On the Road Must Have: Herbal First Aid Kit

Our family loves to travel (always with an herbal first aid kit).  We took the kids on their first road trip when they were three weeks old.  Yes it was crazy but I am blaming it on hormones and sleep deprivation.  It has made them good travelers though.  They will endure a 6-hour car ride to visit their cousins without a DVD player.

When we travel we inevitably have at least one wound or sickness that needs tending too.  At home we have a medicine cabinet full of herbal remedies for just about any ailment.  We have both been learning about and making tinctures, salves and herbal oils for years.  Our collection is extensive.  On the road it can be hard to find the kind of medicinal to treat simple wounds that we will use.  That makes it even more important that we have our own first aid tools with us.

Here are some of the essentials we take in our herbal first aid kit with us when we travel:

• Tea Tree Oil

This is essential for our kit.  It is anti-microbial and anti-fungal.  We use it to treat any cuts, scrapes or potentially infectious wounds.  We keep a wonderful product with us called Mela-gel made with tea tree oil.  It is great for keeping the tea tree on the wound.

• Arnica

We always have some sort of topical pain reliever in our first aid kit. There are several natural products on the market that work for relieving the sore muscles, bumps and bruises.  Arnica, China Gel, Topricin, and Pain-a-trate are all natural pain relievers that help with bruising as well.  This is so important when the kids are running and playing hard all day.

• Echinacea tincture

This is a staple in our everyday lives.  It is such an all around boost to the immune system we give it when there is any weakening of the body because of any stress, exhaustion, a bad injury, or exposure to people who are unwell.  A few drops in water through out the day helps to prevent illness.

• Rescue Remedy

Bach Rescue Remedy is essential for anyone who has had a trauma or shock.  With kids any significant bump or bang qualifies.  A couple drops of this helps the body to process the stress.  I have seen it help settle down some major tantrums and the after effects.

• Burn salve

A good aloe-based burn salve will help with sunburns and burns.  It helps to soothe the skin and begin the healing process.  If you are really lucky, you will visit someone with an aloe plant in their home.  That would be the ideal treatment.

• Mud

Bee stings are prevalent in the summer.  I always keep a simple mud mask mix in my first aid kit to soften the pain and help pull out the stinger.

• Ginger candy

If anyone in your family suffers from motion sickness, ginger candy can be a quick relief.  It also helps to settle a stomach if the change in schedule or foods is too much for a sensitive stomach.

• Tea

I always travel with tea bags.  You never know when you will need a peppermint tea to settle someone’s stomach or a calming tea like chamomile for the end of a busy day.

• Hand Sanitizer

This is a good cleaning agent if water is not immediately available and it dries on it’s own. It is a must in any first aid kit.

• Charcoal

This is great first aid kit addition in the event of digestive distress.  When I travel, I have to be careful about the water I drink or use to brush my teeth.  More than once I have found myself wandering through a drug store looking for activated charcoal to settle my stomach so I can enjoy my trip.  Now I just make sure it is in my first aid kit so I don’t have to go hunting.

• Tools
• Band-aids
• Scissors
• Gauze
• Gauze pads
• Q-tips
• Tweezers

When you are prepared for many of the common events that occur while traveling, visiting and playing, you don’t have to worry that they will curtail the fun.  If you are ready with simple, effective treatments in a well stocked first aid kit you can keep going and enjoy the fun!

Have a great summer and remember to be ready for anything.