Health store help

Looking for advice on natural health and wellbeing? Your local independent health stores can offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise. This issue we speak to Sarah Herlihy, owner of Refresh Health in Wicklow Town, Co Wicklow

The beauty of a natural first aid kit is that many natural products have many uses and are multifunctional when you know how to use them. That said, a natural first aid kit is only as effective as the person using it. It’s important to recognise whether a wound is healing or worsening. Signs of healthy healing include reduced redness, less pain, and gradual closure. Signs of infection, on the other hand, include increasing redness, persistent swelling, warmth, pain, and foul-smelling pus. With that in mind, here are some useful additions to consider for your natural first aid kit.

A natural powerhouse
Tea tree oil is a natural powerhouse – one of those things to have if you were trapped on a desert island. Arnica is another popular first aid kit essential because it’s so effective for bruising and promoting healing. Calendula, often combined with witch hazel, is excellent for cuts and grazes and can also be helpful postpartum.

Soothing, calming herbs
Chamomile is a wonderful, soothing herb that calms inflammation, while echinacea supports the immune response. Plantain is particularly effective for bites and stings, and making a plantain poultice is super easy and quickly soothing – all you need are plantain and saliva. Comfrey is another traditional healing herb. Essential oils like tea tree oil and lemon myrtle are antimicrobial and antibacterial. Eucalyptus is great for the sinuses and lavender is a multi-use essential.

When paired with calendula, lavender can be used to make an effective all-purpose salve to speed up healing for various skin issues. You can make your own with a good base oil or try one of the many great Irish small businesses that specialise in natural skincare. Lavender is great for soothing irritated skin and features in many eczema care products. Its anti-inflammatory properties calm the skin. When combined with a base oil and tea tree oil, lavender is especially useful for insect bites, helping to calm the body’s reaction and supporting the repair process.

Healing honey
Manuka honey’s strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it invaluable in a first aid setting. Topical application keeps wounds moist, which supports healing and reduces scarring. With insect bites and stings, it’s wonderful for easing itching and soothing swelling and redness. Its ability to draw fluid out of wounds is also helpful due to its osmotic effect, helping to flush out infection and lay the framework for healing.