preparedness
How To Make An Herbal Medicine Chest

When you or a member of your family gets a runny nose, a sore throat, aching muscles, a minor burn, or a scraped knee, do you reach for popular over-the-counter medications?
You’re not alone. Most people have a medicine cabinet filled with conventional store-bought remedies such as Benadryl, Tylenol, Advil, Robitussin, and Neosporin or their generic equivalents.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article.
You can take care of many common ailments effectively, inexpensively – and most importantly, naturally – by stocking the ingredients in an herbal medicine chest. Many herbs and oils can be combined to create healing salves, poultices, and other remedies.
You can grow herbs in your summer garden and on your windowsill year-round. Another option is to dry your summer bounty for use throughout the seasons. What’s rewarding is that the more you get accustomed to using herbs, the more ways you will find to use them. Plus, they taste great in your meals and as juices and teas.
If you are new to natural home treatments, here is a list of basic ingredients to get you started.
Essential Herbs
Basil
Although it is perhaps best known as a mainstay for Italian chefs, basil has impressive antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can be used treat a headache, soothe the stomach, calm a cough, or take the pain out of an insect bite. Here is a video showing how to make a basil salve.
Chamomile
Best known in tea form, chamomile can treat an upset stomach, including nausea and vomiting. Chamomile can promote relaxation and sleep. Here is how to make your own chamomile tea.
Echinacea
Whether you use it as a tincture or a tea, echinacea can work magic on cold and flu symptoms. Here is how to make an echinacea tincture.
Elderberry
Elderberry syrup can help boost your immunity when a cold is coming on, and it helps increase bronchial secretions when you are congested. Plus, it tastes great, which helps when offering it to children. This article has step-by-step instructions for making elderberry syrup.
Lavender
Lavender oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal minor burns and insect bites. It also can help ease anxiety and insomnia. Here is a video showing how to distill lavender oil.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm, which is part of the mint family, can help treat anxiety, sleeplessness, indigestion, and minor wounds. You can make a simple lemon balm tea by steeping one-fourth to one teaspoon of dried lemon balm in hot water. This video shows how to make a lemon balm tincture.
Oregano
This tasty herb has antiseptic and antifungal properties, and it can be used to treat menstrual cramps, respiratory tract, and urinary tract disorders. Applied topically in a salve, oregano may help heal skin conditions, including acne and dandruff. Here is how to make your own oregano oil.
Parsley
Parsley is so much more than just a decoration on a restaurant dinner plate. Parsley is a natural detox remedy, diuretic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent. This video shows how to make parsley tea and explains some of its health benefits.
Rosemary
Fragrant and tasty rosemary has antibacterial properties and can help fight stress, ease headaches, and boost memory. This video shows some of the many ways you can use rosemary for health benefits.
Sage
Sage, which is an easy-to-grow perennial plant, can help ease anxiety, digestive problems, bloating, diarrhea and heartburn. This article offers a recipe for healthy sage infused water.
Thyme
Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that can help treat diarrhea, stomachache, sore throat, and arthritis. Here is a recipe for thyme tea using either fresh or dried thyme.
Carrier Oils
You’ll notice that you will need carrier oils for many herbal recipes.
Beeswax will come in handy for making healing salves and oils.
Also, having olive oil and coconut oil on hand is a good idea for the beginning herbalist. Other good options are Jojoba oil, avocado oil, and almond oil. Almond oil is excellent for the skin.
Here is a simple recipe for making almond oil at home.
Ingredients
- 2 cups unroasted almonds
- 2 to 3 TB extra-virgin olive oil
- Mixer or blender
Directions
- Using the mixer or blender, grind the almonds. Start on a low speed and gradually increase the speed as the pieces get smaller. The resulting paste will stick to the sides of the blender, so you may need to stop to wipe it off the sides as you go.
- Continue to grind until the paste becomes creamy in texture.
- Add olive oil in small increments and continue mixing in the blender.
- Remove mixture from blender and store the mixture in an air-tight container in a dry place for two weeks.
- After two weeks, open the container. The oil should have separated from the cream. Place the oil in a sieve to separate out any loose almond parts.
- Store the oil in an air-tight bottle.
Healthy Foods
Food is medicine, so some items you probably already have at home are great for healing recipes.
Garlic
Garlic is a natural antibiotic that can help boost the immune system to fight colds and flu. Its compounds help reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and promote brain health. That’s why it’s probably the best plant a survivalist can grow.
Here is a recipe for a healing garlic soup.
Ingredients
- 40 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
- 4 cups organic chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 TB lemon juice
Directions
- Place two TB of olive oil in a large saucepan.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place 30 garlic cloves in a small oven-proof casserole dish along with the remaining oil.
- Cover with foil and roast the garlic until soft and brown (about 35 minutes).
- Meanwhile, coarsely chop remaining garlic and add to the saucepan with onions and potatoes.
- Cook the garlic and onion mixture over medium heat until vegetables soften and begin to brown (about five minutes).
- Add the broth, thyme, salt, and pepper and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).
- Let soup cool to room temperature.
- Once the garlic has roasted, remove it from the oil with a spoon and place in a saucepan. (Reserve garlic oil for another use.)
- Puree the soup in several batches until it is thick and smooth.
- Return soup to the saucepan. Then reheat it and stir in lemon juice.
- Serve soup topped with a garnish of your choice.
Ginger
Often called ginger root, ginger can aid digestion, ease nausea, and help fight flu and cold symptoms. You may use ginger fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil.
Here is a recipe for soothing ginger tea.
Ingredients
- 2 TB ginger root (about 2 inches or more of fresh, raw ginger root)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups water
- 1 to 2 TB honey (or agave nectar)
- 1 TB fresh lime juice (optional)
Directions
- Peel and thinly slice the ginger.
- Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For stronger tea, boil for 20 minutes or more.
- Remove ginger from the heat and then add lime juice and honey to taste.
- Sip your tea slowly.
Tip: Leftover ginger root freezes well for later use.
Building your own herbal cabinet can be done in stages. Don’t feel as if you have to get everything all at once. Take the time to experiment with different recipes that work for your family.
The benefits of having herbal remedies on hand include saving time and money on purchasing supplies from the pharmacy, boosting your natural immunities, and peace of mind knowing you are not exposing yourself or your family to unwanted harsh chemicals.
Here are some resources on herbal remedies that you might find helpful:
• Richters is an online retailer that sells quality herbal plants in small and large quantities.
• Mountain Valley Growers is another online retailer. Their website is a great resource for learning about growing conditions and care of your plants.
• Check out Strictly Medicinal Seeds for herbs, oils, and other healing plants and seeds for your garden.
• iHerb, an online retailer that offers herbal supplements and other herbal products.
• Amazon has a wide variety of herbal supplements.
• The Herbal Kitchen: 50 Easy-to-Find Herbs and Over 250 Recipes to Bring Lasting Health to You and Your Family by Kami McBride.
Here are a few book resources for the beginning herbalist:
• Do-It-Yourself Herbal Medicine: Home-Crafted Remedies for Health and Beauty by Sonoma Press.
• The Healing Power of Herbs: Medicinal Herbs for Common Ailments by Tina Sams.
• The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them by JJ Pursell.
Finally, it is important that you choose your plants and seeds with care for health and purity. As with anything you consume, it is a good idea to check with a qualified herbalist or your healthcare practitioner for guidance.
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This article first appeared on urbansurvivalsite.com See it here

