Building A Holistic Home: Part 2
In Part 1, we talked about some mindset pieces and action steps that are helpful to work through as you start making better swaps for your home. I’ll quickly summarize…
Your house is NOT killing you. I remember that spiral well.
Make one swap at a time. As you run out of something, swap it for something better. More organic. Less fragrance. Cleaner ingredients. One less drop in the toxin bucket at a time.
Focus on learning about and getting supplements on hand for the illnesses your family is most prone to. What are your kids *always* sick with? Coughs? Stomach flu? Mental wellness stuff? Start there.
And THEN you start preparing for the things that make you the most worried. Fevers? RSV? Vomit? Start working on that next.
And lastly, as you wish you would have had something on hand, purchase it so you have it for next time.
Following this line of priority has helped me conquer the overwhelm and start building a holistic medicine cabinet in a way that didn’t break the bank, and helped me slowly learn one thing at a time, as I needed to.
Alright, now let’s talk about what *I* feel are the essentials to starting your own holistic medicine cabinet. Nothing fancy here. What I list here is what I use often for my family, but definitely not the only options! People swear by many different natural remedies for their families which is a beautiful thing because every one of us is different. I am trying to keep these suggestions very simple, each one able to be used for many things, and above all, affordable for you!
I’m going to cover basic first aid, common illnesses, and common ailments most moms will probably need to be prepared for.
And keep an eye out for the 3rd part of this series - TOOLS. The gadgets, books, and things that I have found helpful to have on hand while navigating learning how to treat my family at home with natural remedies.
A balm or cream that contains Calendula
Nature's Neosporin
Good for: Insect bites/stings, cuts, scratches, wounds, burns, bacterial vaginosis, diaper rash, lip balm, and irritated skin.
Because: Calendula (made from the calendula flower which is in the marigold family) is a centuries-old remedy for any skin itch or ouch, from bee stings to sunburn to eczema. The plant’s skin-relieving properties come from its mixture of essential oils, which are both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.
We use this one from Amazon, or this one from Earthley the most! Use code REBECCA10 at Earthley.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Good for: Cuts, burns, athlete’s foot, minor infections, nail fungus, lice, or as a natural disinfectant. Works on molluscum, skin infections, respiratory infections when inhaled, acne, and can help with inflammation from illness.
Because: Tea tree is a powerful disinfectant, so a drop or two of essential oil can be smoothed onto cuts to stave off or get rid of infection or diffused for respiratory infections. Plus, its antifungal properties make it a natural weapon against the common toe fungus that causes athlete’s foot and other fungal issues.
How to: Diffuse, dilute, do NOT get in your mouth. I have used it successfully massaged around the outside of the ear for ear infections, topically over inflammation on the breast for mastitis, and dropped directly on MRSA infections. It can be a hot oil, so make sure you dilute it in a carrier oil.
Immune Harmony Oil
Good for: allergies, head colds, coughs, eczema, rashes, urinary tract infections, swollen tonsils, fever, headaches and dry eyes, varicose veins, cystitis, and cellulitis.
This is an essential oil blend from VerVita Products. VerVita is founded by the children of Dr. Dick VersenDaal - the chiropractor who invented CRA (Contact Reflex Analysis), better known as “muscle testing”. It is a blend of Tea Tree, Turmeric, Thyme, Lavender, Cinnamon bark, Black Currant, Artichoke, Elecampane, and Black Cumin.
Because: The blend of oils in Immune Harmony supports the body by creating a hygienic response in the body’s filtering-immune system. When excess backs up into the body, multiple symptoms and syndromes occur.
How to: You can apply this oil topically, you can diffuse it, and you can mix in epsom salts and bathe in it. If you don’t want to spend money on a million individual essential oils, this one is a fantastic place to start.
Arnica Pellets and Salve
Good for: Bruises, bumps, muscle aches and sprains, and a powerful tool for pain relief following surgery, injury, or headaches.
Because: Studies show that an active component in arnica, called helenalin, impedes the body’s inflammatory response to injury by preventing the release of an immune system regulator called NF-kB. One caveat: The plant itself can be toxic, so use only arnica homeopathy, not the raw herb.
How to: For whole-body trauma, like after surgery, or widespread muscle aches, take 2 pellets of homeopathic arnica four times daily until you experience relief. For a milder, more isolated injury, like a bruise or sore muscles, apply topical arnica salve as soon as possible and repeat three to five times daily until pain, bruising and swelling are gone.
Tip: Homeopathy can be confusing… 30C will relieve general symptoms — more than one symptom in more than one location. Or choose 6X for local symptoms — a symptom you can point a finger at (e.g., an insect bite or bruise).
