One cures headaches, stomachaches, and it boosts your immune system!

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This seems like a no-brainer to me, but it might not be for you. I recently made a list of the 7 things I never want to be without in case of a health emergency and for overall self-care. I am heading on a road trip soon and I needed to make this list so I knew what to pack. I figured this would be the perfect place to share it:

1 – Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV_purpleThis bomb bottle of apple-based vinegar with the mother has a bajillion uses. You can take it in the morning as a shot to acidify your pH level. You can use it as a daily probiotic. You can put it in your hair as conditioner (although it makes my hair dread, so watch out if you have thin hair). You can use it to clean stuff, make salad dressing, use as a face toner, make bone broth, and anything else you use white vinegar for. It rocks. I must reinforce that you must get an ACV with the mother, otherwise you can use it for a fraction of the things.

2 – Coconut Oil
CoconutOil_purpleI already have a post on this, but coconut oil is one of my favorite pantry items. It can be used as a leave-in conditioner, cooking oil, toothpaste, an anal OR vaginal suppository (yeah, email me or submit a Q if you want recipes), lip balm, a cream to get rid of scars, and more! My favorite brand is Butcher Boy since it tends to be the cheapest and the brand I’ve found that is least spoiled. The others, many times, are moldy if you don’t check before you throw it in your cart. Spoiled coconut oil is no fun.

3 – Baking Soda
bakingsoda_purpleNot only is this a major ingredient in pretty much everything you need to bake, but you can use it as a shampoo, toothpaste, an acne cream, it unclogs sinks, it cleans stuff, and it makes everything smell fresh. Baking soda rules.

4 – Papaya Enzyme
papaya_purpleThis is my go-to for any stomach upset or issues digesting after a meal. I have IBS, so I have a bunch of tricks in order to keep my GI tract in check. I keep this papaya enzyme supplement in my bag or car wherever I go just in case I eat something that doesn’t agree with me. My main concern when I first tried this was that it wouldn’t be strong enough, but it definitely is. Eating a papaya has the same effects except that you would need to eat like 5 of them in order to get the same effects of one pill (that’s not an exact ratio – in fact, I made that ratio up just to demonstrate that these are powerful extracts). This brand also has some other kinds, with added chlorophyll and other cool stuff – whatever you guys need.

5 – Garlic
garlic_purpleI go for raw garlic, all the way. It fights sickness with its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties. It cures any sign of a UTI. If you feel a sore throat coming up, you can eat a clove of garlic to fight the sickness before it begins. Oh, and it lowers your blood pressure.

Good to note: It’s also a blood thinner. Keep that in mind.

My mom hates garlic and blood pressure medication, so she takes Kyolic garlic supplements. These are aged garlic supplements. Since they’re not raw, I’m not sure they can contain allicin, which is the active agent that makes garlic a great immune booster. However, they are great for blood pressure for sure.

6 – Bentonite Clay
Clay_purpleYaaaassss bentonite clay is the best. There are clays you can use both internally and externally. You can put it on your skin as a mask to remove free radicals, excess oils, and leave your skin feeling super soft. You can also find a food grade version (my favorite is Redmond, but they just rebranded and added a bunch of weird ingredients to their clay, so I can unfortunately no longer recommend them). Try to find a brand that does not contain any additives, with only “calcium bentonite clay” as the ingredient. I will make a post later about the death of Redmond and possible alternatives. I have been using Redmond for years, so this is really sad. Eating bentonite clay can ease an upset stomach, literally save you from a poison or toxin you ate, and it can aide digestion.

7 – Turmeric
turmeric_purpleI did not know the full healing aspects of turmeric until just a few years ago. This powerful spice is anti-inflammatory, so it can ease headaches, stomachaches and just about any kind of pain you may have (usually caused by inflammation). Turmeric whitens teeth and has immune-boosting properties that keep you from getting sick. Adding black pepper is supposed to strengthen its healing effects, according to Indian tradition.

You’ve probably seen turmeric in many curry dishes. Chances are, it is paired with black pepper as well. If you want the healing, but you don’t like the taste, try a supplement!

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Some of the links in this post are affiliated links and The Barefoot Aya may receive a percentage of the item purchased. This does not mean that any company supports The Barefoot Aya nor does it mean that I do not fully recommend these products. I would never link to a product unless I fully recommend it.

Related Content:
Medicinal Clay | Pen & Plum
Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar | FoodBod
Coconut Oil Benefits | Discovering Your Happiness