Natural First Aid
Our goal here at Epsilon Acupuncture is to help you stock your herbal medicine cabinet, and today we're helping you make an all-natural first aid kit.
Just to be clear - we're not suggesting skipping or replacing western medicine, we're making suggestions for things that aren't bad enough for the E.R. We sell some of these items, and if there's enough interest in something we don't have we'll stock it, but this is just an article to help you make your own custom first aid kit.
Skin Stress (Cuts, scrapes, bug bites, and minor burns including sun burn)
Indian Meadows Skin Healing Salve is one of my favorites for minor cuts and scrapes - my personal all-natural pre-bandage product. I've actually had results using this product for scar reduction as well. This company also makes a bug bite balm and some nice facial products.
Original Salve is the most readily available, and a solid option. Plantain leaf is the powerhouse anti-microbial here with soothing herbs like comfrey and calendula.
Purple Cloud (aka shiunko in Japanese medicine) is our go-to burn cream, and it is also used for skin rashes, psoriasis, and eczema. Here's where to get it on Etsy, and here's how to make it if you're feeling crafty yourself. The major herb in this one is lithospermum, which is used in Chinese and Japanese medicine to clear heat toxins like fevers, rashes, measles, and burns.
Ching Wan Hung is great for any type of burn. It is cooling and helps to increase circulation to the area and decrease inflammation naturally.
Sprains, Strains, and Pains
Zheng Gu Shui translates to "bone setting liquid," and can be used for acute painful injuries, or chronic arthritis pain. It's alcohol based and has Chinese herbs for circulation and inflammation reduction. This is a budget option to have in your medicine bag for ankle sprains and stiff necks.
White Flower Oil is another great budget option and is similar to Zheng Gu Shui. This one has a more minty smell, whereas the above has a medicinal smell. One off label use of this product is to dab a little near your ears while flying to help with the altitude adjustment.
Pain Terminator Patches are a nice patch option. Patches keep the medicinal ingredients on your body for a longer period of time because they don't rub off like a topical. Topicals can be used with bandages or gause, but patches are a one-step thing. They can be cut to any size so they can wrap around a finger or plaster the entire lower back region.
About the Author
Kat Powers L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist recognized by the Oregon State Medical Board and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She is passionate about patient advocacy and helping her patients understand alternative options. In her free time she enjoys bullet journaling and walks with her greyhound.