As part of any planned long bushwalking, camping or kayaking trip, a first aid kit is essential. All the usual bandages, antibiotics, slings, analgesics, tourniquets, artery forceps, suture material, etc. will already be part of your pack, but here are a few extra natural preventative and first aid items that might be useful.
Caution:
Not all of the following have not been proven scientifically, so always take care, note allergies and use common sense. All drugs have side effects, including prescription drugs, herbal, homeopathic, essential oils and natural therapies. Also remember never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Caution: some essential oils and other products, e.g. chamomile, are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
Natural First Aid Kit
- Tea Tree Oil – excellent as a disinfectant for wounds, cuts or scratches. Studies show that Tea tree oil can kill almost every known bacteria. It is also an antifungal, useful for tinea, and as an insect repellent.
- Garlic – is a natural antibiotic. Carry fresh garlic cloves and/or capsules. Garlic from capsules is useful to rub on the blisters caused by shoes and boots rubbing the skin. Eating garlic causes your skin to secrete a natural insect repellent. Garlic oil smeared on legs is said to help deter snakes.
- Chamomile Tea – this is a natural antihistamine, for hay fever, bites, allergies and mild asthma. Check that you have no known allergies to this herb before drinking. Some sources warn that chamomile should not be used by pregnant women (e.g. "Roman chamomile", MedLine Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine).
- Drop one drop of eucalyptus oil and one of lavender oil on a tissue to sniff for blocked nose, colds, and hayfever.
- Soda Bicarbonate – useful for emergency food allergy treatment. One-half teaspoon soda bicarbonate in half a glass of water will usually ease symptoms. Wash down with a whole glass of water. .
- Arnica – homeopathic pilules (or spray) and cream – is useful for bruises, shock, trauma. For sprains, use arnica cream to reduce swelling and stiffness.
- Aloe Vera (carry a fresh stick of Aloe Vera and some Aloe Vera cream) – excellent first aid treatment for burns, sunburn, grazes and rashes.
- Manuka Honey – An ideal antiseptic, spread on ulcers, infected wounds and boils. Also useful as a drink in warm water, to stimulate the immune system in cases of colds, sore throats or infections. Check no allergy to honey or Tea tree.
- Small amounts (half a teaspoon) of honey relieves coughs, especially night coughs..
- Calendula (Marigold) Oil or Calendula cream – to heal any cuts, wounds, grazes or abrasions.
- Lavender essential oil – Apply neat to any minor cuts, burns, grazes, crushed fingers, insect or leech bites. Relieves pain rapidly and heals damaged tissue. Also useful for relaxation and insomnia.
- Red cordials (not too much sugar) made from fresh raspberries or blackcurrants can kill at least twelve different types of bacteria responsible for stomach bugs, including E. coli and several strains of salmonella. Again, do not use this if you are allergic to sugar or berries.
- Nutmeg – excellent for diarrhoea. (Traditional Indian medicine). Also, grated apple left till brown can help ease diarrhoea.
- Rescue Remedy (a brand name). Put a couple of drops under the tongue for fear, shock, anxiety or trauma. Use with Arnica (spray under tongue) to relieve symptoms in injury.
- Pantyhose – wear them to deter leeches. Carry salt to remove leeches. Then use Lavender oil on the leech bite area.
- Peppermint essential oil – sniff directly from bottle if headache. Also useful (two drops on a sugar cube or add to cup warm water) for nausea, stomach cramps or diarrhoea. Peppermint tea is also useful. Check for known allergies. (Peppermint for headache)
- Citronella Oil or eucalyptus oil – Smear onto skin (avoid eyes) and drop onto tent and clothing for an excellent mosquito repellent. Eating garlic and taking vitamin B will also deter insects from biting you. (Caution: Take care with citronella if you are going anywhere near black bears. Female bears are attracted to citronella.)
- Stingose cream – useful if stung by a bee or a wasp. Take Rescue Remedy drops for shock.
- Neem oil – also deters insects.
- Water - drink plenty of fresh water to relieve headache (often dehydration related).
- Ginger – suck on piece of dried ginger, or sniff ginger essential oil, for motion sickness, travel sickness and nausea.
Essential oils come in very small, light bottles (5 ml). They add very little to the overall weight of a backpack.
A basic knowledge of acupressure points could also be very useful.
Travel well!
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be used instead of medical advice, only as information about potential complimentary therapies. Always discuss any medical conditions and remedies with your own doctor before trying self-medication or accepting remedies from someone else. Consult a qualified medical expert and do not rely on this article.
References
Riley TV. "Antimicrobial Activity of the Major Components of the Essential Oil of Melaleuca Alternifolia." Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 1995.
Carson C F."Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties." Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 January; 19(1): 50–62.
Badia P, Wesensten N, Lammers W, Culpepper J, & Harsh J. (1990). Responsiveness to olfactory stimuli presented in sleep. Physiol Behav, 48(1), 87-90
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Heather Donaldson - Heather Donaldson is a writer, a registered nurse with a diploma in nutrition, an interest in natural medicine, animals and environment.
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