Good afternoon, subscribers,
First, I would like to apologize to the many subscribers who did not receive last month's newsletter.  During the transition to this new mailing system, several emails were left off.  Please let me know if you did not receive the newsletter: Are You Prepared, so that I can make sure it is sent to you.
Following this greeting is the May newsletter article.  For those of you who are new subscribers, this single article format began this year to make it more convenient for you to read the information I consider most important, and allow me to continue providing you with Healthier Solutions at no cost to you.  Please continue to visit my website, www.healthiersolutionsbymarie.com to see the ongoing updates and take advantage of the great deals that I offer you through my affiliate links, and the dozens of informational articles (especially on the newsletter link page) available there for you. This month's best deal is through Puritan's Pride, who has a buy one, get two free sale going on for you! (You can click on it at the bottom of this newsletter) Also, know that many of the dried herbs and other healing products I mention are available at Mountain Rose Herbs, whose link is also at the end for your convenience.
I will be taking several weeks off this summer to complete the book I have been working on for some time. It will provide you with much more detailed information on what I can only touch on here. I intend for it to be a quick reference for dealing with the most common illnesses and minor injuries that we encounter on a regular basis, as well as providing separate informational sections on each herb, food, or remedy. The following will give you a small taste of what my upcoming book will offer.
This month, my article is the second in the series about being prepared to take care of yourself and your family.  I have written about several of the foods, oils, herbs, and other products in previous newsletters, so please visit the website articles or newsletter links for more information on many of them. 
 
Until next time,
Live, love, laugh, and be well!
Marie 

Are You Prepared?  Part II: Your Holistic Healing Kit

 
Few feelings in life are as satisfying as that of empowerment. To know that you have the knowledge, means, and ability to deal effectively with whatever life throws at you is heady stuff. 
Just knowing that I have a wide variety of oils, herbs, teas, nutraceutical foods, and specific supplements at hand makes me feel secure.  I also have a wide assortment of conventional first aid items. Regardless of the health issue that may come up for my family, chances are good that my home medicine chest and holistic dispensary contain what we need.
Stocking a home dispensary is not cheap. However, most holistic remedies have multiple applications, can be used by all the members of your family (usually including your pets), and may have shelf lives of many years.
I am not an expert in emergency preparedness, and the list that follows is far from inclusive.  If there is a medical professional in your family, your kit might contain many specific items that only a trained person might know how to use correctly.
 
I hope you’ll take the time to consider what items or healing ingredients you might need, create suitable storage places for them, and most importantly, begin using them appropriately to support your health and wellbeing.  With time and practice you’ll gain experience and confidence in their use and applications. 
 
First, I want to mention some conventional first aid items that every household should have.
 
Consider buying a first aid guide.  I found a fairly decent downloadable one at this site.
 http://www.realselfreliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/FirstAid_print.pdf
 
Bandages: You should have a variety of sizes and shapes of the common self-adhesive bandage.  It is important to also have a variety of what are called butterfly bandages or steri-strip wound closure tapes.  These are used to pull the edges of a cut or incision together.  When applied correctly to clean dry skin, they stay on extremely well and can be used in situations where stitches might ordinarily be used.  I have used these over the years for many deep or gaping cuts and find them absolutely indispensable.
 
Dressing pads, gauze pads & rolls, and other dressing bandages to absorb blood and/or protect wounds. They come in a wide variety of sizes and styles.  Some prevent wounds from sticking.  There are also special films that can protect the skin from bandage adhesives.  I have found these to be essential for protecting skin when bandages must be used and changed regularly over an extended period of time.
 
Elastic compression style bandages are used for sprains and joint support. They come in the old style elastic we called “ace” bandages, and also now come in a slightly sticky self adhering style.  They are both useful to have.
 
Slings are often included in commercial first aid kits, though I have fashioned perfectly good ones from strips of material with the injured arm wrapped in a couple of magazines first. (Yes, I have actually created this little number twice before transporting the person to the ER!)
 
