FYI: McKee Family Topical First-Aid Kit

The McKee Family's Topical First-Aid Kit

Our go-to external first aid kit is made up of these 3 Boiron remedies: Arnica Gel, Calendula Gel, Calendula Ointment. Tincture of Iodine (not the colorless kind), Lavender EO, and Cayenne Pepper.

Arnica Gel (Boiron)

Bumps, bruises, overdoing it/muscle aches. If used soon enough and repeated as needed it can prevent bruising. Our first experience was when our son's hand was closed in the hinge side of the car door. It took away the pain and it never bruised.  Use on unbroken skin only, but can be applied near the open area. 

Tincture of Iodine

This is the first thing we do. (not the colorless kind or Povidone....it can be difficult to find in local drug stores. We found it on Amazon. )

Good for any insect bite or scratch. Especially animal scratch/bite, tree/thorn/fence scratches. We've treated Brown Recluse bites with only Iodine.  Iodine is a long time standard anti-infective treatment.

Calendula Gel (Boiron)

Skin irritations, infections, razor cuts, burns, skinned skin (you know like knees/arms, etc...).

Calendula Ointment (Boiron)

For longer lasting staying power under a band-aid.

Lavender EO 

It's good for any kind of burns- sun or heat.



Cayenne Pepper (ground)
Cayenne stops bleeding FAST.  The sooner you use it the better.  Like while the area is still in shock it won't feel the heat!   It coats a cut & speeds healing. Just make sure that you leave it on a while before you clean it off, or it will start bleeding again.  You can bandage over the cayenne and it can stay on until you need to change the band-aid. 

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Homemade Apple Wine

 We prefer our wine with added sparkling water.  It's just too strong to drink without it! 

  The organic apples (juice quality sweet apples from Azure Standard)  were grated and soaked...
....then Adrienne squeezed out every last bit of goodness! 

 Pouring the remaining juice through a nut milk bag.

Bottling:  The bottom of the bucket with 2 pounds of organic raisins left from the wine making.  Because we didn't bottle after 2 weeks as planned, the raisins sat in the apple wine for 5 months.  It could only have improved the final results, right?  =) 

 (click the picture to view it larger)

Recipe from H. E. Bravery's book "Home Wine-Making Without Failures"

See how the color is so similar to the color of Kombucha Tea? You really can't tell which is which- good thing we labeled it!!!