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preparedness
4 No Cook Meals For Surviving The Pandemic And Food Supply Shortages

When it comes to your food supply, you just can’t risk not having enough. These no cook meals will be a great addition to your food supply planning. Check out the recipes below!
No Cook Meals to Help You Through the Pandemic
As of the writing of this article, there are 20 meat processing plants that have been shut down due to COVID-19 infections. We have been worrying about these types of effects on our food supply for months now, and this is the first real sign of how infections can affect the food supply.
When you walk into a supermarket, you might not see all the choices you had in the past. An empty meat case is a humbling thing for your eyes to fall upon. It’s the shocking realization that the seemingly infinite supply of chickens, pigs, and cows that are butchered for us has begun to run dry!
To deal with this issue, we are going to present four no cook meals that will help you create dinners at home that will feed your family without worrying so much about what’s available, or unavailable, in the meat case.
1. Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches
As preppers we get beans. There are a bunch of ways to use beans and this a great example of how you can pack a sandwich with great nutrition and protein.
Serving: Makes 4 sandwiches
Ingredients:
- Can of White Beans
- Olive Oil
- 1 Avocado
- 8 Slices of Whole Grain Bread
- 8 Slices of Salted Pork (Prosciutto, Ham, Virginia Ham)
Instructions:
- Begin by draining your beans in a colander then smashing them up in a bowl add a few glugs of olive oil, salt, pepper. This little mix is delicious. If you add some minced rosemary, you can even turn this into a delicious dip.
- Pit your avocado and cut it in half and then quarters lengthwise. Leave the skin on.
- Lay the bread out on a clean work surface for assembling the sandwiches.
- Spread your mashed bean mix onto one side of the bread.
- Peel your avocados and slice 1 quarter for each sandwich. Spread slices over the bean spread.
- Add a few slices of your pork to over the top of the avocado.
- You can finish this sandwich with some lettuces, fresh sprouts, or just eat it as is.
2. Delicious Crab Salad
Canned crab is a protein option that will likely be around through much of this meat crisis. It does have to be kept in refrigeration, but it’s delicious and this chipotle mayo salad is great in the spring and summer.
Ingredients:
- 1 Can of Crab Meat
- 1 Bunch of Asparagus
- Chipotle Mayo
- 1 Bunch of Green Onions
- 1 Bunch of Cilantro
Instructions:
- Drain your crab in a colander and set it in the sink.
- Slice your asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Throw them into a bowl.
- Thinly slice your onions and your cilantro and throw that into the bowl, as well.
- Gently toss in the crab meat.
- Squirt on enough Chipotle mayo to coat everything and toss gently not to break up the crab meat.
- Chill in the fridge and serve.
3. Simple Greek Salad
The combination of simple summer ingredients makes for an incredible quick salad that you could add other proteins, too, if you wanted. These could be canned meats.
Ingredients:
- 2 Large Tomatoes
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Red Onion
- ¼ Cup of Feta Cheese
- A Few Sprigs of Fresh Mint
- ½ Cup of Kalamata Olives
- Balsamic Dressing
Instructions:
- I like to cut the tomatoes in large chunks and have them kind of be the main course in this salad. Peel and slice your cucumber in half. Remove the seeds and either dice or slice in half-moons.
- Peel and slice your red onion in half. Julienne your, or thinly slice, your half onion.
- Add all these ingredients to a bowl. Finely slice your mint.
- Add your olives, crumbled feta, and mint to the bowl and add enough dressing to coat everything.
- Stir it up and allow this to chill for at least an hour for the flavors to really blend.
4. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps
Using some similar ingredients and adding a protein like tuna, you can create some delicious lettuce wraps. The key to a good lettuce wrap is to have most of the items around the same size. So, consider that when you are preparing this dish.
Ingredients:
- Iceberg or Butter Lettuce
- Canned Artichokes
- Canned roasted Red peppers
- Fresh Cucumber
- Feta Cheese
- Minced Olives ¼ Cup
- 2 Cans of Tuna
- Green Onions
- Basil
Instructions:
- Start by peeling all the full leaves from your lettuce. Set them on a plate either cover them with a wet paper towel or put them back into the fridge.
- Dice the peppers, artichokes, and cucumbers into cubes. Go no larger than ½ an inch.
- Thinly slice your green onions and basil and add them to a bowl with your diced vegetables. Add your loves to this bowl and mix them thoroughly.
- Crumble your feta cheese over the mixture.
- Drain your tuna thoroughly and then add that to the bowl, as well.
- Gently toss this mixture. Try not to break up the tuna and the cheese too much but incorporate it thoroughly.
- If you want, you can add some olive oil to the mix or a few glugs of balsamic vinegar. It’s also delicious just how it is.
- Scoop a few tablespoons into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and eat up!
These no cook meals should help lessen the stress you feel when thinking of what to feed your family. If you don’t have the specific ingredients, use your creativity, and use what you have. You might discover a new recipe while you’re at it!
What’s your favorite no cook meal recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section!
Up Next:
- Essential Survival Fuel: No-Cook Overnight Oats
- Dehydrated Foods to Try This Weekend
- 13 Dried And Canned Foods With The Longest Shelf Lives
This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here
preparedness
Billionaire Whistle Blower: Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Over 50,000

- Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000.
A Chinese billionaire and whistleblower who lives in U.S. exile says Wuhan crematoriums have burned 50,000 coronavirus victims. | Credit: Chinatopix via AP
- The official coronavirus death toll in China is a little over 800. But an exiled Chinese businessman says crematoriums are leaking the real figure.
- A billionaire whistleblower alleges Wuhan has crematoriums working 24/7. He claims they’ve cremated some 50,000 coronavirus victims.
- Guo Wengui is a Chinese billionaire living in exile in the United States.
The official coronavirus death toll is some 800 people in China. The current official death toll worldwide, outside of China, is 774. But a Chinese billionaire with a history of blowing the whistle on his former government says the real figure is much higher.
Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000. Wengui made the bombshell allegations in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
Whistleblower: 1.5 Million Coronavirus Cases In China, 50,000 Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan
He also claims to have inside information that there are 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in China. Wengui is emphatic that these are not merely quarantined or “under observation” but confirmed cases of coronavirus infection:
China has struggled to contain the coronavirus. But it has also struggled to contain public outcry against censorship and tight control of information. Dr. Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm about the disease, succumbed to an infection and died this week. The Chinese government arrested him for blowing the whistle.
Then officials tried to suppress news of his death. Afterwards, millions of Chinese citizens saw the hashtag #IWantFreedomOfSpeech on Mandarin language social media. But the Chinese government censored that too.
Are Wengui’s Crematorium Claims Credible?
Watch VICE’s 2017 profile on Guo Wengui. At the time, he published bombshell documents alleging corruption in the Chinese government. He got the attention of the media and reportedly the U.S. State Department.
preparedness
5 Types Of Ammunition To Stockpile For A Collapse

Every prepper knows it’s a great idea to stockpile ammunition when preparing for a major disaster.
You can use it for hunting, self-defense, or barter.
But which types of ammo should you stockpile?
If you plan on bartering, then you don’t want a bunch of calibers that nobody wants. And that’s just one consideration.
In this video, Reality Survival & Prepping talks about what he thinks are the 5 best types of ammunition to stockpile for a collapse.
Here are his picks:
- .22 LR – Very common, good for hunting small game, very light and small.
- 9mm Luger – Great for self-defense, fits in a wide variety of handguns.
- 5.56×45mm or .223 Remington – Also very common, cheap and effective.
- .308 Winchester – Widely used, works in AR10 and bolt-action platforms.
- 12 Gauge – You can do a lot with it — hunt, defend yourself, etc.
In the video below he makes a much more detailed case for each caliber. What do you think of this list?
This article first appeared on urbansurvivalsite.com See it here
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