A few weeks back, I wound up catching a “bug” that really took me out. While I’m usually pretty prepared for most things that may come up in my household, I didn’t have what I needed when I needed it. I was in no condition to be making medicine or trying to source it. With a high fever and intense fatigue, it was hard to even think straight, let alone try to guide someone else to find what I needed or make me something.
After feeling better, I set aside some time to recreate my wellness kit to account for this oversight. I also began a new labeling system so that my family will know what to do if I’m not there, or if they are the ones needing to care for me. While on this journey, I thought I would share my process for building out a well-thought-out wellness kit as well as some labeling ideas you may want to explore. In this article, I will lay out some of the core types of support you may want to have in your wellness kits and a list of some of my general wellness kit must-haves so you can explore them further and determine if they may be right for your personal needs.
*Be mindful of autoimmune conditions. Always recommend consulting with a qualified healthcare practitioner if you are unfamiliar with an herb, and especially when you have underlying health imbalances.
When working with herbs for wellness, it's important to know them well and to know when it's time to call in more support. Herbs can support the body in many of its natural processes, but when symptoms are persistent, worsen, or are similar to more serious underlying conditions, it's important to seek medical attention.
The herbs listed in this article are intended to support the day-to-day minor things that happen in our bodies. Always consult a qualified practitioner if you have underlying health conditions or if you are new to working with herbs.
You’ve likely heard this a million times; it's so important that it is worth mentioning yet again. Label your homemade herbal remedies. The names of the ingredients and the date they were purchased/made are of the highest importance. You can also include other identifiers that you may want some help seeing at a glance. You can use color or symbols for an easy way to spot and grab things. Or you can create a digital spreadsheet with more notes you may want for help remembering or that may help others help you when you are in need. You can then create a QR code and put it on the bottle in the spreadsheet so anyone can find it.
As I mentioned earlier, this list is simply a list of herbs I keep in my personal wellness cabinet at home. Exploring these further is a great way to learn more about these important allies and will hopefully serve as a starting place to create a well-rounded and thoroughly stocked wellness kit. I hope it is helpful for you, your family, friends, neighbors, and those in need.
Periodically run through some circumstances to see if you are prepared. Ask yourself "If have X, Y, and/or Z going on, do I have what I would need to support that?" This practice is incredibly valuable, even for experienced herbalists. It keeps our minds sharp and creates a "muscle memory" on what to do if the need arises. It can also spot holes in your wellness kit, like the one I found during my last bout with "the ick".
Happy planning and learning!
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly for children or those who are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. For educational purposes only.