11 Must-Have Healing Remedies

Peeked inside your medicine cabinet lately? Chances are — even if you eat locally, compost food scraps, and clean with nothing but vinegar and baking soda — its contents are a medicinal flashback to your childhood.

“When it comes to our medicine cabinets, it’s habitual to reach for over-the-counter drugs,” says Madelon Hope, M.Ed., LMHC, a clinical herbalist and director of the Boston School of Herbal Studies. “These medications are the ones our mothers gave us, and those memories condition our responses today.”

If this sounds like you, it’s time for a bathroom-cabinet makeover. While there are times you may still want to use conventional meds, such as ibuprofen and antibiotic ointment, natural remedies can be just as fast and effective as over-the-counter fixes — sometimes more so.

Best of all, they often have far fewer (if any) pesky or potentially harmful side effects.

You don’t have to replace everything in your cabinet all at once, of course, and not every natural remedy is right for everyone. But if you’re looking to transform your medicine cabinet from retro-conventional to at least partially au naturel, here are a few items you’ll want to consider keeping within reach.

Next: 11 Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves

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Read more: General Health, Health, Home, Natural Remedies

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Cheryl B.

4:54AM PST on Mar 8, 2013

great .....thanks

March 8
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Natasha S.

11:18AM PST on Feb 12, 2013

Great tips,thanks.

February 12
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Siti R.

3:07AM PST on Jan 21, 2013

love Homeopathy!

January 21
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Sarah M.

10:42PM PST on Dec 28, 2012

thanks

December 28
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Janice W.

9:24PM PST on Dec 19, 2012

Wow! I have almost all of these on the list. I'm doing better than I thought I was. :) Thanks.

December 19
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Suzanne J.

9:58AM PST on Dec 6, 2012

I was also unaware of the fact Tea Tree Oil was toxic to cats..thank you for giving us this information.This entire article was full of very useful information and was self explanatory.I am trying to get into a more healthy life style and found many things I will make use of.Thanks again!

December 6
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Michael W.

3:40PM PST on Dec 4, 2012

Your personal interests in health care may dictate the content of your medicine cabinet. Ours contains predominantly homeopathic remedies. Interesting comment by Mary-Beth that Tea Tree Oil is toxic for cats - I didn't know that.