Herbal Emergency Kit

To ease a headache or calm anxiety, add a drop or two of peppermint oil to a glass of water and sip it slowly. You can also place a drop under each side of the chin (or a tiny, tiny, dab right by the nose for the adventurous) will start to calm even the most frazzled nerves.

Slippery Elm, as its name implies, is mucilaginous--meaning when it's wet, it becomes sticky and, well . . . slippery. You can break open a capsule and mix the powder with water, Aloe Vera, or honey to make a paste useful for coating minor burns, upset stomachs, or soothing a scrape or bug bite.

A good remedy for sprains and bruises is Clove. Clove oil can be diluted with olive oil or massage oil and used as a liniment although some people use it full-strength.

Grapefruit Seed Extract is also known as Citricidal for a good reason. You must always dilute it. Taken internally (1 drop/16 oz. water), it's great for killing off intestinal parasites. You can also use it to make an antiseptic spray or wash for cleaning wounds.

Barberry has antiseptic qualities. Try to find barberry in powder form, but capsules will suffice if you can't find it. Barberry can be applied directly to a cut (or taken internally over time) for protection against infection.

Rescue Remedy is a wonderful flower essence formula that is beneficial for stress and tension. Rescue Remedy eases fear and restores a state of calm and confidence. During emotional or traumatic evens, it generally calms and soothes. Ten drops in glass of water or juice, sipped slowly.

Activated Charcoal isn't an herb but it's an excellent natural remedy for food poisoning. The charcoal adsorbs the toxins, rendering many of them harmless; however, remember bacteria multiply very rapidly, so chances are some will survive and reproduce.

Of course none of these remedies is intended to replace a doctor's care or assistance. First aid is only meant to assist until you can get proper medical care, so use common sense.