Preparing Your Own Living Medicine Cabinet

7 Herbs You Should Be Growing Now

If you don’t yet have a medicinal herb garden, perhaps now is the time to consider starting one. Having not only a living, but a renewable source of holistic medicine on hand for your family is only one of the benefits of growing medicinal herbs. There’s no reason to wait either, even if you are in the grips of the winter cold, many of these herbs can grow year round, indoors, simply on our window sills or under an artificial light. And while the sound of a “Medicinal Herb Garden” doesn’t sound too appealing, you’ll find many of the herbs your already know and love in cooking will provide you and your family with alternatives to drug store medicine in an emergency when you need it most.

The truth is people have been growing medicinal herbs for thousands of years and many of the medications you find on store shelves today are derived from the very same botanicals you can grow in your own home.

Approximately, 40 percent of prescription drugs on the market today came from plant extracts. These medicinal herbs that you can grow yourself have the ability to help heal and relieve symptoms caused by a variety of ailments, and, major bonus, many can be enjoyed in your culinary adventures too. As most preppers know, you never know what is going to happen, and having these plants in your arsenal could offer an important solution for your family in a time of need.

These basic herbs are just a few of the many that could be part of your medicinal herb garden, but these are perhaps the ones that no living medicine cabinet should be without.

Echinacea

Echinacea (E. purpurea) is already one of the top selling herbs in health food stores and a major ingredient in several wellness products, proving its effectiveness as an immune booster. In fact you can almost hear your mother telling you to drink that Echinacea tea once you feel that cold come on, can’t you? Echinacea has almost been called the purple coneflower by many gardeners and is still admired for its beauty, as well as its properties. Echinacea root is the most popular part of the plant to extract the medicinal properties from, but many will make tea out of the leaves and flowers as well. You can make a tincture, or a basic tea to use this medicine helping you to get over colds faster or preventing them in the first place.

Chamomile

Looking to relax? How about a nice cup of Chamomile tea? Chamomile is a must have for any medicinal herb garden as it is an effective sleep aid that can also aid in digestion and urination. For a mother, this herb is especially beneficial as it is gentle enough for young tummies and can even ease colic. Chamomile tea, made from the flowers of the Hungarian chamomile plant, (Matricaria recutita or Chamomilla recutita), can also be used to wash sores and wounds. Official health authorities of 26 separate countries approve it to treat inflammation, infection, colic, muscle spasms and tension.

The flowers usually appear within six weeks of planting. It does best in cooler climates and making it a great indoor plant, even though it can get quite large. The plant likes sun exposure, but needs to be protected from intense summer heat.

Lemon Balm

Traditionally, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has been used to reduce fevers and treat colds by inducing sweating. It has been known to calm the digestive tract, relieve spasms related to cramps and headaches, and aid in the battle against insomnia. There are even studies to suggest that lemon balm not only calms anxiety but also inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria. Lemon balm, like chamomile is a larger plant, but it can also be grown indoors. It is best, however, grown outdoors with partial sun. When outside it is also a great attractor of bees, which any gardener knows, is a benefit to the overall health of your garden. The plant can tend to spread, so trim the tops off before they go to seed to prevent overgrowth.

One of the best reasons to grow lemon balm yourself is because it is most effective fresh, or freshly dried, though it does lose some of its aromas when dried. The leaves and the blooms can be harvested to make tea to unlock the medicinal potential.

Peppermint

Mint was mentioned as a stomach aid in the world’s oldest surviving medical text, believed to date from the 16th century B.C. Peppermint (Mentha ×piperita) is actually a hybrid between spearmint and water mint.

Peppermint leaf tea was traditionally used to cure insomnia, upset stomach, indigestion, nervous tension, cramps, diarrhea and nausea. Studies have shown that the essential oil extracted from peppermint contains substances that relieve muscle spasms and inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses. It also contains menthol, which is well known for its health benefits as well as its distinct scent.

Peppermint can also grow quite large, and can be suitable outside. Peppermint crops can be increased by dividing the roots as the flowers do not provide seed. Peppermint tends to take care of itself, it almost thrives on neglect and it may be necessary to dig up plants regularly if grown outside to limit spread. The peppermint leaves are easy to dry and store for use in tea or other applications.

