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Home Remedies
(non medicinal medical solutions)

Headaches:

A can of soda and a cold rag on the forehead. Most of the medicines out there for headaches contain a great deal of caffeine, which is usually what stops the pain, if it really exists. Caffeine regulates the blood vessels to stop the pounding effect. The cold rag helps probably more psychologically than physically, calming the person down to let them relax and let their body fix itself.

Soak in a hot tub of water with the cold pack on your head. The hot water drains the blood (from swollen veins) downward to the heat and the cold on the head (swollen veins now drained) constricts the veins. (a big thanks to Suz, who emailed this one to me)

Stomach upset:

A flat can of cola (diet or regular). An old remedy for stomach upset was a medicinal coal syrup. Soda without the bubbles helps if there is regurgitation.

A piece of bread helps if there is excess mouth salivation from an upset stomach.

A glass of milk may also do the trick if they are not lactose intolerant.

If they have trouble drinking milk, add a touch of lemon or orange juice giving them some acidic help to to digest the milk. ( citric acid)

Cuts:
Paper cuts-
Rinse with cold water. Witch hazel and/or rubbing alcohol helps tighten the skin so those annoying juices and contacts that kill don't get in. It is best if you apply aloe gel as it helps heal them quickly and keeps the unwanted irritants out!

Minor cuts-
As cuts get bigger, I turn to hydrogen peroxide and baking powder paste - or in worst case, toothpaste after a cold water rinse. They help because they protect the exposed area of skin while allowing it to get air. When the paste dries, it crusts off leaving a clean scab which speeds the heeling. Then place a simple bandage and maybe a little aloe over the area and it will heal naturally.

Major cuts-
I typically opt for the mainstream fixes. If the wound is big, I irrigate the wound with cold to warm water and then take an alcohol rinse. I take a few tissues or clean gauze, wet with alcohol and treated with aloe and place it on the area. Then take an ace bandage and wrap it around to hold the patch on. The next day remove if possible, covering the area with long sleeves/pants. Check then and if it appears not to be making progress repeat the procedure.

Mild burns:

The best thing for burns is ice cold water! Don't put any creams or butter on it as that makes it worse!

This goes for all degrees of burns. Get a bowl of water, add enough salt so that you can taste it, put in ice cubes to keep its temperature low and soak a towel/washcloth in the bowl. Apply the towel to the affected area gently. You should notice that the towel will draw out the heat and get warm. When the towel exceeds room temperature remove the towel and soak it again, then reapply. Continue until the skin does not feel hot to the touch. For small finger burns, wetting a rag and adding an ice cube and salt will have the same affect.

After the burn is no longer warm to the touch, and/or the blisters have formed, apply an aloe spray (natural aloe and alcohol).

Severe burns:

If blister appear immediately, get them in a cold water bath immediately! This will cool the skin and irrigate any burns. Get them medical attention ASAP. Infection from the blisters and the loss of fluid in several layers of skin can cause severe infections and skin damage. Normally blisters appearing shortly after the burn becomes apparent to the eye.

Bites:

Meat tenderizer is the best thing for any bite that causes an inflammation or a bump. It's job is to break down proteins in meat. Bugs typically leave protein remnants (venom digestive juices, fecal matter), which react with your skin to harden it, creating proteins. Make a paste with water and apply it to the bite area. This kills the sting end most of the itch. Occasionally a salt water towel placed on the area clears up the skin irritation.

Liquid soap also works to kill the itch.

Sprains:

Pull the joint gently as far as possible (in ice water if possible). This stops the calcium deposits from building up improperly in the joint, easing the swelling and the pain. Exercise the extremities in water (the colder the better), remove from water and wrap with an ace bandage(s). For pain... drink a caffeinated drink and elevate. Elevation cuts down on blood flow and the caffeine counteracts the calcium in your system.

Toothache:

Saline rinse and apply ice.

Sugarless gum works good applied over the affected area. (helps keep the air out of the hole).

Eye irritation:

Treat same as minor burn. Take a washcloth and run it under cold water, or saline solution if you have it (salt water is okay but the salt has to dissolve otherwise it could scratch the eye). If the eye continues to water, there is likely injury to the eye itself, or the foreign object is still in the eye. If this occurs, rinse the eye directly but gently! Inspect the eye and gently remove obvious objects. Rinse eye again and apply the wash cloth treatment. If it still waters or the eye blinks seemingly uncontrollably, seek medical attention.

Muscle pulls:

Mint in an alcohol base does a great job, especially if massaged in. Warm it up for even better results!

Blisters:

Prevention is probably best medicine---- wear 2 pairs of socks when hiking or doing a lot of walking. Thin inner and a heavier outer sock. Wear comfortable shoes.

After you get a blister and you are still on the go, take a gauze pad and cut a hole in it to match the size of the blister and put it around the blister. Apply additional gauze similarly prepared so that the blister is surrounded completely. DO NOT COVER! Put socks on and get going!

If you are home from the roaming and want to pop the blister (though it should do it on its own) take a needle and approach the blister from underneath popping it from the inside, and let it go. You can cover it if you are heading out.

Itches, hives poison ivy:

Oatmeal (cooked as a paste), or put in a warm bath help the itches.

It also seems to eliminate the itches too.