Click here for the topical arnica we use. Boiron or Ollois are easy to find homeopathy brands for the pellets.
Aloe Vera
You can buy aloe vera gel, but it’s also a very easy plant to grow. I keep mine by the window and water once a week. Cut older, spent leaves off the bottom of the plant as you need so you don’t stunt its growth and water once a week or when soil is dry.
Good for: Mild to moderate sunburn and household burns, constipation, wound healing, heartburn, digestion, diarrhea, acne, and cold sores.
Because: Aloe vera gel soothes and cools the surface of the skin, calming heat and irritation. The viscous juice of the aloe vera plant contains natural inflammation fighters, called salicylates. As pain and swelling subside, other aloe ingredients (a.k.a. polysaccharides) encourage the body to make more antibodies, which speed healing.
How to: Slather aloe vera gel onto a sunburn or minor kitchen burn every couple of hours until heat dissipates and pain lessens. Or scrape out the gel and take by mouth. You can slice open a leaf and tape it right on top of minor burns.
Tip: If you're using an aloe leaf, just cut the tip off the leaf, and filet open. Lay the leaf over the affected area and cover with a bandage. Or scrape out the gel and take by mouth. Easy to mix into juice (or you can buy aloe juice from the store) to help your young child with occasional constipation.
Scutellaria
Also known as Chinese Knotweed, Scutellaria is Anti Candida (yeast/fungal), Anti Dengue, Increases Glutathione, Anti-inflammatory, and naturally contains melatonin and serotonin.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is classically used to clear damp-heat which is a part of conditions like fever, nausea, dysentery, diarrhea, ulcers, tonsillitis, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Studies have shown it to be anti-inflammatory, anti candida, and increase glutathione production.
Very specifically, I keep this on hand for things caused by fungal/yeast overgrowth: cradle cap, UTI, thrush, etc. If you must take antibiotics, take Scutellaria alongside to keep the yeast from growing back faster then good bacteria can innoculate. Safe for littles, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Purchase Scutellaria from Supreme Nutrition Products.
Oscillococcinum
Good for: Relieving flu symptoms
Because: It has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce both the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, headache, fever, chills, and fatigue. Oscillococcinum is the best selling flu medicine in France.
How to: Like any flu-preventative, oscillococcinum works best if taken early, preferably within 24 hours of experiencing bodywide aches, fever and runny nose. You don’t need to take the whole tube like it says on the label. Just a few pellets will do the job. And this is safe for kids of all ages! Homeopathy is unique in that the dose is the same for everyone, and there are zero side effects.
Order here
Magnesium Lotion
Good for: Sleep, cramped muscles, calm, to supplement during fever/illness, headaches, and helps with constipation especially in littles.
Because: Magnesium is used for over 300 functions in our bodies, and we burn through it faster in times of stress. Even more importantly, it's a co-factor for the absorption and use of other key nutrients, like vitamin D. Getting enough magnesium is critically important to health!
How to: Apply a pea sized amount (double for adults) and rub into belly before bed. Apply to lower belly and lower back for constipation. Apply to temples, forehead, or upper spine for headache. Or use topically on cramping/sore muscles/feet. Best absorbed through the skin, and using this way won’t cause gastric upset.
This one is our favorite. Code REBECCA10
Bach Rescue Remedy
Good for: Anxiety, emotional upset or panic
Because: Bach flowers are a homeopathic medicine. This Rescue Remedy is helpful for adults and kids, any time you are feeling like you need the support. For nervous kiddos, times of stress, and any other time you are feeling out of control.
How to: To manage everyday stress, place four drops on the tongue three or four times a day. Or dilute the drops in a glass of water and sip throughout the day. For acute stress or anxiety, take four drops every 20 minutes until feelings subside. You can also get this remedy in pastilles that you suck on like a candy.
Tip: One of the biggest perks of flower essences is that they have absolutely no side effects.
Another option for these situations would be Anxiety Relief from Earthley.
Activated Charcoal
Charcoal can be used for a binder for poisoning and other toxin exposures. I always keep both capsules and a salve on hand.
Use for food poisoning, hangovers, gas, diarrhea, teeth whitening, or a binder for detoxification from mold and other environmental toxin exposures, including binding up medicines and radiation following surgery or xrays.
It’s also considered a “drawer”, meaning it can pull things out of the skin. Bug bites, stings, poison ivy, poison oak, stinging nettle, or any other topical irritation. I love Earthley’s Black Drawing Salve which is a charcoal salve in a chapstick like tube. So convenient. You can also use charcoal powder or an opened charcoal capsule and make a paste with a little coconut oil.
