Have you looked into your medicine cabinet lately? I mean, really looked. Pushed aside the toothpaste and aspirin bottle, tossed the false eyelashes from last week’s party and gone deeeeep into the cabinet’s abyss. I’m sure there’s a few old prescription pill bottles (likely empty, if it’s the good stuff), some cough syrup from 10 years ago. Maybe an expired bottle of eye drops from 1999 (wait, didn’t you just use those last week?). Do you really have all the over the counter medication you need?
It might be time to give your medicine cabinet an overhaul.
Here are our must–haves:
For headaches
Over the counter pain killers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin (Advil) or ibuprofen/naproxen (Aleve) are key medicine must haves, but you should also have natural remedies on hand, like peppermint and lavender oil for topical applications. A CBD oil/vaporizer and magnesium supplements are also great for headaches and promoting better sleep.
For colds
Have a few decongestants, like Sudafed, and nasal sprays to help with congestion. Or, opt for natural medication alternatives not over the counter, like elderberry, eucalyptus oil, a neti pot, Vitamin C and manuka honey.
For coughs and sore throats
We like Robitussin cough syrup, Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray and Mucinex, an expectorant. If you want to go natural, try manuka honey , Nim Jom, and slippery elm lozenges.
For stomach issues/gut issues
You must have an anti-acid medication, like Tums or Maalox, a proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec or Prevecid, some Imodium medicine for diarrhea, and an antiemetic for nausea, like Dramamine or Gravol. For natural remedies, look to tinctures of chamomile or fennel, baking soda, peppermint oil or probiotics. Slippery elm and marshmallow root capsules are also good to have on hand.
For bug bites and rashes
Our go–to hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine cream is Benadryl medication, but calamine lotion is good, too. Manuka honey is great as a natural topical remedy, as is calendula cream or a homeopathic sting gel (we recommend Nelson’s). We also love Apis 30ch homeopathic pellets.
For cuts and burns
The gold standard here is Band-Aids, but I usually have tape and gauze, as well (liquid bandages are also a favourite). I also keep an antiseptic or antibiotic cream like over the counter Polysporin. You can also pull from your bites and rash supply: honey and calendula are great for cuts and burns. Nelson makes a great burn cream, too, plus it can’t hurt to have a bottle of Cantharis 30ch homeopathic pellets for those “I didn’t want to spill the wine” kitchen burns.
For allergies
That bottle of Benadryl you have on hand for bites and rashes will work very well for allergies, though it can cause major drowsiness, so some use it only at night. Eye drops are very important to have on hand, too. At this point your cabinet is already stocked some great natural remedies like Vitamin C, a neti pot and eucalyptus oil; add some quercetin or bromelain and some stinging nettle tea, and you’ll be all set.
Bonus category! Instruments
Keep a standard oral thermometer for fever readings (’cause you know that when you need to use the battery-operated one, it’ll be dead). Tweezers aren’t just good for eyebrows or rogue chin hairs; they’re perfect for removing slivers and ticks, too. And finally, a heating pad or hot water bottle is always a good choice.
