Alternative Medicine Cabinet

[TeeJ]

Good advice Pearl - it's funny though, when you have chronic illnesses everyone gets to know about them and it almost becomes your identity to them sometimes. So I feel comfortable talking bout some of our needs:

Katie - how do you use garlic for low blood pressure? My wife had a condition where her BP adjusts to a stimulus, and then doesn't adjust on it's own. She's got a prescription that evens that out but it'd be great to get something we could grow/store that could help with that.

I'll also propose Tea Tree oil as a great antifungal.

As far as stockpiling prescription meds, there's two good methods I know. Some of our meds we have to order internationally to make the cost effective. Because we are paying cash, and not through insurance, doctor can write them for whatever he wants. He gave us the idea of writing a double dosage for some that take al long time to get here or have expensive shipping - ie: I take 1X a day, but he writes the prescription for 2X a day. Supposedly customs will only let 90-180 days of the prescribed amount in at a time, so double dosing the prescription makes it so you have to deal with the hassle & additional cost lest frequently. However, you can fill it whenever you want, so we put some healthy overlap in them (a couple of weeks) and build up some storage over time.

The other method is to buy the over the counter pet meds that are 100% identical or close to human meds. Fish antibiotics being the easiest/most well known, but there's a ton of overlap and it's nice knowing I have ivermectin and fenbendazole on the the shelf that can help if my pets or I get parasites in a SHTF situation.

 

[Katie Müller]

Katie - how do you use garlic for low blood pressure? My wife had a condition where her BP adjusts to a stimulus, and then doesn't adjust on it's own. She's got a prescription that evens that out but it'd be great to get something we could grow/store that could help with that.

Garlic is good for lowering blood pressure, but I'm not sure about raising it. Licorice has been used for raising blood pressure but comes with warnings that it can deplete potassium in the body, so on a short term basis it's okay. Which I've had to doing during anemia spells when my blood pressure has gotten really low, like 90/45. I'm not sure how long-term works, but one would have to have high potassium foods or medicines on hand to counteract the side effect.

That's interesting about your wife's BP. Where do you get your prescriptions through? I've wanted to have prescription meds on hand, but can't get them. Particularly prednisone and/or Entocort.

 

[TeeJ]

Garlic is good for lowering blood pressure, but I'm not sure about raising it. Licorice has been used for raising blood pressure but comes with warnings that it can deplete potassium in the body, so on a short term basis it's okay. Which I've had to doing during anemia spells when my blood pressure has gotten really low, like 90/45. I'm not sure how long-term works, but one would have to have high potassium foods or medicines on hand to counteract the side effect.

That's interesting about your wife's BP. Where do you get your prescriptions through? I've wanted to have prescription meds on hand, but can't get them. Particularly prednisone and/or Entocort.

The pharmacy we use in conjunction with our doctor (ie: he sends the RX, then we fill out an order form and mail a paper check like we're living in the 1970's) is NorthWest Pharmacy Canadian Pharmacy – Certified Online Pharmacy Canada - they are based out Canada, but we've had them ship from all over the world. Shipping takes forever, otherwise our experience has been good with them.

The key to being able to build up is to have the Dr. write the prescription for 2x the regular rate (to help with "shipping costs" - ie: you need to take 1 pill a day so he prescribes 2 a day 90 shipped at a time with 1 refill) - if he wrote and you filled it normally on 1 pill a day you'd have 4 shipments (and two prescriptions) for a 6 months. If he wrote it for 2 a day, but you only took 1 a day, you'd only have 2 shipments (and 1 prescription) for that same 90 day supply - the shipments would just be spaced 2x apart. When shipping is $30-60 a pop lots of Docs are sensitive to our costs. Finally if you were to take 1 pill a day, but time the refills closer together, you'll be able to build up a "buffer".

Obviously, this only makes sense for meds where the cost + shipping is less than getting it locally. My wife has one prescription that is $360/mo that keeps her heart from exploding (keeps her PB from getting too high or low), but insurance won't cover it because she's not "old enough". That same prescription from NWP w/shipping is about $30/mo when we get the double prescription and space it out.

