have on hand in a natural medicine cabinet, but the truth is, you only need a few. Next time you feel something coming on, make sure you’re prepared with a few natural remedies that have absolutely no medicinal benefit whatsoever.
What do you keep in your medicine cabinet?
Thank you for this. Lately, we have been wanting to ascribe to all natural treatments and supplements.
Been planning to clean out our old medicine cabinet and the list above will be a start.
What do you use lobelia for?
Love this, it describes my health cabinet well too!
My only quibble is not specifying that you must dilute peppermint EO before putting it in a bath. EOs don’t dilute in a bathtub with just water, since oil and water don’t mix. Even a couple drops can really hurt when not diluted. That doesn’t mean it will always happen, but sensitization can happen the first time you are exposed to it undiluted or the thirtieth. I LOVE essential oils, but when I made the mistake of trying to dilute literally just 2 or 3 drops of peppermint in a bathtub for myself (an adult!), I got burns all over my legs within minutes. Couldn’t use peppermint for years, even diluted, because I was so sensitive to it after that incident.
And no, before anyone suggests it, it has nothing to do with using a “pure” or “therapeutic grade” oil. It’s part of the chemical makeup that makes up peppermint oil, not an adulterant (not that adulterants aren’t a problem with the industry!). If we are going to accept and promote that natural remedies work (since they do), we must also accept that they have the potential to have adverse reactions, and must be used with an eye toward safety. 🙂
I can testify to that! I put a drop of Peppermint EO (doTerra) in a bath once without diluting first… I was hurting. Besides that, though, I use peppermint every day!
Homeopathy wasn’t mentioned which is understandable as most people are not familiar with it, but it is one of the most powerful healing tools available. For chronic ailments, a professional homeopath is needed, but for acute ailments, lay people can quickly learn how to choose correct remedies. There are many excellent books available for lay people. Antibiotics are not effective for viruses (such as the flu), but homeopathic remedies work just fine for viral ailments. How do I know this? I’ve been practicing and teaching homeopathy for over 20 years.
What books do you recommend?
I give my kids Vitamin D, 1000 IUs a day. When two of our kids came home from the DRC their vit. D levels were 7 and 8. A minimum level for kids is 50. Yikes!
Garlic. Chopped raw garlic swallowed like a pill does it for me plus all the ones you mention.
Aloe Juice.. I add tea spoon of it to the kids drinks one’s a week… keeps strep away
There is literally nothing in aloe that would prevent strep.
Don’t forget raw honey! It also has antibacterial properties and can soothe sore throats and coughs. And a mixture of honey and cinnamon can help fight a cold too.