Ida Botha (idabotha82) wrote in the_spellbook, @ 2008-01-21 00:03:00 |
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Current mood: | jubilant |
Your natural medicine chest.
Keep these twelve remedies handy as a natural medicine chest.
YOUR NATURAL MEDICINE CHEST:::
Keep these twelve remedies handy as a natural medicine chest.
ARNICA:
A homeopathic remedy, Arnice tablets are good for bruising, swelling, sprains, muscle and joint pain, and nosebleeds. Take before and after a visit to the dentist. Give to children who have fallen over, bumped or shocked themselves. Use Arnica cream or tincture to help heal bruises and spots. All three available from Chemists and health stores.
HOW TO USE:
Take one tablet in the 6c potency 3 to 5 times a day. So as not to touch the tablet, tip it from the bottle onto a spoon and transfer it to the tongue. For very young children, crush the tablet between 2 spoons. Apply cream or tincture according to the manufacturer's instructions.
CALENDULA CREAM:
Excellent for skin irritations, this homeopathic cream is a gentle antiseptic and antifungal which promotes healing, fights infection, and reduces inflammation. Available from Chemists and health stores.
HOW TO USE: Smooth on skin for minor burns, sunburn, blisters, insect bites, stings, piles, chilblains, varicose veins, excema, acne, corns and sores.
CAMOMILE TEA:
A gentle, calming remedy for children. Use for childhood and digestive upsets, colic, wind, constipation, diarhoea, food poisoning and teething problems.
HOW TO USE:
Drink 3 times a day for PMS, period pain, stress, insomnia or to reduce the pain of sprains and strains. Soak a cotton flannel in cold tea and apply to minor sunburn, eczema or sore nipples as required. Breastfeeding mothers can pass the benefits of Camomile onto their babies in their milk. Otherwise, give children a couple of small spoonfuls of cooled tea or add a cupful of strong tea to their bath to help them sleep.
Echinacea Tincture:
Invalueble for warding off colds, flu, gum infections, abscesses, ear infections, sore throats, chest infections, cystitis, vaginal infections and for strengthening immunity in people who keep getting these ailments. Available from health stores.
HOW TO USE:
Take at the first sign of illness, according to the recommendations on the label - it tastes better if you add a little water or fruit juice. For children (over 12 months) keep to the minumum dose.
CAUTION:
Do not give to babies or use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
GINGER:
Ginger is great for nausea and indigestion, and settles the stomach after food poisoning. It can alleviate migraines and help to clear colds, cataarh and blocked sinuses, if taken early. Capsules are availabble from health stores, or infuse a piece of fresh Ginger root in boiling water.
HOW TO USE:
Take Ginger capsules according to the manufacturer's instructions.
CAUTION:
Consult your Doctor before taking Ginger in pregnancy.
LAVENDER OIL:
Great for its many healing benefits.
HOW TO USE:
Apply pure Essential Oil to spots, cuts, bites, and minor burns. Soak a flannel in water containing four drops of Lavender oil and apply to bruises and minor skin irritations. Sprinkle three drops on a tissue anbd inhale to relieve hayfever, headaches or travel sickness.
LEMON BALM:
Grow your own, or buy fresh or dried from food shops. Make into tea for instant lift when you are feeling low. Lemon Balm calms nerves, yet keeps the mind alert. It also aids PMS, period pain, indigestion, headaches and colds.
HOW TO USE:
Make a tea by adding 500ml of water (just off the boil) to 75g of fresh leaves or 25g of dried lemon balm. Infuse for 10 minutes. Strain and drink three times a day, reheating it as required.
NUX VOMICA
The homeopathic remedy for hangovers and for when cigarette smoke or over-heating has made you nauseous. It can also help with travel sickness, morning sickness or sleeplesness caused by working late, lack of exercise or indigestion. Available from chemists and health stores.
HOW TO USE:
Take one tablet in the 6c potency 3-5 times a day. It's also good for babies who wake about 3-4AM and are not pacified by a feed. Give one tablet in the 30c potency once a day for up to 10 days.
PEPPERMINT:
Both Peppermint Essential Oil and Peppermint tea have their uses and are good remedies to have in the cupboard.
HOW TO USE:
To help clear a headache, apply a small amount of diluted Peppermint oil around the back of the head, just below the skull. Also try stroking a tiny amount up the heairline near the temples. Peppermint tea is a good remedy for heartburn, indigestion and stomach cramps, or stroke 5ml of diluted Essential oil over the abdomen.
RESCUE REMEDY:
The Bach Flower Remedy is excellent for shock, panic or stress. Use Rescue Cream in rashes and eczema. Both available from Chemists and health stores.
HOW TO USE:
Take Rescue Remedy or give directly after a minor accident, bad news or fainting. It helps children recover from a bump or fall, and calmes exam nerves, pre-dentist anxiety and fear of flying. Put four drops on the tongue at least four times a day or take in water. Apply direct to a tooth to relieve toothache.
SAGE:
Common Sage is good for period pains, hot flushes and digestive upsets. Grow or buy the fresh herb.
HOW TO USE:
Make into tea in the same way as with Lemon Balm and drink three times a day - but make a fresh brew every day. Use cold tea as a mouth wash for ulcers and inflamed gums, and as a gargle for sore throats.
CAUTION:
Avoid if you are pregnant or if you have Epilepsy.
TEA TREE OIL:
Antiseptic, antifungal, anti-viral and immunity- boosting, Tea Tree Essential Oil can be invaluable. Available from chemists and health stores.
HOW TO USE:
Add two drops of pure Essential Oil to a small bowl of cool water and use to wash wounds, spots and itchy skin. Apply one drop neat on a cotton bud to cold sores. To ease a sore throat, gargle with two drops of pure oil in 15ml of vinegar added to a glassful of hot water. (Don't swallow the mixture, but spit it out after gargling.) To help alleviate colds, flu, sinuses and chest infections, add two drops to a bowl of steaming water, cover your head with a towel and inhale deeply for 5 - 10 minutes.