Salve or capsules - use code REBECCA10
Cough B Gone
Good for: Supporting coughs and helping to loosen and soothe the cough.
Because: A cough is your body’s way of clearing mucous and pathogens from the lower respiratory passages. Suppressing it causes your body to keep that junk inside instead of getting rid of it. Cough-B-Gone is an herbal tincture created to help relieve colds, coughs, and congestion. Rather than use synthetic, chemical-tasting cough syrups, nourish your body and support the respiratory system with the natural power of herbs.
How to: Dose according to the bottle. Can be given 3-4 times a day, as needed.
This is a pleasant tasting tincture that is easy to give to little kids too - grab the alcohol free version. The alcohol version burns a little bit, but is more effective with a smaller dosage. Alcohol helps extract the goodness of the herbs more effectively. Ages 6 months and up.
Uses mullein, fenugreek, and dandelion root.
Feel Better Fast
Good for: herbal immune support for all illnesses.
Because: Feel Better Fast is an herbal immune support tincture, designed to gently help you feel better no matter what the minor illness or discomfort is. It's a catch-all starting place to simplify using a natural remedy without endless research. Unlike conventional remedies that suppress and "hide" symptoms (which can prolong illness), Feel Better Fast supports your body's natural immune system, and you return to normal...fast! Safe for babies 6 months and up.
How to: dose according to bottle. This should be given 3-4 times a day.
Includes echinacea, astragalus, fennel, ceylon cinnamon, and elder flower. Tastes delicious, my kids take drops right in their mouths without complaint. You can also mix in a little water.
Immune Rmor
Before you worry about having to have Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, CoQ10, Echinacea and a million other supplements on hand to support your immune system when you’re sick, check this one out. This is the one for lingering coughs that just won’t quit!
All the good stuff PLUS: bromelain, spleen/thymus glandulars (to support yours!), echinacea, beet root, cranberry, and trace minerals. We kick illness SO FAST ever since we started using this. Every kind of illness, as well as any other issues that require immune support.
How to: 1 capsule per 50 pounds. Triple that dose at onset of illness and back down as you start to feel better. Safe for babies who are eating food and older. For kiddos who are 25 pounds, just use half a capsule. You can open them into food like yogurt or applesauce.
This is from the same company, VerVita, as the immune harmony oil mentioned earlier.
Mullein tincture
Good for: Sinus pressure, ear infections, ear pressure from teething, swimmer’s ear, and other ear problems. Also softens ear wax. Safe for newborn and up.
Because: Mullein has antibacterial, anti inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.
How to: drop 2-3 drops in the ear while laying on your side. Let them sit for 5 minutes before draining. Safe for babies too, but works best to apply while baby is nursing on their side so the drops can stay in the ear long enough to be effective.
You can also use dried mullein leaves as a tea to drink or vaporize, and you can smoke dried mullein leaves for respiratory illness!
Histaminum (homeopathic remedy)
Good for: allergic reactions from pollen, ragweed, mold, dust mites, and pet dander or other exposures. Also helps with hives, rashes, and other “flare up” symptoms.
Because: Histaminum is a homeopathic remedy that is useful for allergic reactions. Not a replacement for medical treatment for anaphylactic reactions.
How to: Adults and children: At the onset of symptoms, dissolve 1 pellet under the tongue every 15 minutes for 1 hour. Then, dissolve 1 pellet under the tongue 3 times a day until symptoms are relieved or as directed by a doctor. Symptoms should start changing after the first hour.
Do not depend on this homeopathic remedy for severe allergic reactions.
I do keep Genexa Kid’s Allergy on hand - same active ingredient as Benadryl but without the junk - just in case. You can get the Histaminum pellets from Boiron or Ollois (same place you’re getting Arnica).
Epsom Salts
Good for: Muscle tension, stress, minor aches, detox support and overall relaxation. Also game changing for infected cuts, ingrown toenails, bug bites or anything you want to “draw infection out” of. Soak first, then apply your calendula cream or tea tree oil topically.
Because: Epsom salts are made of magnesium sulfate - a mineral combo that helps relax muscles, ease inflammation, draw out toxins and calm the nervous system. Magnesium is also essential for hundreds of body processes, including nerve and muscle function, which is why soaking in it can feel instantly grounding.
How to: Add 1-2 cups to a warm bath and soak for 15-20 minutes. To add essential oils to the bath (for UTI, infections, respiratory illness, etc., put a few drops on a pile of Epsom salts in the dry bath, rub together in your hands to mix, then fill the bath. For a quicker option, use a half cup in a foot soak to relieve fatigue and promote relaxation. You can also mix a handful with a little oil for an exfoliating scrub or dissolve some in warm water for compresses on sore joints or cramps.
