Keep these 12 remedies handy as a natural medicine chest:
Arnica, Calendula Cream, Camomile Tea, Echinacea Tincture, Ginger, Lavender Oil, Lemon Balm, Nux Vomica, Peppermint, Rescue Remedy, Sage and Tea Tree Oil
1. Arnica
A homeopathic remedy, Arnica tablets are good for bruising, swelling, sprains, muscle and joint pain, and nosebleeds. Take before and after a visit to the dentist. Give to children who have fallen over, bumped or shocked themselves. Use Arnica cream or tincture to help heal bruises and spots.
How to use Arnica
Take one tablet in the 6c potency 3 to 5 times a day. So as not to touch the tablet, tip it from the bottle on to a spoon and transfer it to the tongue. For very young children, crush the tablet between two spoons. Apply cream or tincture according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Calendula Cream
Excellent for skin irritations, this homeopathic cream is a gentle antiseptic and antifungal which promotes healing, fights infection, and reduces inflammation.
How to use Calendula Cream
Smooth on to the skin for minor burns, sunburn, blisters, insect bites, stings, piles, chilblains, varicose veins, eczema, acne, corns and sores.
3. Chamomile Tea
A gentle, calming remedy for children. Use for childhood and digestive upsets, colic, wind, constipation, diarrhea, food poisoning and teething problems.
How to use Chamomile Tea
Drink three times a day for PMS, period pain, stress, insomnia or to reduce the pain of sprains and strains. Soak a cotton flannel in cold tea and apply to minor sunburn, eczema or sore nipples as required. Breastfeeding mothers can pass the benefits of chamomile on to their babies in their milk. Otherwise, give children a couple of small spoonfuls of cooled tea or add a cupful of strong tea to their bath to help them sleep. Place a cooled teabag on each eye to relieve puffiness or dip some cotton wool in cooled tea to bathe an infected eye.
4. Echinacea Tincture
Invaluable for warding off colds, flu, gum infections, abscesses, ear infections, sore throats, chest infections, cystitis, vaginal infections and for strengthening immunity in people who keep getting these ailments.
How to use Echinacea Tincture
Take at the first sign of illness, according to the recommendations on the label – it tastes better if you add a little water or fruit juice. For children (over 12 months) keep to the minimum dose.
Caution: Do not give to babies or use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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5. Ginger
Ginger is great for nausea and indigestion, and settles the stomach after food poisoning. It can alleviate migraine and helps to clear colds, catarrh and blocked sinuses, if taken early. Capsules are available from health stores, or infuse a piece of fresh ginger root in boiling water.
How to use Ginger
Take ginger capsules according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Caution: Consult your doctor before taking ginger in pregnancy.
6. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is great for its many healing benefits.
How to use Lavender Oil
Apply pure essential oil to spots, cuts, bites and minor burns. Soak a flannel in water containing four drops of lavender oil and apply to bruises and minor skin irritations. Sprinkle three drops on a tissue and inhale to relieve hayfever, headaches or travel sickness.
7. Lemon Balm
Grow your own, or buy fresh or dried from food shops. Make into tea for an instant lift when you are feeling low. Lemon balm calms nerves, yet keeps the mind alert. It also aids PMS, period pain, indigestion, headaches and colds.
How to use Lemon Balm
Make a tea by adding 500 ml of water (just off the boil) to 75 g of fresh leaves or 25 g of dried lemon balm. Infuse for 10 minutes. Strain and drink three times a day, reheating it as required.
8. Nux Vomica
The homeopathic remedy for hangovers and for when cigarette smoke or overeating has made you nauseous. It can also help with travel sickness, morning sickness or sleeplessness caused by working late, lack of exercise or indigestion.
How to use Nux Vomica
Take one tablet in the 6c potency 3 to 5 times a day. It’s also good for babies who wake about 3 to 4 am and are not pacified by a feed. Give one tablet in the 30c potency once a day for up to 10 days.
9. Peppermint
Both peppermint essential oil and peppermint tea have their uses and are good remedies to have in the cupboard.
How to use Peppermint
To help clear a headache, apply a small amount of diluted peppermint oil around the back of the head, just below the skull. Also try stroking a tiny amount up into the hairline near the temples. Peppermint tea is a good remedy for heartburn, indigestion and stomach cramps, or stroke 5 ml of diluted essential oil over the abdomen.
10. Rescue Remedy
This Bach Flower Remedy is excellent for shock, panic or stress. Use Rescue Cream on rashes and eczema.
How to use Rescue Remedy
Take Rescue Remedy or give directly after a minor accident, bad news or fainting. It helps children recover from a bump or fall, and calms exam nerves, pre-dentist anxiety and fear of flying. Put four drops on the tongue at least four times a day or take in water. Apply direct to a tooth to relieve toothache.
11. Sage
Common sage is good for period pains, heavy periods, hot flushes, digestive upsets. Grow or buy the fresh herb.
How to use Sage
Make into tea in the same way as with lemon balm and drink three times a day – but make a fresh brew every day. Use cold tea as a mouth wash for ulcers and inflamed gums, and as a gargle for sore throats.
Caution: Avoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have epilepsy.
12. Tea Tree Oil
Antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and immunity boosting, tea tree essential oil can be invaluable.
How to use Tea Tree Oil
Add two drops of pure essential oil to a small bowl of cool water and use to wash wounds, spots and itchy skin. Apply one drop neat on a cotton bud to cold sores, spots, insect bites and stings. To ease a sore throat, gargle with two drops of pure oil in 15 ml of vinegar added to a glassful of hot water. (Don’t swallow the mixture, but spit it out after gargling.) To help alleviate colds, flu, sinus and chest infections, add two drops to a bowl of steaming water, cover your head with a towel and inhale deeply for 5 to 10 minutes.
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