Comments on G4s (backyard) Homestead: Day 9 and still counting

Brown PAC - thank you for comment #6. My sweetie ...

2008-10-06T20:48:00.000-06:00

Brown PAC - thank you for comment #6. My sweetie and I actually talked about exactly that after our recent first aid classes. Got some additional good ideas from your list.

As a country family doc, who has used "where this ...

2008-10-06T20:32:00.000-06:00

As a country family doc, who has used "where this is no doctor" in Chicago as well as Chiapas, I know that most of medicine comes down to first aid and clean water.

If you aspire to being a useful healer in troubled times, I would recommend:

1. a birthing kit: you could save two lives by having a good light source, clean hands (better yet, gloves), a sharp razor blade, clean string and a large clean towel for the little one. Have a bulb syringe (for getting mucus out of the nose). Get Ina Mae Kelar's book on midwifery

2. learn "invalid cookery"; learn how to feed and water a sick person; learn to make barley water, egg gelatin and other concentrated nutrition for recovering folks; you can find reproductions of old-time "invalid cookery" recipes on the web

3. learn how to treat pain and comfort the dying; learn to properly store and administer those narcotics leftover from the dentist; learn guided imagery and even a little hypnosis, if you can; talk to a native american elder or other herbalist who knows the sedative and pain remedies in your area; get your head right about suffering and death

4. Learn about foodborne illnesses and how to treat them (some help in "where there is no doctor"

5. Have a poison kit that contains charcoal and something to induce vomiting

6. don't waste your money on a defibrillator unless you will also be administering all the drugs needed to keep the resuscitation going, AND you are willing to accept the responsibility for a potentially disabled revivee

thanks for your useful site

I picked up a pretty good general first aid kit at...

2008-10-02T14:50:00.000-06:00

I picked up a pretty good general first aid kit at Sam's club for $20. I'll need to add some things to it as well as beef it up. I found sutures and scalpels at BePreppared.com AKA Emergency essentials. I had a whole shopping cart filled online and when it totaled over $300 I had to consult DH and have not completed the order. I'm a nurse and have not worked for almost 8 years, but I really want to bone up on first aid skills.
Thanks for the download links to No doctor.

My friend who studies herbal medicine reccommends a book called "Opening Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs" By Gail Faith Edwards. Amazon has it for $13.95. She studied with Susun Weed. I ordered it.

Cindy in FL

Tansy: I just have the basic red cross first aid ...

2008-10-02T08:29:00.000-06:00

Tansy: I just have the basic red cross first aid books, so far

Rob: I have heard that before, good point

BradK: good points. I've never gotten the hang of the nasel wash - probably should in this dry climate.

Coleen: Thank you for those book reccomendations. It really saves a lot of expensive trial and error to know what people who use these books use.

Michelle: good additions

d. moll.: yes, I forgot to mentions the bach flower rescue remidy

chile: WTG! I'll look forward to reading about your first aid kit.

In the past few weeks, I've taken CPR and First Ai...

2008-10-01T23:30:00.000-06:00

In the past few weeks, I've taken CPR and First Aid class, and Pet First Aid. My sweetie took Wilderness First Aid. Next week, I'll be blogging about these classes and what we learned, followed up by an extensive First Aid kit list. (We spent all day today assembling several 1st aid kits based on what we've learned.)

I'd highly recommend everyone take a basic First Aid class as well as CPR. Red Cross teaches them in many areas for a reasonable fee.

I recommend a Chinese patent medicine called Yu Na...

2008-10-01T21:57:00.000-06:00

I recommend a Chinese patent medicine called Yu Nan Bai Yao (Spelling may vary). It is fantastic to externally to stop bleeding and internally for any trauma (sprain, broken limb, car accident). Homeopathic Arnica for sprains and strains is good too. Essential oil of Lavender is good for burns. Those are my favs. Oh and Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for shock and stress.

i forgot to mention another great item to have on ...

2008-10-01T15:00:00.000-06:00

i forgot to mention another great item to have on hand is a couple suture kits. you can get them on ebay.

colleen - thanks for that link! i've just printed both out. :)

I have some hemostats and scissors in my kit as we...

2008-10-01T10:55:00.000-06:00

I have some hemostats and scissors in my kit as well as a hot waterbottle, muscle ache balm, vic's type vapo rub, q tips and cotton balls, alcohol (drinking and otherwise), burn cream, barf bags, otoscope, candy bars, energy bars, water bottles.....

I work in the Health & Body Care {HBC}Department o...

