Keeping your family safe and healthy is a top priority. Nevertheless, accidents and illness are an inevitable part of life, hence being prepared with the right tools and knowledge to provide appropriate care for your loved ones is essential. Whether responding to an upper respiratory infection, caring for a skinned knee or providing relief for sore, achy muscles, essential oils and natural products are powerful, safe and effective elements of your personal first-aid kit. In this segment we will examine how you can care for most of your families first-aid and minor illness needs at home, which will save you time, money and avoid the risks of harmful drugs. Providing care in the comfort of your home may help alleviate the anxiety your children may feel when going to the doctor. We will discuss methods of use for natural products and how to use natural remedies in concert with the body's own healing power for the universal ailments that affect each of us. Please note: All essential oils and products mentioned under the "suggested remedy" are from Young Living.
All remedies are taken from Nature's Remedies by Life Science Publishing 2015.
Bleeding
Some bleeding is beneficial to cleanse wounds, but when bleeding won't stop, you need to take action to halt the loss of too much blood. This is especially true if the sight of blood is distressing to your child. Certain wounds will bleed more profusely, like head wounds. The most important first-aid step for external bleeding is to apply direct pressure. Always seek emergency aid for severe bleeding.
Suggested Remedy
Apply several drops of
cypress essential oil to the exposed skin away from the bleed - not directly on the cut.
Bumps, Bruises, Goose-eggs, and early onset of blisters
Bumps, bruises and goose-eggs are a rite of passage during childhood, especially among toddlers. Bumps are swelling and inflammation in response to tissue damage or injury. A goose-egg is a term used to describe large bumps on the head. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels beneath the skin rupture and blood leaks into tissues under the skin causing a black and blue color. A blister is a small pocket of fluid under the skin, typically caused by excess friction, a burn, extreme cold, or chemical exposure. Blisters should not be popped unless it is very painful or impairs walking.
Suggested Remedy
Apply abundant amounts of
Valor as often as possible.
Burns and Sunburn
Burns are a potential hazard in every home and a common injury amoung both adults and children. Burns are categorized as first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree, depending on how badly the skin is damaged. First-degree burns affect the first layer of skin and usually involve red and swollen skin with pain. Second-degree burns damage both the outer and secondary layer of skin and generally entail blistering, an intense red color and severe pain and swelling. When a burn destroys the outer layer of skin-including the entire layer beneath-and causes permanent tissue damage, it is considered a third-degree burn. Signs of a third-degree burn include dry, leathery skin, swelling, lack of pain (because nerve endings have been destroyed) and either black, white, brown or yellow skin. All burns should be treated as quickly as possible to diminish temperature and reduce potential skin and tissue damage.
Suggested Remedy
Second-degree burns: Follow above and then continue applying LavaDerm every 15-30 minutes during the first day, followed by 2-4 drops of lavender neat. On day 2 through 5, mist every hour with LavaDerm and apply 2-4 drops of lavender neat after each application. Continue using LavaDerm 3-6 times daily until healed. Apply rose ointment to keep tissue soft, if desired.
Third-degree burns: Spray LavaDerm cooling mist and seek medical attention immediately.
Cold and Flu
Colds and the flu are highly contagious and can easily be passed around the whole family. The initial stages of cold and flu share many of the same symptoms and may be difficult to distinguish. In general, symptoms of the flu are more severe and include fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and a dry cough. The flu may also result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, secondary bacterial infections or hospitalizations. Conversely, colds are usually milder than the flu and are more likely to involve a runny or stuffy nose. To mitigate the severity and spread of these viral infections, treatment should ideally begin within the first 24 hours of symptoms. APPLY OILS WHEN YOU FIRST START FEELING LIKE YOU ARE COMING DOWN WITH SOMETHING.
Suggested Remedy
Adults: Apply 2-3 drops of
Thieves or
ImmuPower to the bottom of feet, spine and chest every ten minutes at first sign of cold or flu. After symptoms diminish, apply every hour for maintenance.
Infants: Apply 1-2 drops of
myrtle,
lemon or
frankincense essential oil neat on chest and cover with a warm, wet rag.