A Holistic First Aid Kit

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Why Holistic?

I like using holistic first aid as much as possible. If we can fix something naturally, we always try that first. So that's how we build our first aid kit--we start with natural and holistic options, and build up to high emergency last resort options. I choose to use homemade/DIY options often, certain purchased items from companies I love that work for us, and a few store bought /prescribed options. Having kids has taught me a TON about administering first aid, and what I haven't learned by trial and error, has usually been found at youtube university..

First Aid at home

At home we have a huge amount of first aid remedies.. In the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the bedroom.. there are oils and salves, teas and tinctures, and anything we could dream up, really. There are a couple of reasons we've decided to collect our first aid into a "kit" that we can take with us.

1. The main reason being ease of finding things in an emergency situation--it's all gathered up. We have already used our kit for splinter removal in the few days since it was gathered together.
2. Secondly, the salves, oil blends, and mixtures are already created.. Previously DIYed--as in, I don't just have the ingredients--they're already assembled.
3.  This kit is very inclusive, but still small enough to take with us in a car or camping trip. So it's great for home and travel (lol for hearth and caravan..)

Watch the walkthrough

What's Included?

Top Row:

• Caboodle! Or a Tackle box. We found ours on sale (because it's ugly, lol). 
• Yogi Tea. (Breathe Deep is my FAVE but Throat Coat is what's in our kit)
• Mini Castile Soap--you never know when you need to get clean.
•  Weekly Pill Organizer Filled with:
  • Ibuprofen
  • Benadryl
  • Imodium
  • Empty Capsules*
  • Inner Defense*
  • Life 9 (Probiotic)*
  • Digest & Cleanse*
• Raw Honey--Honey has antibacterial properties and has been used for thousands of years for both energy and medicine (source)
• Coconut Oil--the uses are practically endless. Might as well have a packet in the first aid kit! 
• LLP*--this is short for Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint. These 3 oils blended together help us so much with seasonal allergies that we don't use allergy meds anymore. 
• Helichrysum*--One of the most important essential oils for a first aid kit. Literally for almost any issue.  It's expensive to purchase but I believe it's worth it. It took us 4 years to go through our first bottle, so it has longevity. Read some amazing facts about helichrysum here, then order some here.  
• Breathe Again*--This essential oil blend helps me get open airways for deep breathing--especially as it relates to my seasonal allergies. I usually don't leave the house without one of these in my purse.
• Emergen-C--I have recently learned of the amazing and important capabilities of vitamin c. I encourage you to read more about it vitamin c here.
• Tummygize*--This is an essential oil blend of spearmint, peppermint, Tangerine, Fennel, Anise, Ginger, and Cardamom oils, all blended up with coconut oil to create a kid friendly tummy oil. I like to use it with a roller top, and we can roll it right on when needed.
• Cotton Swabs--for applying salves without using fingers mostly.
• Safety Pins--you just never know when you'll need one to hold an ace bandage together, or whatever.
• Needles--for splinters
• Essentialzymes-4* (enzymes)--beneficial enzymes help aid in digestion. 
• Alkalime*--adds alkalinity to your body-- use when your tummy is upset or you have heartburn or indigestion.
• Mightypro*-- young living's brand of probiotics for kids. Tastes like pixy stix and makes you feel better (both kids and adults)

Middle Row:

• Elderberry Tincture--such an interesting way to preserve elderberries without having to create elderberry syrup that isn't shelf stable. Great for immune boosting! Find the recipe here.
• Fingernail Clippers--ever useful, must have!
• Tweezers--ditto.
• Lighter--for sterilizing needles, starting fires, and killing ticks.
• DIY Ear Oil--this oil has saved us from many ear troubles before! (Swimmer's Ear!) It provided nearly immediate relief for us... 5 drops lavender EO, 5 drops Melrose EO, and top with olive oil. (2 ml dropper bottle)
• Lavender Lip Balm*-- You can DIY this using this recipe, or just use the one from young living. It's fantastic after a day in the sun. 
• Hydrocortisone cream--dollar tree special. We don't often use it, so we went cheap on it. 
• Band-aids--must be fabric bandaids (or have cute cartoons on them)
• Liquid Bandage--you could probably just use super glue, but we had it from a previous gash that didn't quite require stitches.
• Floss--many purposes including its intended use. 
• Lavaderm*--IMO completely MUST HAVE. We use on minor burns, minor cuts, sunburns, scrapes, insect bites, and minor skin irritations (like when the cat clawed me the other day..) Basically you can spray it on anything and it helps, haha!
• Hand Sanitizer*--Absolutely love young living's sanitizer. It smells like peppermint and cinnamon. Soap and water is always best, but when it's unavailable this is a great option. 
• Animal Scents Ointment*--Excellent all-purpose salve. Created for animals, used by my whole family, lol. We use for dry, chapped, or rubbed skin especially. Plus we have it for the dog too! 