Parsley

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is rich in vitamins C, B12, K and vitamin A and provides a host of preventative benefits. It can be grown in a simple box on your window sill, or in an open garden. Parsley helps promote a strong immune system and it has been known to treat the nervous system as well. Parsley can also help reduce blood pressure as well as aid with digestion problems.
Parsley can be dried, chewed raw, or used in a tea. Many people also chew on the leaves to control bad breath. Parsley is also a popular seasoning when cooked though the raw leaves contain the highest concentration of health benefits as cooking can reduce potency.

Lavender

Lavender (lavandula) is a popular herb, best grown outside, as these gorgeous and fragrant flowers can grow quite large. Like lemon balm, lavender is attractive to bees and hummingbirds. In addition to the unmistakable scent, lavender has long been associated with providing a sense of calm and relaxation. Lavender tea has also been shown to reduce pain as well as provide many aroma-therapeutic benefits. When applied as a part of a salve to cuts and bruises, lavender can also be an effective an antiseptic.

Sage

Sage (salvia officinalis) is another plant known for its unmistakable scent, but its benefits reach far beyond simply aromatics. It is a little-known fact that sage can also help to soothe coughs and general throat irritation. Sage has been known to reduce the longevity and severity of common colds and sinus congestion. Sage has also been shown to aid with hot flashes, an added benefit for many women.

Whether you have an indoor or an outdoor herb garden, or perhaps both, your living medicine cabinet can benefit from the inclusion of these marvelously miraculous plants. All of these can be used as teas, but many can be made into tinctures and salves that are wonderful to have on hand when a medical situation arises. Having your own living medicine cabinet prepares you for so many ailments and situations, and allows you to provide the best, freshest and safest health remedies for you and your family.

A Hole in the Ground to Call Home

Okay, so I know it is a bit of a survival cliché.  Everybody can think of a war movie where people are hiding out in bunkers, or one where a conspiracy theorist is heading underground.  However, do not be so quick to make assumptions.  The fact of the matter is that an underground shelter is a very good idea for many reasons.

A bunker is the safest place to be during any storms with high winds. When it is not in use, it can be great for storage or can even serve as a root cellar.  If ever there is a scenario where you need to separate yourself from other people, a bunker is the place to be.  This could be riots, military invasion, or pandemics.  If you need clean air during a chemical attack, nuclear winter, or volcanic eruption your bunker is the only option.  Studies have shown that even being a few feet underground with the proper air system could easily save people from a nuclear blast.  If you are willing to put in the time and effort, it is a pretty darn good idea.

The first potential step of building a bunker is a bit controversial… getting permission.  Legally you are required to get a permit before doing any major digging on your property.  I know many preppers are concerned that any evidence of prepping is being tracked by the government.  In a way, telling anybody that you are building a bunker is putting yourself on the grid.  However, you may draw more attention if the authorities decide to give you a hard time.  They could easily fine you and force you to fill in all your work.  If nothing else, you need to have your property marked by the utility companies so you are not digging up water, power, or gas lines.

The next point I have to emphasize is safety.  This is not a little project.  If you have only one foot of soil on top of your shelter and it is not structurally sound, it will collapse.  Dirt is heavy.  You will also likely be using some heavy equipment and power tools.  Do not use equipment you are not comfortable operating.  If you do not design your ventilation system properly, you will suffocate.  If you dig too close to your house, the foundation could give way.  There are a dozen ways to get hurt building your survival bunker.  These scenarios would really defeat the purpose, so be careful and take your time.

Now it is time to plan.  A solid structural plan is absolutely vital for an underground bunker.  One of the first questions of planning is where to put the bunker.  You can build under your home, but that can drastically affect your home’s foundation and utility lines.  Also, if your home collapses in a disaster then your exit is blocked.

One benefit is that you could easily move to your bunker without going outside.  Another is easy access to water and electrical lines.  Your other option would be building next to the home and having a separate entrance.  This is a more simple construction, but you would either have to run utilities to the shelter or provide a separate source.  You would also have to leave your home to get to your shelter.  Be prepared for whichever choice you make.  To see what a bunker under your home looks like, please check out this video:

Next you need to be prepared to dig.  Test the soil in your desired area and know the challenges.  Sandy soil will act differently than clay soil.  You may even hit a slab of rock a few feet down. Be sure there are no large tree roots in the area. Please know these things before you start any serious digging.  You will need to plan a spot for the mound of removed dirt well away from the hole.

