Developing an all-natural First Aid Kit for Home and Day Trips

Ayurvedic Medicine starts in your kitchen! The kitchen pharmacy is an ideal tool for anyone
who wants to use “food as medicine” even for minor first aid situations. Note that this blog in no
means encourages you not to call your doctor or go to the emergency. However, for some minor
injuries, you can start with what you have in hand.

Keeping an Ayurvedic First Aid Kit for home and day trips may be handy for you and your
family.

Do you already have a first-aid kit in your home? If not it’s probably a good idea to have one and
keep it filled with necessary materials such as BandAids, scissors, tweezers, and dressings. But
did you consider that you could also add many natural products in addition to what you have?
Ayurveda uses natural substances that you can prepare at home to use as first aid remedies.
Your kit should have arnica, aloe jel, honey, turmeric, ajwain, calendula ointment, neem oil,
thieves spray, ginger candy and a selection of essential oil. You must keep the kit away from
children’s reach.

Why do we want a First Aid Kit?

There are many health issues that can arise that we should be prepared for, such as:
 Skin wounds, injuries, cuts, and bleeding
 Soft tissue damage such as strains and sprains
 Bug bites and rashes
 Allergies
 cough and cold
 Minor burns
 Sunburns and heat stroke
 Digestive problems such as nausea and diarrhea
 Menstrual period cramps and other muscle cramps
 Headaches

Turmeric Powder

 For skin cutes, scrapes, and puncture wounds, you can clean the area and apply turmeric powder,
and then wrap it with gauze. Turmeric powder can be a capsule that is opened or using the
straight powder spice. This is a natural antiseptic and stops the bleeding, as well as reducing the
local pain. Turmeric can also be applied as a paste if you mix some powder with a bit of water
first to form a paste.

Honey
 Honey is a wonderful antimicrobial and healing food! It is widely used in Ayurveda, and there
are many types on the market. I prefer raw, unpasteurized honey, as well as Manuka honey. You
can apply honey to wounds, infections, and rashes. Ingesting this higher quality honey is
beneficial for peptic ulcers and digestive problems, as well as upper respiratory infections and
sore throats.

If you can find Black seed honey (Nigella Seed Honey) it is an excellent remedy for a migraine or
headaches.

Keep a small jar of honey in your first aid kit. Honey usually does not expire (just keep the
moisture out)

Neem Oil
 Neem is a tree growing in India and is widely used for many health conditions since ancient
times. Neem is an insecticide, antifungal and antibacterial, antioxidant, immune-boosting, helps
with skin and hair, acne, and popular for oral and dental health. Having some neem oil in your
home is a great way to tackle these health issues.

If you have food allergies where you suddenly break out in hives and it is itchy neem oil is an
excellent way to reduce the inflammation and itchiness.

Arnica
Arnica cream, gel, or internal pellets are usually homeopathic preparations that are a great first-
aid for bruises, pain, strains, sprains, injuries, joint and muscle issues, and swelling.

Aloe Vera gel
Aloe Vera gel is a popular healing product for any burns or sunburns. It cools the skin, reduces
inflammation and itching. It is rich in nutrients and antioxidants to heal the skin.

Calendula Flower Leaves
Calendula infused oil is extracted from the marigold flower and is found in various forms such as
creams, salves, and oils that are used topically for the skin. Calendula is a go-to for healing
rashes, eczema, psoriasis, damaged skin, and is popular in natural baby skin products as well.
You can get a cup of calendula petals (dried or fresh) and pour olive oil in it. Infused this is a
glass jar for a month. Strain the liquid from the petal and make your own ointment. This is an
excellent remedy for diaper rash.

Ajwain Tea:
A teaspoon of ajwain in two cups of boiling water makes an excellent tea for indigestion, overeating
and stomach ache. Keep a little ar of ajwain in your kit. You can also chew of the seeds.

Ginger Candy:
For a headache, nausea and stomach ache – if nothing is available ginger candy is a good start.

Cinnamon Tea:
For painful menstrual cramps take ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder or a stick of cinnamon and
boil it in water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink this water and you will get immediate relief.

Essential Oils
Essential oils are concentrated substances that have many healing effects on the body. Here are
some of my top ones:
   Lavender oil reduces pain, inflammation, and improves skin healing. Lavender oil is amazing
in relieving minor burn pain.
  Tea tree oil is anti fungal for skin infections as well as repelling lice (you can add it to shampoos
or sprays for the hair).
  Citronella oil repels mosquitoes. If you are bitten, various oils such as lavender,
 citronella, rosemary, and lemongrass diluted into witch hazel help reduce the itching and redness
  Lavender and peppermint essential oils are helpful to reduce headaches by diluting them
 in a carrier oil and applying to the temples or neck, or they can be inhaled from a diffuse.
  Eucalyptus essential oil is a decongestant that can be inhaled during sinus infections or
 applied as a chest rub when diluted in a liquid/solid carrier oil.
  Sandalwood essential oil has shown in studies to reduce eczema and dermatitis, and can
 be applied to the skin diluted in a carrier oil.
  Clove oil is great to have for relief of tooth aches and gum pain – one drop into the area
 creates a numbing effect due to ingredients such as Eugenio.

Thieves Spray
Thieves is one of my favorite essential oil blends, and is great as a hand sanitize and antiseptic
blend. Here is a blog I wrote on all the benefits of thieves oil and why you should have it in your
house.

Tea Bags:

Please keep 1-2 chamomile tea bags. They come in handy for digestive issues, nausea and
insomnia.