2008-10-01T09:26:00.000-06:00

I work in the Health & Body Care {HBC}Department of a natural foods supermarket where I order the books.
I recommend Susun Weed's 'Healing Wise' as a great book for those who want to start learning more about herbs and healing. The 1st part of the book explains the different healing traditions-'wise woman', 'heroic' and 'scientific'. The 2nd part of the book is devoted to 6 common herbs. The final section is the herbal pharmacy; here she covers making herbal medicines.

Then I would add-
-a good field guide
-'Botany in a Day' by Thomas J. Elpel
-'the Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine' by Brigette Mars
-'Herbal Medicine' by David Hoffman (This is a tome and retails for about $60.)

Some other good herb books include-
-'The Male Herbal' by James Green
-'New Menopausal Years' by Susun Weed (She covers her "six steps of healing".)
-'How to be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist' by Linda Page
-Any book by Susun Weed
-Any book by James Duke

For info on general alternative healing-
-'Healthy Healing' by Linda Page
-'Prescription for Nutritional Healing' by Phyllis A. Balch
( I used these two books to a lot when I first started working in HBC a dozen years ago. They are still the most used reference books in our HBC department; both by customers and staff.)

Christy-
Here is a link for the Hesperian Foundation. They offer 'Where There is no Doctor' and 'A Community Guide to Environmental Health' as downloads.

http://www.hesperian.org/index.php

I am not sure about the shelf life, but aloe vera ...

2008-10-01T04:59:00.000-06:00

I am not sure about the shelf life, but aloe vera juice can be a real help.

Use as a wash for burns, like aloe vera gel. What I like is for poison ivy. Twice daily wash the affected area with soap (removes the poison oil re-emerfing through the skin), I pour 3-4 oz of aloe vera juice in a glass, drink most, and dab the rest on the affected area - works faster for me than calamine lotion, is a *lot* more effective at reducing discomfort.

Aloe vera juice can be helpful with ulcers at times, and for extended reflux-related heartburn.

Just be careful with aloe vera - it is a very aggressive healing component. Don't use on deep wounds - the skin heals over before the deeper healing completes, and you can have drainage and deep infection issues.

The other thing I use pretty regular. That is saline nasal mist. The bottle cannot be passed from person to person, an issue when sharing domicile with others. Twice in each side, once an hour, and blow - my family doctor claims this will clear up to a sinus infection and relieve a lot of sinus allergy symptoms. This is not a miracle cure, non-medicated and will not interfere with any other treatment or medication.

Saline nasal mist - a salt water spray - looses and dislodges clots of mucous and guck in the sinuses - relieving post nasal drip, scratchy throat, sniffles. Hint: If your kid picks his nose and claims blowing doesn't help - try this stuff.

On a more sustained note, Saline Nasal Mist is a commercial product. In a plastic applicator bottle. Inspired by the Yoga practice of the Neti Wash. Many drugstores now carry a neti pot - a goofy combination of gravy pourer and coffe cup. You mix 1 c. warm water, 1/8th tsp. non-iodized salt, 1/8th tsp. baking soda - and
pour it up your nose. Lean over the sink, head tilted to the side. With the head positioned with one ear down, tilted slightly up, the water runs in the upper nostril, down the throat, and out the open mouth. Slightly lower the head and the water runs out the lower nostril. Rotate the other ear down, repeat for both pathways.

Modern US medicine has recommended to various friends variations on this - omit the baking soda (a buffer to make the wash more comfortable on irritated sinuses), use a glass or cup to perform the 'wash' - to "cup the water in the shower in your hands, and snuffle the water up your nose". I think this last counts on the water being chlorinated city water, and overlooks the salt/baking soda balance for comfort.

I like Absorbine Mint Gel Liniment. Helps relieve muscle tension and soreness. There are likely more potent products, but this does some warming, provides a bit of skin lubrication for deep rubbing when you apply, a small dab does a little bit. Wash your hands before you rub your eyes, etc.

Bag Balm in the square green can is an old time remedy for skin irritations, for people and horses. And chapped cows.

I took first aid in college and one item they sugg...

2008-09-30T21:49:00.000-06:00

I took first aid in college and one item they suggested in setting up a first aid kit- femine napkins- They can be used to cover lacerations- and as far a catching blood - well that's what they are designed for

I have both of those books and they are good. You...

2008-09-30T20:10:00.000-06:00

I have both of those books and they are good. You can download Where There is no doctor for free. I'll see if I can find the link. I really want to learn more about herbal medicine. I was going to take a class but had to cancel going at the last minute. I'm hoping to find one after we move.

what first aid book do you have/recommend? a lot ...

2008-09-30T19:57:00.000-06:00

what first aid book do you have/recommend?

a lot of supplies can be purchased more cheaply at a farm supply store such as syringes & needles,self adhesive bandages, gauze, betadine, etc.

i am enjoying your 21 day series!