Look for any Epsom salt that has only one ingredient: magnesium sulphate. No fragrance.
A few things in this list are best to order from the supplement dispensary. Shopping list below.
http://www.DSSOrders.com/CELHealth
When you order for the first time, you’ll need to make an account with Candice’s provider code: CL4650.
THEN, you can stack my code on top every time you order!!!. You’ll get 10% off through Candice, plus you can add my code: BECCA at checkout for an extra 5% off. So you’ll get supplements for 15% off!!!
Shopping list
Scutellaria Supreme
Immune Rmor
Immune Harmony Oil
Arnica
Histaminum
And here is an Earthley shopping list for you. Earthley is a fantastic herbal product company, started by a mom in her garage. All organic. Shipping takes a bit, so be patient.
https://earthley.com/?affiliateId=RebeccaRegnerus
Code REBECCA10
Shopping list:
Black drawing salve
Charcoal
Feel better fast
Cough be gone
Good night lotion
Breast balm
Earache ease
Anxiety relief
Kitchen Cures
Your medicine cabinet is a terrific first stop for natural healing solutions, but don’t underestimate the power of food and spices you probably already have in your kitchen. Then again, your kitchen might be an equally important resource. All herbs and whole foods have medicinal properties; it’s just a matter of having medicinal quality on hand, and knowing how to use them! A lot of items you commonly stock — such as honey (local raw is best!), olive oil, lemon, apple cider vinegar, teas and garlic (local instead of from China if you can) — are great remedies for various ailments.
Here are some things I make sure we never run out of… They are relatively cheap, so if they go bad, I don’t worry.
Fresh Ginger
Ginger is a proven remedy for immune support, nausea, indigestion, constipation, and morning sickness.
To use: Slice off a 1/3-inch hunk of fresh ginger. Place it in a mug, fill to the brim with boiling-hot water and let steep for five minutes. Drink as a tea.
Fresh Garlic
Garlic is nature’s antibiotic. We have cured many cases of mastitis, sinus infections, MRSA skin infections, acne breakouts, and general illness at our house by taking raw garlic. Allicin, an enzymatic byproduct created when garlic is cut or crushed, is the star player here.
Take 2 cloves morning and night. Cut or mince or crush, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to release the allicin, and then eat. You can cut into pill sized pieces and swallow whole, mince into butter and eat on a piece of bread, mince into a shot of orange juice, or chew like a champ.
OR for babies, slice garlic very thinly and bind to the bottoms of their feet with a thin cloth or sandwiched between two pairs of thin socks. Don’t put garlic on bare skin as it can cause blistering. Helps with EVERY illness a baby might be experiencing.
The more often you cook with garlic, the better. Anytime you are browning meat or making a soup, or sauteing anything in a pan, add garlic too!
Onions
You can use onions for congestion, coughs, earaches, in tea, and to help draw out fever and sore throats!
Use in an onion poultice on the chest or throat, on the bottoms of feet for fevers and congestion, steamed and held on the ear like an earmuff for earache, steep in tea and add some lemon and honey for a sore throat, or cut up in a bowl by the bed and let the vapors do it’s job. Yes they stink. But boy do they work. The same way an onion makes you cry when you cut into it, onions loosen and act as an expectorant for mucous!
Honey
The uses for raw, local honey are endless. It is both soothing and antimicrobial making it a very effective remedy for infections, and it is healing to the skin. Manuka honey has more medicinal properties than raw honey, but is also much more expensive. Something for you to look into!
Can aid in seasonal allergy relief, soothes a cough, used topically honey can heal and sooth the skin and help with wound healing, soothe a sore throat, makes a beautiful cough syrup when poured over sliced onion, natural sweetener, soothes cold sores and canker sores, can be used as a mild laxative, and has even been studied to be used in the eye for infections and scarring (it can sting, so be careful).
Baking soda
Common uses:
• Indigestion or heartburn - a tiny pinch in water acts as a quick antacid (though not for daily use).
• Soothing baths - calms itchy skin, sunburn, rashes or bug bites.
• Mouth rinse or toothpaste - helps whiten teeth and balance oral pH.
• Foot soak - softens calluses and neutralizes odor.
• Bath + detox support – often combined with Epsom salt to help buffer acidity and relax the nervous system. With Epsom salts, baking soda is a great way to help a child relax when they are constipated.
I’m out of room in this article, but here are a few more common kitchen staples with medicinal qualities for you to look into!
Turmeric, oregano, lemon, thyme, ceylon cinnamon, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and coconut oil deserve an honorable mention!
