Herbal Medicine Cabinet

I have always been into herbs to treat whatever ails me. I have never had tums, neosporin, or any other mainstream medicine in my medicine cabinet. I am strange like that. These are some of the necessary herbs, that I keep, that can easily replace many mainstream over the counter medicines. These are, also, herbs that are pretty easy to find in any basic heath food store or grocery store.

Aloe Vera - A versatile necessity for an herbal medicine cabinet, aloe vera can be used for cuts, scrapes, sunburns and minor kitchen burns. Apply over the wound or burn. You can buy aloe vera juice ready in a bottle or brighten up your house by keeping an aloe vera plant in your home and cut off a leaf as needed. Aloe vera can also be used for digestion, when you taking the juice internally.

Arnica oil - Great for any bruises and muscle strains. Arnica helps lessen the pain and helps heal bruises faster. It can also be used for muscle pain. Rub over the affected bruise or muscle. Arnica is not to be used on an open wound.

Cayenne - Yes, the same herb you use to spice up your food is essential for your medicine cabinet. It is effective at stopping bleeding and pain. When you get a cut or scrape sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the wound. It will help stop the bleeding and help lessen the pain. I know it sounds like cayenne and less pain, do not go together. But, trust me, it works. Also, add some to a glass of water and gargle, to help a sore throat.

Clove oil - Perfect for those times when a tooth acts up and you can't get to the dentist right away. Put one or two drops of clove oil on a q-tip and rub it around the gums of the effected tooth and put it directly on the effected tooth. It will ease your pain until you are able to get to the dentist.

Echinacea - A great immune booster, take it at the first sign of a cold or flu to help prevent it from coming or to help shorten its duration.

Eyebright - Just as its name somewhat suggest, eyebright is great for problems with the eyes. It helps eye infections (like pink eye,) tired, red eyes and allergies effecting the eyes and nose. Eyebright can be taken internally or you can make an eyewash, with the steeped herbs. I like to put freshly steeped, cooled, tea bags on my eyes and drink the left over tea.

Ginger - Ginger is great to have around to help with nausea, indigestion, gas, or an upset stomach. Using the fresh root, boil water with a few slices (or grate about an ounce) of ginger root, for about 10 minutes, to make a tea. Crystallized ginger is very effective too and quite yummy.

Goldenseal - Equally great for your immune system, as echinacea, you can have both as part of your medicine cabinet or one. Use them together and get double the immune power.

Peppermint - Peppermint tea can help calm an upset stomach. Peppermint oil can be rubbed on the temples to help a tension headache.

Slippery Elm - A necessity for a sore throat or cough. Mix some powdered slippery elm with a little water (and sweetener, if you prefer.) It will turn thick and a bit slipperyish, hence the name. Don't try to add more water, to make it thinner, the thick consistency is what makes it most effective for a sore or dry throat.

Tea Tree oil - So many uses for tea tree oil... To treat athletes foot or a toenail fungus apply directly to the infection on the foot or toe. For a toenail infection, try to get as much under the toe nail as possible. Continue until the infection is cleared. To treat an abscess, boil, cut, scrape or acne dilute in a some water and apply to the affected area.

Valerian - It is a mild sedative, great to relieve stress, tension and anxiety. It works as a safe tranquilizer to help you get to sleep. Effective when taken as a capsule, tincture or a tea.

Witch Hazel - Witch hazel can help to shrink inflamed veins, which makes it very effective at shrinking hemorrhoids. Put witch hazel on a cotton ball and apply it to hemorrhoids as needed. It can also be added to a sitz bath. It can also be applied to wounds, to help them heal.