Have you ever looked at your medicine cabinet stocked with ibuprofen, expired dayquil, and some benadryl? Since changing your lifestyle, have you wondered what you could replace those items with? Here are some tips:
Colds/Flu: Echinacea and Goldenseal
Have a cold? Want it to go away faster? Grab an herbal tincture of this stuff and feel your cold disappear within 1-3 days. I’ve kicked the flu’s butt with this stuff. This flower tincture will boost your immune system and in turn your strength to fight whatever is ailing you, whether it be viral, bacterial, or fungal. You can buy an herbal tincture of echinacea and goldenseal online or at your local health food store.
Colds/Flu/High Blood Pressure: Kyolic Garlic
This has been shown to not only kick a cold’s butt, but it can lower blood pressure too. Garlic is a super powerful antiviral and although I’ll recommend eating a raw organic clove every time, this is the best stuff you can get in supplement form. Purchase online or at your local health food store.
Painkiller: Magnesium
If you have any kind of pain (but mostly muscle pain), you may be magnesium deficient. It’s fairly common! Headaches, stress hangovers, or just about anything that makes you feel icky magnesium might be able to help. Be sure to take only quality supplements or eat in the form of dark, leafy greens.
Menstrual Cramps: Black Cohosh
Ladies, need a cure for menstrual cramps? Black cohosh is it! Used by Native Americans forever for pain, black cohosh is known to increase uterine contractions, which in turn ease menstrual cramps. Do not take if pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Black cohosh has been used to end a pregnancy or induce labor at the very end of a pregnancy. Use with caution and only use as directed.
Wart Remover: Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano EO is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, similar to garlic. It is used with tremendous results as a wart remover. Dilute it to help various other things. It is very strong. Use caution if taking internally. I personally only use it externally.
Soap/bug bites: Baking Soda
Fantastic for bug bites, rashes, washing your hair, brushing your teeth, baking cookies, and whatever else you may want to use it for.
Acne/Stomachaches: Bentonite Clay
This clay comes in two kinds when bought in-store: edible and non-edible. Basically the non-edible kind has preservatives and chemicals and stuff in it. I’ve noticed that kind is also way smoother when used as a skin mask whereas the edible kind clumps and falls off before it can dry. Eat after eating something that gives you stomach cramps, constipation, or literally poison. Clay has been eaten by animals and people alike since the beginning of time to aide digestion and soak up toxins within the digestive system. Follow the instructions on the container. For the external use only kind, use as a mask on any part of the body and remove when dry.
Fatigue/Chronic Illness: CoEnzyme Q10
One of my personal favorites, CoQ10 is the active enzyme in organ meats, also known as offal. Its main purpose is to fix mitochondrial damage (mitochondria provides energy to your cells). Take when you are feeling fatigued, out of sorts, or if you have any weird symptoms at all. Many times, the issue could be damaged mitos.
Fatigue/Neurological Symptoms: Vitamin B12
If you can’t get a shot easily somewhere, take a powdered vitamin B12 complex supplement that can mix with water. B12 pills are not easily broken down by the body for some reason. Use for an energy boost.
Indigestion: Papaya Enzyme Tablets
Use to aide digestion after a rocky meal (any pain or bloating afterwards). Papaya contains powerful digestive enzymes that help break down your food.
UTI prevention: Colloidal Silver
Used as a means to prevent infection since the Middle Ages, silver is antibacterial. Colloidal silver is kind of like food-grade liquid silver. Not much research has been done on it, but it is very effective at preventing UTIs. Squirt the recommended dose under the tongue and hold. Keep away from light and heat. Do not take more than the recommended dose on the bottle.
Liquid bandage: Dragon’s Blood
No, it’s not actually from the blood of a dragon. Dragon’s blood is a type of sap from the croton lechleri tree that looks like blood. The sap acts as a liquid bandage and dries on to protect paper cuts, scrapes, and whatever else you might need. I take it hiking!
Anti-Nausea: Ginger Pills
Ginger is great for you. Everyone knows that. Use ginger as a replacement for anti-nausea medication such as dramamine.
Burns: Aloe Vera
Relieve sunburns, chemical burns, burns from actual fire touching your skin, or whatever with aloe vera. Also great for eating.
Bandages
I am a bandages queen. Always keep them everywhere. They are so helpful for keeping cuts and scrapes from getting infected. Keep them in your purse, your car, wherever. Just because they’re mainstream doesn’t mean they’re not great. 😉
What do you have in your natural medicine cabinet? Leave suggestions in the comments below.
Remember that this is not intended to be medical advice. I do not have a medical license. Use any of these suggestions with caution and never use more than the recommended dosage (the recommended dosage is fine, I promise).
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