Looking for some effective DIY home remedies to stock your natural medicine cabinet? Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve seen tremendous results from eating a real foods diet, ditching toxic chemicals, and being consistent about exercise. My family is healthy… even my two young kids seem to miss out on a lot of the bugs and sickies that friends or family pass along. We’ve never had to see a doctor for illness for either kid… (knock on wood). But everyone gets sick eventually. It’s part of healthy living. And while I do believe there is a time and place for modern medicine (and I’m grateful to know I always have a Plan B, C, D… for when I need it), I personally always look to natural home remedies as my first line of defense when someone is sick. (Note: When in doubt ALWAYS talk to a trusted healthcare professional first. And if it’s a medical emergency, go to the hospital.) Why I Don’t Start with Drugs Drugs have side effects. Period. Why? Because they are synthetic materials and our body doesn’t know how to deal with them the same way it knows how to deal with natural ingredients. Sometimes the side effects are subtle. Sometimes they are invisible until years later. Sometimes they are severe and tragic. That’s not to say that there aren’t instances where those side effects are worth the results. I just prefer to start with something safer… especially when so often the natural stuff works as good or better than the drugs.. Did you know that you can’t patent things like essential oils, herbs, or real food (just another reason why I do NOT consider GMO’s real food)? That’s problematic for the pharmaceutical industry. The good news is that there are more health care professionals who are seeing the benefit of these natural remedies. In fact, there are currently over 50 hospitals in the United States who use Young Living essential oil. And they’re seeing results! The even better news is that YOU can learn how to makeover your medicine cabinet with healing, natural ingredients. They are safer. They are effective. And they should be your first line of defense for those non-emergency sick days. Your Natural Medicine Cabinet: The Basics Essential Oils Essential oils are natural liquids and aromatic compounds found in all types of plants. Without essential oils the vital processes within the plant would shut down. Essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and support the immune system. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue. Essential oils are POTENT. A little goes a long way. Don’t let the price tag scare you as you generally only need a couple drops… if you get quality oils. Not all essential oils are created equally. If you are looking to get into essential oil with the idea of stocking your natural medicine cabinet, PLEASE choose wisely. You can learn more about essential oil basics here. Herbs Herbs have been used for holistic remedies forever. They are full of vitamins and minerals and are very nourishing and healing. Make sure you find high quality organic herbs. You don’t want to introduce synthetic pesticides in your quest for home remedies. Organic really does matter. Real Food There are certain foods you should always have nearby. Things like Apple Cider Vinegar, garlic, ginger, and other nourishing foods have long been used to heal and nourish sick bodies. And, of course, if you stock your home with nourishing real food you won’t have to worry as much about getting sick a often. Win! Don’t forget: The remedies you chose should be safe for your lifestyle. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding be sure to check safety from a trusted source. (I highly recommend Gentle Babies for essential oil information and Wise Woman Herbal for Childbearing Year for herbs.) Are you on any particular medications like blood pressure meds, anti-depressants or birth control? Some herbs can reduce the effectiveness of or interact with prescription medications. Be sure to check with a certified herbalist before adding herbal remedies to your daily life. Feeling Overwhelmed? Don’t be! When I was first looking to makeover my medicine cabinet I felt completely overwhelmed. I didn’t feel knowledgeable to know where to start or how to implement their uses in my life. Thankfully, I finally listened to a trusted friend of mine and took the plunge by starting with essential oils. The world of oils seems daunting all by itself, but my friend recommended I get the Premium Starter Kit because it alone could be used in SO many ways. How I Easily Replace My Medicine Cabinet with Essential Oils Frankincense Used for: Arthritis, asthma, confusion, coughs, depression, laryngitis, moles, scars, warts, wrinkles… and more. Replaces: Neosporin, Mederma, Scar Away, Scar Zone, Blister Shield, Azo Cranberry, Neutrogena, Oil of Olay… and more. Lavender Used for: Acne, allergies, anxiety, burns, dandruff, hives, mosquito bites, nausea, sleep, sunburns… and more. Replaces: Neosporin/Bacitracin, Aleve/Motrin, Advil Sinus, Tylenol PM, Unisom, Zyrtec/Claritin D, Benedryl, Calamine Lotion…and more. Lemon Used for: Cleaning, colds, constipation, fevers, gout, heratburn, kidney stones, varicose veins… and more. Replaces: Children’s Tylenol, Children’s Motrin, Chlorospetic, Imodium-AD, Pepto-Bismol, Mucinex, Alli, Azo Cranberry… and more. PanAway Used for: Arthritis, sports injuries, sprains, bumps, bruises, sciatica, pain reduction, muscle spasms… and more. Replaces: Bengay, Mineral Ice, Icy Hot/Biofreeze, Aleve, ThermoCare, Aspercreme, Motrin/Advil, Midol… and more. Peace & Calming Used for: Depression, insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity, stress, tension, hypertension… and more. Replaces: Unisom, Tylenol PM, Benedryl, Zanaprin, Ritalin… and more. Peppermint Used for: Allergies, asthma, cramps, diarrhea, fever, gas, hot flashes, indigestion, nausea… and more. Replaces: Pepto-Bismol, Imodium-AD, Tums/Rolaids, Mylanta, Prilosec/Zantac, Tylenol/Motrin, Beano/Gas-X, Midol…and more. Purification Used for: Acne, odors, bacteria, molds, fungus, mildew, repels bugs, insect bites, wounds, cuts… and more. Replaces: Calamine Lotion, OFF!, Bactine, Proactiv/Clearasil, Benedryl Topical, Cortaid, Cortizone 10, Vagisil…and more. Thieves Used for: Flu, colds,...
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