How to Create a Natural Medicine Chest

If you want to create a natural medicine chest for your home, there are some items that are indispensable. Read on to discover the basic items you should have on hand for your natural medicine chest.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Salves

Salves are used for many ailments such as burns, cuts, strains, etc. There are two main salves that every natural medicine chest should contain. These are arnica and calendula. You can purchase these salves or make them easily at home yourself.

Arnica salve is used for muscle strains and bruises but should never be used on open wounds. Calendula salve is used to treat burns, cuts, scrapes and insect bites, etc. It will do in places that arnica salve cannot be used such as open wounds.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Dried Herbs

Although you won't need many dried herbs in your natural medicine chest, one that you shouldn't be without is dried chamomile flowers. These are used for stress and upset stomach and can be quickly made into a tea when needed. Keep a small container of dried chamomile flowers in your natural medicine chest for these purposes.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Fresh Herbs

Of course fresh herbs won't keep long in a natural medicine chest but there is one that you should keep in stock. Fresh ginger root is used for colds, respiratory congestion, nausea and stomach upset. Keep a small container of this fresh root in your natural medicine chest for these conditions.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Herbal Extracts

Herbal extracts are highly concentrated forms of certain plants. They are easy to take and quickly digested, making them indispensable in the natural medicine chest. Three necessary herbal extracts for the natural medicine chest are Echinacea, valerian and elderberry.

Echinacea extract is used for colds, flu, cuts, infections and scrapes. Elderberry extract is used for colds and flu as well. Valerian extract is taken internally for mild pain and insomnia. Keep these three herbal extracts on hand in your natural medicine chest for these purposes.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Essential Oils

Essential oils are the concentrated essences of plants. They work wonders for healing and every natural medicine chest should have a few in stock. The most important essential oils to have on hand in your natural medicine chest are eucalyptus essential oil, lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil.

Eucalyptus essential oil is used for respiratory congestion and muscle soreness. Lavender essential oil is used for stress, insomnia and headaches. Tea tree essential oil is used to treat skin infections and insect bites. Keep these three essential oils on hand at all times in your natural medicine chest.

Create a Natural Medicine Chest - Salts

Epsom salt and sea salt are also necessities in the natural medicine chest. Keep a small container of each always on hand. Epsom salt is used for muscle soreness, relaxing and relieving tension. Sea salt is used for sore throat gargles and for bath salts.