Every parent knows how important it is to have a first aid kit on hand. Scrapped knees, stings, and minor bumps and bruises occur almost daily when you have young children. To assemble a natural, kid-friendly kit you can count on, consider assembling these four elements:

1. Tea Tree Oil: This oil is a great way to heal a cut quickly and efficiently. Several studies have shown that tea tree oil has the antibacterial qualities needed in wound care. Applying tea tree oil directly to your cut twice a day will cut down inflammation. It’s also a powerful antimicrobial and antiviral, making it an effective hand sanitizer.

2.Lavender Oil: The therapeutic benefits of lavender essential oil originate from its analgesic activity. This makes lavender an excellent essential oil for treating mosquito and spider bites. Apply a few drops on an itchy bite to reduce swelling and itch.

3. Honey Scientists believe the antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in honey make it able to kill both the bacteria and the fungi that infect wounds. Its viscous texture also allows a cut to heal in a moist environment, which leaves you with a softer-looking scar. But don’t slather on the stuff that comes in a cute little bear at your supermarket. Honey sold for food purposes often contains pollen and bacteria that could infect your cut. Instead, grab medical-grade honey, which is filtered and sterilized.

4. Black Drawing Salve This is an ointment you can pick up from your natural health practitioner. It has 11 herbs suspended in olive oil, bees’ wax, vitamin E oil and pine tar. It’s been shown to be effective on insect bites, cuts, scrapes, hemorrhoids, chiggers, rashes, burns, skin ulcers, boils and skin infections. Other uses might be athlete’s foot, dry skin, poison ivy, bedsores, skin parasites, inflammation, ringworm, arthritis and acne. Some of its active ingredients are:

  • Chaparral- Use for hemorrhoids, bruises, cuts, chickenpox, chiggers cuts and inflammation
  • Lobelia- Stops inflammation and brings infections to a head
  • Comfrey- Good for burns, ulcerations, swelling, broken bones and rheumatism
  • Golden Seal- Good for inflamed mucous membranes, cracked nipples, and indolent ulcers
  • Plaintain- Alleviates cuts, burns, bruises, poison ivy, tumors, ringworm, and chiggers
  • Marshmallow- Reduces inflammation, treats chemical and flame burns and eases swollen joints and muscles