 

[Terri9630]

Good advice Pearl - it's funny though, when you have chronic illnesses everyone gets to know about them and it almost becomes your identity to them sometimes. So I feel comfortable talking bout some of our needs:

Katie - how do you use garlic for low blood pressure? My wife had a condition where her BP adjusts to a stimulus, and then doesn't adjust on it's own. She's got a prescription that evens that out but it'd be great to get something we could grow/store that could help with that.

I'll also propose Tea Tree oil as a great antifungal.

As far as stockpiling prescription meds, there's two good methods I know.

The other method is to buy the over the counter pet meds that are 100% identical or close to human meds. Fish antibiotics being the easiest/most well known, but there's a ton of overlap and it's nice knowing I have ivermectin and fenbendazole on the the shelf that can help if my pets or I get parasites in a SHTF situation.

I have to look it up but I was listing to the radio and they said starting in Aug, I think of 2023 all animal meds will be prescription only. That includes penicillin and de wormers. No more running to the feed store to pick them up.

 

[Terri9630]

Here's one article. https://texasfarmbureau.org/ranchers-should-prepare-now-for-2023-animal-antibiotic-guidelines/

 

[Pearl]

Here's one article. https://texasfarmbureau.org/ranchers-should-prepare-now-for-2023-animal-antibiotic-guidelines/

That will raise the prices! A lot of vets will take advantage and charge for their "service" even if they don't need to see the animals requiring meds!

 

[Katie Müller]

I learned something today that I should have known but had never really considered before.

Cream of Tartar

Cream of Tartar is potassium bitartrate, meaning, it's a direct source of potassium. Potassium may be a natural diuretic; second link.


For UTIs & Kidney Infections: Just mix 1 ½ teaspoons of Cream of Tartar with 1 cup warm water. You can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice if you’d like to, then drink the mixture all at once. Do this a few times a day to keep those nasty infections away. So simple, 100% toxin-free, and readily available!! I love using God’s foods for healing!

For heartburn: Mix a ½ teaspoon of Cream of Tartar with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Add 1/2 cup room temperature water and drink all at once. This will immediately help to relieve any pain associated with heartburn. Simply balancing the pH is the process behind this effective formula!

For arthritis pain: Cream of Tartar is rich in potassium, so adding 2 Tablespoons to a warm bath along with 3 Tablespoons of Epsom salt and soaking for 30 minutes will help to reduce inflammation and joint pain. Do this once or twice per day until pain is alleviated.

For acne and other skin conditions: This bacteria-busting home remedy works from the inside out to reduce oily build-up and promote clear skin. The acidic properties of Cream of Tartar eliminates and flushes the destructive bacteria that causes skin inflammation and acne. It can even reduce blackheads. It’s the perfect toxin-free solution for healthy skin! Start with 1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup of organic fresh squeezed orange juice (or water) two times per day! You could also apply a thin paste over your skin as a face mask one or two times per week! Leave on for 15 minutes then rinse with cold water!

For high blood pressure: Hypertension is far too common these days and can lead to heart attack and strokes. One of the causes is often low levels of potassium. A simple blood test to determine your potassium levels is helpful in determining the cause of the condition. If you do suffer from low potassium, Cream of Tartar can be a toxin-free fix, packed with 16,500 mg of potassium in a mere 100 grams of cream of tartar. Just mix 1 teaspoon of Cream of Tartar in a glass of water and drink every night before bed until your potassium levels return to an optimal range.

Improve gallbladder function: The gallbladder is the liver’s best friend. They support each other in the break-down of fat and the elimination of toxicity from the body. When the gallbladder is malfunctioning, the pain can be excruciating. Unfortunately, the most common conventional treatment for an inflamed gallbladder, caused by stones, is surgery. . . . . Once again, Cream of Tartar to the rescue. Simply mix together 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon Cream of Tartar with a ¼ cup of warm water. Drink this mixture every morning on an empty stomach for 5 days and it will improve bile flow, the emulsifying agent that breaks down cholesterol, and can reduce gallbladder pain.

