Your home is full of healing and soothing products and plants. Here are a few to keep in mind next time you have the need for First Aid.
Ant bites –for green ants –rub on some vegemite,for other ant bites rub on a slice of cucumber or a slice of onion or leek.
Bee stings –use pH neutralizers such as lemon juice or Bicarbonate of Soda on the sting.
Bleeding that won’t stop –pour ground coffee into the wound as coffee clots the blood. Do not use instant coffee.
Bruises and sprains –mix grated raw potato with sugar and spread onto the affected area. Wrap the area with glad wrap to draw the swelling out.
Burns –for mild burns rub on the gel from inside a fresh aloe vera leaf.
Heat exhaustion –drink raspberry or peppermint tea. Take 1 tsp apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.
Mosquito bites –rub on lavender or tea tree oil.
Splinters –from thorns,wood or glass –make a bread poultice with hot water. Use a handkerchief and place a piece of bread on it. Fold the handkerchief over the bread and pour on boiling hot water. Allow it to cool enough for the body to tolerate and place it over the splinter. When the poultice gets too cold,squeeze out the water and repeat the process. The thorn or glass or wood splinter will be drawn out naturally without the need for tweezers.
Stomach upsets –mix a pinch of ground turmeric with water and drink.
Sunburn –rub on a slice of fresh tomato to stop the itching and stinging.
Stinging Nettles –look for the plant called Yellow Dock that grows nearby to Nettles. Rub some leaves over the areas that were affected by the stinging nettle.
Ticks –DO NOT PULL OFF. Use Vaseline jelly to suffocate them. If you have many on you,then have a bath with a handful of bicarbonate of soda added to it. This will make the ticks fall off.
Other useful first aid remedies to keep in the cupboard are:Homeopathic arnica,arnica cream,calendula cream,calamine lotion and pawpaw cream. Follow the directions on the label.
It just goes to show how we don’t necessarily need to rush off to the pharmacy to buy some first aid items –simply look around your kitchen and garden. That has to be a worthwhile time,money and environment saver.