By chance, I happened up on the following website that provides a fantastic list of bandages with good photos.  http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/bandage.htm
 
I have found bendable aluminum finger splints handy many times over the years and even our wrist and ankle supports have been used several different times.  They aren’t normally part of a home first aid kit, but if we are talking about being prepared for major disasters of any type, they should be. 
 
Cloth and/or plastic first aid tapes are helpful for securing bandages, splints, and more.
 
Good quality Tweezers for splinter or foreign object removal.
Scissors of various types.  There are blunt nosed and sharp nosed, and the type called “crash” scissors will cut through just about anything and are very versatile. I have several pairs and they last forever. Here is a picture of these scissors, though this vendor no longer carries them.  http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?c=&cat=1,51222&p=44099
 
Packs of latex or non-latex nitrile gloves. (Many people are allergic to latex)
 
Family specific items such as medicines or extra hypodermic syringes/needles.  Nothing is more frustrating than having a needed vial of injectable medication and no sterile needles or syringes with which to administer it.
 
Most, if not all, of these items are available locally at medical supply stores or well stocked drug stores like Mac’s Medicine Mart. 
 
Now for the holistic healing dispensary.
 
Sea Salt (the moist gray type)   Throat gargle, nasal spray, bath soak, air humidifying especially in upper respiratory distress.
Manuka Honey  antiseptic, promotes speedy healing. Topical use for burns, cuts, incisions, bites, infections. Neat for sore throat, sinus infections, oral lesions, or gastric ulcers. In beverages or food for general antiseptic or healing use.It is effective against all known strains of harmful bacteria, including MRSA and VRE.  Bacteria cannot become resistant to honey.
Probiotics (oral lozenge type, powder type, enteric coated)  Got diarrhea? Take probiotics! Sinus infection? Take oral lozenge probiotics.
Probiotics optimize friendly bacterial populations, minimize periodontal, sinus, throat, lung, stomach, intestinal, and urinary tract infections. Promote nutrient absorption and manufacture, and digestive health.  Impact thousands of functions in the body.
Tea Tree Oil  Topical use:To treat fungal/yeast infections anywhere on the body, disinfect surfaces, air, and in the washer to disinfect clothing, bedding, towels, etc.
 