Bottom Row:

• cotton balls
• toothpicks
• ace bandage (2 sizes)
• Reef Friendly sunscreen*
• All Natural Insect Repellant* (it works and no DEET)
• Antisceptic Towelettes
• Alcohol Swab
• Sting Relief Swab
• Peppermint Altoids
• Owie Balm*
• Sharpie
•  athletic tape
• gauze
• tape scissors
• scissors
• artificial tears
• emergency blanket

Essential Oils:

• Raindrop Collection
• Purification
• Tea Tree
• Lemon
• Digize
• Frankincense
• Thieves

(Plus the others on the top row--LLP, Breathe Again, Helichrysum, ang tummygize.)

You should know that I have a lot of oils, but for my first aid kit, these are the absolute MUSTS. I will always have other certain oils in my purse with me, and they are tucked all over my house, but like I said, these are definite must-haves.

This kit will change and grow over time. I'd still really like to add:

• spare glasses--we need to make an eye doctor appointment and get spares!
• ​cayenne powder (I forgot to pick some up--it's supposed to be a blood coagulant and has other very interesting first aid applications--worth the dollar spent at the dollar tree)
• a suture kit--I don't know how to suture, but it's one of those situations that may come up, and I'd like to have a small amount of knowledge and the proper tools should it arise.
• a small bottle of alcohol--whiskey probably, to make toddies, apply to wounds if necessary (lol just like in the movies).--

Those are easy additions that I will likely add over the next year. Do you have any suggestions for additions to our mostly holistic first aid kit?

Tips for creating your own first aid kit

When creating your own holistic first aid kit, there are some good things to remember! 

• Keep a small first aid kit in your large one. You can pull it out for taking on a hike or during your daytime activities. 
• Don't feel like you have to create it all at once. You can build it over time! While I did purchase several things over the month (because it's the focus for the month!), there were many, many items that we already had on hand, and had collected over time. 
• If you do decide to build your kit all at once, remember the dollar tree is your friend, lol! We got several items at the dollar tree. 
• Build it into your year. Each year you will want to go through your kit to replace used and expired items. You may want to replace used items as you go so you never have to start from scratch again, but at least once a year take a look through your kit. 

PLANTING A GARDEN FOR FIRST AID

While I am not an expert at gardening, this is the year to do better in this department with the foods that we eat, and with the herbs that we use. I've heard that gardening is a common hobby among the people that live the longest in the world, so I'm going to try to do better with it! There are so many plants, flowers, shrubs, and herbs to grow to use in creating balms, salves, tinctures, and teas that are perfect for our holistic first aid kit! 

My favorite medicinal plant that I believe everyone should start with is Aloe Vera! It's such a versatile, and relatively easy plant to grow. And, BONUS! it's not hard to find. I use aloe in my after sun spray which is a DIY version and close kin of the lavaderm from Young Living that's already in my first aid kit. 
 
Most herbs you cook with also have a medicinal purpose and use. Oregano, basil, and thyme are all great to have for both culinary and medicinal applications. Ditto for onion, ginger, and garlic! 

Some perennial options for zone 7 include, oregano, thyme, mint, chives, and lavender (among many more, I'm sure!) We have had some issues growing herbs from seed, so this year we will try to start with plants. I'd like to try some Golden Oregano, as I've read it it's hard to kill--that's the kind of plant life I need!

We grow cilantro (which is the champion of our garden) and basil in with our vegetables,  and they both do well from seed. 

This year we are trying some new plants and I am so excited! This year we will add calendula, lavender, lemon bee balm, and echinacea. Preserving these flowers should be simple in the dehydrator (cross your fingers!), and then we can make all sorts of holistic wellness products with them. I'll be sure to share those with you as the garden grows.

Are You Prepared for your family's medical needs?

I am so relieved to have our first aid kit in fantastic working order. It will be wonderful to grab it to take with us as we go camping and on vacation, and even as we go on day trips! Being prepared is becoming more and more important to us as we get a little older and wiser, and see the world around us. Every little bit of preparation takes a bit of the weight off. Will you do yourself the favor of preparing for the first aid needs of your family? You'll be glad you did.​

Get your free checklist!

I created a free checklist to help you build your own first aid kit! Go grab it here.