When I started school to study Oriental Medicine I started converting my medicine cabinet to contain more natural products. I built my home apothecary around the types of health issues that I commonly deal with at such as colds, cuts, bruises (especially with my son running around pretending to be a super hero), and muscle aches. My son is two and a half and prone to colds and lung pathologies with cough and green phlegm so I have a special formula for him called Lung Qi Junior by Blue Poppy Pediatrics.
I tried to keep this post to the items I thought would be available and useful to most people. Keeping in mind that I am a minimalist, this is my pared down list. All of these products are sold in-office so contact me if you are interested!
Yin Care
Yin Care is my favorite herbal wash! I always keep it in stock at home because it is useful for so many things. In Chinese Medical terms it treats wind-dampness and damp-heat. It comes in a concentrated bottle so it is important to dilute it with water. I have used this for diaper rash, acne, and yeast infections.
Zheng Gu Shui
Zheng Gu Shui is a trauma liniment that creates a pain relieving effect. I commonly use this for bruises, muscle aches, and muscle strains. Because this liniment contains herbs it actually helps to heal the area instead of just numbing it. Zheng Gu Shui is commonly used by martial artists to recover during training. It is in an alcohol base so because of it’s watery nature it needs to be applied (or painted) over the area 3-5 times.
701 Plaster
I keep 701 Plaster around for long term pain relief. It comes in a patch form that will provide relief for 4-6 hours. You can cut it to size and it stays in place really well.
Mom Mom’s Boo Boo Cream
My son absolutely loves Mom Mom’s Boo Boo Cream by GracefullyMade. Whenever he falls or bumps his head he asks for a kiss first, then he wants his Boo Boo Cream.
RIP + CBD Cream
RIP + by GracefullyMade is the best CBD cream that I have found. It works within 5 minutes of applying it, smells great, and is made from all natural ingredients with no preservatives. It is so gentle it can even be used on the face as a general moisturizer or for issues such as acne.
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Astragalus is an adaptogenic herbs which means that it can boost the immune system to help prevent seasonal allergies and sickness. It is also a great herb to take daily for general health and longevity. Astragalus is what I consider to be the “5-hour-energy” herb because its energizing effects are felt fairly immediately. This herb is not suggested for people with high blood pressure or women that experience hot flashes.
Fresh ginger
Keeping around copious amounts of fresh ginger is a fantastic idea, not only because it’s tasty but because it is useful for a variety of ailments! Ginger can be used to treat mild food poisoning (because of it’s detoxifying effects), nausea, phlegm, and colds. Fresh ginger tea can be made by boiling or steeping ginger in water for 20 minutes. Ginger can induce sweating so it is especially useful at the beginning of a cold to aid in pushing out a pathogen.
If you are interested in building your own natural home apothecary then there are some things to consider:
- What types of health issues do you or people in your home commonly deal with?
- What types of remedies are you comfortable using? For example, homeopathic remedies are very safe and there is low risk for a beginner to experiment with. Herbs have cautions and contraindications that the user should be aware of.
- How much money are you willing to spend? Some remedies are inexpensive while others can by pricey. I try to keep only the essentials products that I know work for me to keep my cost down.
If you have any questions, are interested in an herbal consult, or need a custom formula then contact me at [email protected]!