Lavender Oil  The safest essential oil for all ages, lavender can be used neat or combined with distilled water, or mixed with other oils. Topical use for bites, burns, any other skin irritations. Useful to refresh and cool skin and temper during perimenopause. As aromatherapy for insomnia, balancing, relaxation, relief of anxiety & distress. On surfaces to disinfect.
Eucalyptus Oil  As aromatherapy for improving breathing and reducing risk of airborne pathogen infection.  On surfaces or diffused in air for general antiseptic or healing use. Eucalyptus oil has been found to be extremely potent at destroying flu viruses.
Clove Oil  Diluted in carrier oil     Used topically to relieve gum or tooth related pain.  It is also a warming spice which comforts and supports healing.  Relieves nausea, headaches, and inflammation of all types. It boosts blood purification and immune system function, promotes clear breathing, and used in food or beverage may act as an expectorant. As general antiseptic, it may be used on bites, in aromatherapy or in home products.
Note & Caution: Use oils carefully, as they can be irritants when used incorrectly.I always make sure I have my own Essential Defense Oil Blend on hand to help prevent air and contact spread illnesses. It contains the most potent antiviral, antimicrobial oils: eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, thyme, oregano, and rosewood. A good alternative would be Young Living Oil’s blend, Thieves, which I also keep on hand.
Ginger(fresh grated, powdered, syrup, supplement) Alleviates nausea from any cause. Reduces onset/ pain of headaches, migraines, or menstrual cramps, reduces pain & inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis,  reduces arterial inflammation, prevents platelet aggregation, protects against bacteria, stress, or medication induced ulcers, help prevent all types of dementia, calms coughs, destroys intestinal parasites, and inhibits cancer growth. Ginger may also help prevent cytokine storm. As a warming spice, it improves blood circulation and comfort during illness.
Elderberry(dried berries, syrup, extracts, lozenges)  One of nature’s most potent antivirals, elderberry disrupts virus replication. Studies find that elderberry supplements can limit flu illness to two days in up to 93% of people.
Homeopathic preparations                                                                                                   Homeopathy preparations such as oscillococcinum for cold/flu have been proven remarkably effective for most people.  I keep various ones on hand for poison ivy, allergies, and more.                                               
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements (Whole Food and/or complete natural forms only please!)
 B complex, C, D3, E, Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium: Nutrient supplements may be used to help avoid illness, stop one from developing, or speed recovery from.  At the first sign of cold or flu, for example, I take lots of C, D3, and zinc. There are far too many applications to go into here, but you will find many recommendations in my regular newsletters.  I have just listed the basic nutrients I would consider important to have, though many of us would actually have more.
Coconut Oil  The unique lipid composition of coconut oil destroys the lipid membrane of virus’ coating making it impossible for viruses to survive in its presence.  It appears to work for any type of virus according to preliminary studies. It can be taken neat, or mixed into any recipe that will not be exposed to high dry heat.  Topical application appears to also be effective as an anti-viral agent. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut provide long term energy, are not easily stored as body fat, and promote optimal brain and nerve function. Coconut oil facilitates nutrient absorption in the digestive tract, and soothes delicate tissues. The oil is an excellent skin moisturizer, readily penetrating skin layers to provide maximum protection and health.
Coconut Water    Coconut water is nature’s perfect electrolyte replacement rehydrating fluid and is so pure, it has even been used for IV fluid replacement in emergency situations. Long safe history of use for infants, children, and adults (unless sensitive to coconut). Supports elimination of kidney stones, excretion of excess body fluid (natural diuretic), helps balance body temperature,  relieves muscle cramps/spasms, regulates blood pressure, transports nutrients to cells (natural isotonic properties), reduces hand/foot swelling, normalizes digestive function.
Garlic  Garlic is possibly the most potent antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-parasitic agents  found in nature.  It creates more aggressive macrophages and deadlier NK cells. It reduces severity and duration of viral & bacterial infections and inhibits cytokine storm. Garlic is effective against H.pylori bacteria (stomach ulcers), E.coli, Staph.aureus, Clostridium p., Cryptosporidium p., Candida a., Listeria, Salmonella spp., disease causing protozoa (giardia, amoeba, etc) and more.  It is effective against Rotaviruses, gram positive & gram negative bacteria, yet does not harm any of the beneficial bacteria in the gut—unlike modern antibiotics that indiscriminately kill off everything. Applied topically, garlic can relieve itch from bug bites, prevent skin infections, and has even been used to remove warts.
Bicarbonate of Soda:  as an antacid and topically for skin irritations & bites
Apple Cider Vinegar:  to consume-multiple benefits including regulation of glucose, relief of GERD, and topical use for skin irritations & sunburns
Tea(green & black) to drink-multiple benefits, and to use for gargles, sunburns
Epsom Salts:  for soaking bruises, sore muscles, improving magnesium status
Lysine(tablets & salves) for cold sores, shingles, other herpes type infections
Lemon Balm:  to make into tisane for consumption or topical application. It is a good antiviral and helps prevent and treat herpes/cold sore outbreaks.
D-Mannose, cranberry, corn silk & raspberry leaf: capsules, dried, or tisanes for kidney, bladder infections
Aloe Vera:  for skin irritations, sunburn
Witch Hazel: for skin irritations, hemorrhoids, skin astringent
 
Fresh Herbs & Foods to Consider
Rosemary, Thyme, Sage: Natural antimicrobials.  Herbs and essential oils can be used.
Onions:  natural antimicrobial, antispasmodic, high in beneficial quercetin
Apples:  high in beneficial quercetin to promote good digestive function and reduce asthma
Mushrooms: to boost immune function, fight cancer
Olive Oil:  as a carrier oil, to lower inflammation, heart disease, cancer, boost immune system