 

[Magus]

Not sure if there's a thread like this around the board, but thought I'd make one anyway. As we go down, the health care system is going to suffer and people will have to do a lot more self-medicating. I thought it might be good to share alternative medicines, especially ones we personally might be familiar with,

Obviously everyone's health is different, but sharing our knowledge of herbal remedies for various ailments might be helpful if any of us find ourselves in a future situation needing alternative medicines.

This is what I have so far, I'm happy to expound on each item if anyone is curious. What do you know of that you'd be willing to share?

Blood Pressure

- Hawthorne (For high blood pressure)
- Garlic (For high blood pressure)
- Licorice (For low blood pressure; licorice can decrease potassium levels in the body)

Kidneys and Urinary Tract

- Nettle leaf tea
- Baking soda tablets
- Folic acid (continuous use of baking soda we think caused lower levels of folic acid, so dad's got to take supplements occasionally; no big deal, a mild side-effect)
- Cranberry
- Buchu Leaf

Anxiety / Depression
- Catnip
- 5-HTP
- Camomile Tea

Menstrual
- Catnip
- Camomile Tea

Cysts and Boils
- Tea tree oil, calamine lotion, witch hazel (used together)

Antibacterial
- Tea tree oil

Inflammation and Pain
- Boswellia
- Turmeric
- Tart Cherry

Anemia
- Molasses
- Nettle Leaf Tea

Good job kid! you got any more? my son needs stuff like this in his library.

 

[jazzy]

ive been haviong good sucess with ix of msm, chrondriotin -glucosimine @ 1500mg ea., take 2 a day with a meal. brand doesnt seem to matter, very good pain relief for chronic lower back pain. id say its removed around 75% of daily pain. amazon has some good brands reasonable price. when i can i buy a 2 pack that covers 1 years worth, for around $38 or so.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Just over a week ago I had a cold sore, then my right face hurt like I had been hit with a baseball, then I woke up with a cold sore on my eyelid. It is a royal PIA and I am trying to figure out what I can use in close proximity to my eye. I used carmex on my lip, but this is just unpleasant. Here's a picture, but it may be TMI.


Any suggestions on what I can use to clear this thing up. I read that cold sores and such are caused by a virus and spread easily, so I am trying to keep it clean, wash my hands a lot and only wipe my eye with tissue. But I am at a loss as to any good treatment.

 

[Amish Heart]

It's not a cold sore. I had one on my upper eye lid and I asked the doc about it. He said hot washrags. It'll pop. Then the red bump will be there a while, like a month. Don't try to pop it with a sharp object. Caused by very dry skin in that area. I have never had one before on my eyelid, drove me buggy, and affected my vision a bit. When it first came, I rubbed it liked crazy, irritated the eye itself, and ended up going in for antibiotic eyedrops. That didn't help the bump. I couldn't figure out why my skin has changed in that area...I used to wear light mascara on my eyelashes, when I worked every day, and since moving, I don't wear makeup. If I wore a light mascara, I would take it off at night with vaseline and wipe that off with a kleenex. Maybe I should just use a bit of vaseline now and again.

 

[Amish Heart]

Forgot to say, the doc said it was a chalazion.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Thanks @Amish Heart I am washing it with warm water and changing the towel every time I touch my face with it. I makes it difficult to do much work and looking at the monitor is just the worst.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Thanks again @Amish Heart, I was wearing a patch with a clean gauze under the patch, while I was outside working it started to itch like crazy. When I came in the house I checked and the thing had drained into the gauze, the swelling has gone down some, it's still tender but I think it will be okay. The wife is very unhappy with me because I did not rush to the doctor.... To be honest I was getting ready to but I prayed that it would get better quickly and POOF!
Thanks again for the help.

Looking up the "Chalazion" word helped me feel much better...

