Home Clinic

By Dr. Shellie L. Rosen, PhD, DOM, L.Ac.

The average wait for a doctor appointment is 26 days, according to a recent survey of 15 U.S. cities by health care organization Merritt Hawkins. During the holidays, especially if you are traveling away from home, accessing a physician can also prove difficult. With flu and cold season upon us, you may want to consider developing a “home (or travel) clinic” to prepare for non-emergency health issues as they occur either at home or away to aid in early treatment and minimize symptoms until you can reach a doctor. If Murphy’s Law holds, having a stash of remedies to ease conditions will mean you and your family will stay well.

Start by gathering herbs, supplements, and medical tools for self-care. Take a list of items to your health food store to guide your preparation, and then separate and label your purchases by the condition(s) they treat. Place them in an easy-to-access plastic bin for home use and perhaps a smaller portable container for travel. Don’t forget to add shelf-stable organic protein-rich bone or vegan broth soups for easy-to-prep and easily digestible meals.

Remember your “home clinic” is about early treatment to minimize the impact of an illness or trauma and is not intended to replace professional medical treatment. Why wait until you or a loved one is sick to research and gather your items? You can be a health prepper today. Below is a suggested list of items to get you started.

Headache

Ice pack. Place on feet first to move the blood from the head to the feet. Then place ice on the head.
Peppermint oil. Place one to two drops on the back of the neck.
Magnesium oxide supplement (400 mg per day).

Toothache

Clove oil. Apply two drops directly on the painful area.

Cold/Flu

Gargle with salt water., using ½ teaspoon to every 8 ounces of water several times per day.
Vitamin D3 (at least 800 IU per day)
Zinc (acetate or gluconate) lozenges, up to 40 mg daily
Quercetin, up to 1,800 mg per day
Vitamin C, up to 3,000 mg per day
Magnesium (citrate or glycinate), 400 mg per day
B complex, as directed
Melatonin, 3 mg at bedtime
A quality thermometer

Sinus congestion

Nasal spray with xylitol and perhaps erythritol, saline, or grapefruit seed extract used as directed

Chest congestion

Nebulizer to soften mucous and opens airways.
Guaifenesin, 200-400 mg every four hours, to thin and clear mucous from the airway
Pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen. (A saturation level of 95 percent and above is within the normal range, but 92 percent or lower indicates hypoxemia and dangerously low oxygen in the blood.)

Diarrhea