An Unconventional First Aid Kit

You might be surprised by the amount of first aid supplies you can find in the average kitchen. That’s great news for anyone trying to stick with natural alternatives as often as possible. Here are some common reasons that have us running for a first aid kit and some natural remedies that you can use instead of your typical Neosporin.

Splinters, thorns, or other things stuck in your skin

Don’t try to squeeze it out; you could end up pushing it farther into the skin. Instead use a banana peel from a ripened banana instead of a band aid- tape it on and leave it on overnight. The enzymes in the banana will draw the splinter out, usually overnight; if it’s very deep you may have to repeat for up to 3 nights.

Blemished skin.

Mash up a ripe banana and put it on your face overnight, the bananas enzymes help clear up blemishes!

Bumps, Bruises and Sprains

Slice a yellow onion and apply it right onto your sore spot (on unbroken skin). Use surgical tape or gauze to keep it in place.

Bleeding.

Reach into your spice cabinet for some powdered cayenne pepper to quickly stop the bleeding in just a few seconds.

Muscle Aches.

Ginger is great for helping sore muscles relax, add a handful of powdered ginger to your bathtub and begin to relax. If you have heart stress or high blood pressure try using Epson salts instead of ginger since it is a strong circulation stimulator.

Nausea, Indigestion, Sinus Congestion and Headaches

Steep 1-2 teaspoons of dried peppermint (or peppermint tea) for 15-30 minutes in warm water. You could also use a food grade peppermint oil and add just one drop to a cup of warm water for even faster relief. High quality peppermint may sting your eyes so make sure to keep your eyes closed while sipping your tea.

Bug Bites and Insect Stings.

Cut open an onion and rub the juicy, freshly cut onion onto the bite. If you have peppermint oil on hand you can mix a few drops with a carrier oil (such as coconut, almond or olive) and rub it straight on the bites to help relieve the itching sensation.

Bloating and Water Retention.

If you’re feeling a bit swollen flat-leafed parsley is your best friend. In a pint of water slowly simmer a handful of parsley until it’s reduced to about one cup – about 20 minutes and drink a cup 3-4 times throughout the day.

Do you have any other favorite Home Remedies that I missed? Share them in the comments!