I love this site because there is always someone here who can say, I had that and this is what I did..... and there are people here with experience in every field.

 

[Amish Heart]

You're welcome. Mine itched like crazy, and I irritated the eyeball enough to need the drops. Otherwise, the doc could do nothing except tell me to use hot water washcloths. Boy, it took forever (it seemed) for the bump to go away completely. I've had styes before, but nothing like that.
Glad yours drained

 

[Magus]

I had one inside my eyelid as a teen, they gave me a liquid antibiotic to rub on with a special foam swab, on the very first application it popped! be ready with tissue when it does, the amount of gunk that came out was unreal!

 

[UrbanHunter]

My eye is still driving me crazy, if I bend over to try to work if feels like something is falling out... Also I find keeping gauze on it at night seems to draw out some seepage. It really added to my laundry chore, every time I wash it, the cloth and the towel go into the hamper....
The glare from the sun really makes it difficult, but if I wear the patch I have terrible depth perception and feel unsteady, it would help if I cleaned up more.

 

[TeeJ]

Have you tried coconut oil on it? It's supposed to be a gentle antiviral. If you want to be adventurous, you could try adding a little tea tree (also antiviral) or castor oil. The castor oil will work do draw out the infection, and I know people use all three oils as eye drops, so they should be safe around your eye. Heck, I might even soak an cotton ball in coconut & castor oil and use it under the gauze overnight. I hope you can find some relief!

 

[Peanut]

My eye is still driving me crazy...

I feel bad for ya man! Eyes are much more worrisome than even a broken finger. I know you’ve not shown much interest in plants so I’m hesitant to mention it... but there is something that’ll do wonders for your issue. It’s a thread in natural remedies “Plantain”.

 

[Magus]

Lance it and let it drain.

 

[Rick]

Any good natural beta blockers that are eyesafe?
Recently I got prescriptions for beta blockers for my eyes to lower intraocular pressures.
I have some extra stashed but but of course SHTF they will be gone quickly.

 

[Magus]

chickweed tincture (tea)
Soak a cup full green or dry in hot water until the water is greenish and sop a rag with it, hold it over your eye. works wonders on welding burns and pink eye.

 

[Patchouli]

You figure it out. Read in my herbal healing books that human breast milk works on conjunctivitis (bad, contagious eye infections kids pass around). It works faster than antibiotics or eye drops.

 

[Peanut]

Any good natural beta blockers that are eyesafe?
Recently I got prescriptions for beta blockers for my eyes to lower intraocular pressures.
I have some extra stashed but but of course SHTF they will be gone quickly.

There isn’t a whole lot for helping eye issues in the herbal world. There are plants for basic things like infections, scratched cornea, ie eye injuries. For these a plant named Eye Bright is used most often, there are a few others.

However eye bright (Euphrasia officinalis) will cause an increase in pressure in the eye. So do the others I know of, not what you need.

So I thought you should know about these. Sorry I can’t help you.

(for treating injury good blood flow is key. Eye Bright and similar are for minor injuries and usually promote good blood flow)

 

[angie_nrs]

I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought I'd park it here....

 

[TeeJ]

I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought I'd park it here....
View attachment 95397

Nice chart! turmeric is a truly amazing anti-inflammatory as well. Making "golden milk" with it sooths my arthritis so much

 

[angie_nrs]

Hmmmm.......honey and onions? Who would've thought it?
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/155/011/381/playable/8d6aca81cfcb983d.mp4

 

[Peanut]

Hmmmm.......honey and onions? Who would've thought it?
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/155/011/381/playable/8d6aca81cfcb983d.mp4

This fall a friend introduced me to fermented garlic and honey. Garlic and onions are closely related species, have many of the same chemicals, most notably Allicin, an antibiotic. Make it the same way with either garlic or onion...

 

[angie_nrs]

 

[LadyLocust]

View attachment 121675

ACV beat garlic eh? Uuhh, habaneros- no thanks
ETA: I’m not being a brat. Good list!
(But I’m still not eating habaneros)