Natural First Aid Kit
Written by Debra Kirchhof-Glazier
There are three natural remedies in my personal first aid kit that have been extremely useful to me over the years. These past two weeks I had the opportunity to use all three, which inspired me to write this article. The three remedies are Aloe vera, Rescue Remedy, and homeopathic Arnica montana.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant with thick, fleshy, serrated grey-green leaves that is very useful in the treatment of burns and skin wounds. Many scientific studies on the medicinal use of Aloe vera have shown its effectiveness. As one example, a randomized controlled study published in 2009 in Surgery Today showed that Aloe vera cream was more effective than silver sulfadiazine in healing second degree burns. Burn sites treated with the aloe were completely healed in less than 16 days, compared with 19 days for the medication, and the results were statistically significant. Aloe plants are readily available in florist shops and greenhouses and are easy to grow. A kitchen windowsill is a perfect location, as the plant will be handy if you burn yourself while cooking- like I did this past week when steam escaped from a pot of soup I was making. My wrist immediately turned red and started to hurt. I quickly broke off the end of an aloe leaf, opened it up, and applied the gel to the burn. The pain quickly subsided, and my wrist healed without even forming a scab.
Rescue Remedy and homeopathic Arnica montana purportedly work on an energetic level, and homeopathy completely defies what we currently understand about science. Rescue Remedy is a composite of five different Bach flower remedies that is used whenever one has a physical or emotional shock. Bach Flower Remedies were developed in the 1930s by the English physician, Dr. Edward Bach, to address disruptions in emotional states. A few drops are taken orally, either directly or in water. There are very few scientific studies done on Bach flower remedies, but the results are encouraging. For example, a study published in 2009 of 405 patient visits at a Primary Health Care Center in Spain showed that Bach flower therapy was an effective alternative to psycho-pharmaceuticals, with fewer side effects. Rescue Remedy is made from five different Bach flowers and can be purchased in natural food stores and herb shops. Sweet Annie Herbs carries it in Huntingdon, and there will be some available at The Sweet Annie booth at our annual Healthy Harvest Festival on October 16th.
Homeopathy is a system of healing that originated in 1796 by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathic remedies treat conditions with small amounts of remedies which, in healthy people, would produce symptoms similar to those being treated. The most baffling aspect of homeopathy is the claim that the more dilute the remedy, the more powerful the effect. Homeopathic remedies are designated as X, C, and M potencies. The X potency uses a 1:10 dilution of the original substance, whereas C and M use 1:100 or 1:1000 dilutions, respectively. Homeopathic remedies should be kept away from heat or strong light, as well as strong smells, such as camphor in moth balls, and should be taken 15-30 minutes before or after food and without touching the remedy with your hands. Three or four small pills can be tapped into a medicine cup and tossed under the tongue. Liquid preparations are also available. Arnica montana, a yellow flowering plant endemic to Europe, is made into homeopathic preparations and taken internally to reduce pain and swelling after any kind of trauma. Published studies of the effect of homeopathic Arnica show mixed results. A randomized double-blind placebo controlled study was done in 2007 on the effect of 30C Arnica on pain following tonsillectomy. There was a statistically significant decrease in pain scores from day 1 to day 14, compared with the placebo group. On the other hand, a similar type of study in 2008 that used Arnica in combination with three other homeopathic remedies did not show a reduction in the morphine requirement for pain after knee surgery, compared to placebo. The jury is out, but millions currently use Arnica for reducing pain and swelling, obtaining the remedy from natural food stores and herb shops or online through companies like Washington Homeopathic Products.
As for my personal experience with Rescue Remedy and homeopathic Arnica, I caused a bicycle accident two weeks ago that prompted both my husband and me to use these remedies. I abruptly turned left and my husband hit the back of my bike, causing him to crash onto the road and require transport to J.C. Blair Hospital by ambulance. I was extremely upset, and on the way to the hospital dashed into our house to grab some Rescue Remedy and 30C Arnica montana. I took some Rescue Remedy myself and gave it to my husband with the Arnica when I arrived at the Emergency Room. Whether or not it was the placebo effect, I felt noticeably calmer and my husband did not need to take any additional pain medications that night or afterward, even though he separated his shoulder, damaged his ribs, and required stitches in his leg.
Yes, we have antibiotic ointment, Ibuprofen, and other conventional medications in our cupboard, but more often than not, natural remedies are my first choice for first aid, and it is rare that I need to go any further. I encourage you to investigate some of these alternatives as well.
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.