Many people make the mistake of putting the pile too close.  Just a little shift and it could cave in.  Remember that you do not have to be buried for this to kill you.  If you are buried above your naval, the pressure from the dirt on your torso can keep your lungs from expanding.  Plan to have the proper equipment.  Sure you can use a pick and shovel, but it will be a very long project.  Normally renting or borrowing some heavy equipment is a good idea.

The Structure

As for the underground structure itself, you have a few options.  Probably the WORST would be to buy a shipping crate or to have a premade steel structure .  These options are pricey but the shipping container is also dangerous. The shipping crate absolutely must be reinforced to hold the weight, and you’d have to live in fear that it could still collapse.  Wood is also a poor choice for an underground structure.  Even when properly treated, lumber can rot over time.  It is also not structurally sound to handle the weight with which you may be dealing.

If you are having a prefab structure, insist on extra steel reinforcement.  If you are reinforcing a crate, you should use steel beams. Possibly the best option is concrete.  It is inexpensive, simple to use, strong, permanent, and can be molded to any shape.  A good concrete floor with poured concrete walls and ceiling are plenty strong as long as they are reinforced with steel rebar.

One person could pour the whole structure in a couple weeks if they do it right.  Brick or cinder blocks can be used and are inexpensive, but the work is time-consuming and can really only be used for the walls.  If you are uncertain of your design, ask for help.  Find a structural expert and get a second opinion.  You only have one shot to get the plan right.  Here is a video on how to build a shipping container bunker:

Maybe you are thinking about doing some tunneling. Think again. This is time-consuming, frustrating, and very dangerous.  I realize it may be cheaper that getting out the heavy equipment.  However, you have to think of your time as money.  All building materials will have to be dragged into a tunnel to build your walls. In the meantime, you have to constantly move scaffolding around to support the ceiling.  After all this work and risking your life, you will wish you had taken the time to do it the right way.

Weather needs to be considered on a few different levels. While building, rain can absolutely ruin your project.  Try to find a dry season to get the bulk of the work done.  Even once the shelter is built, rain can be an issue.  It can cause concrete to crack and bricks to crumble.  You should really put a waterproof lining all the way around your structure to protect it from moisture.

In addition, a sheet much larger than the roof of your shelter should be spread out before topping off the dirt.  The less water that gets to the structure, the better. Cold is another factor. Extreme cold conditions can make soil expand and contract. Factor this in when you choose your design.

There are a few interior features that are a good idea. 

Sound proofing is not expensive. You can use anything from foam padding to egg cartons to save money, or you can get professional sound dampening materials.

Ventilation is absolutely essential.  You will have to do your research on which system you need, but all will need access to air, fans, and likely a filter of some kind.  Some systems will only filter dust, while others can even protect from radioactive fallout.  Electricity will need to be supplied, preferably from a generator or solar source.  Certain items such as the ventilation and an emergency light should be hooked to backup power as well.

If you can run water from a well to the bunker, this would be ideal. A filtration system is a good idea in case the water is contaminated.

Sewage is a separate issue. You can go for a composting toilet, or set up a septic system with a leach field.

Concealment should be a priority when designing your bunker.  If you build it under your home, this is already accomplished.  However, bunkers away from your home can stick out like a sore thumb.  Entrances can be disguised as manholes or can be covered with a movable object like a fake planter or a kiddie pool.  A shed can be built over your entrance to give you another layer of protection.

How prepared should we be?  The experts say that the average situation will last between two and three weeks.  However, we can all imagine situations where this could stretch into months.  Anything you can build that will give you an ongoing supply of resources is best.  Build a clean water supply, stash a hydroponic garden, grow catfish, or do anything else that can keep you going long term.  As far as hoarding supplies, that depends on the amount of space you have, the money you want to spend, and how far you want to take it. Anything that would stick out of the ground should be concealed. 

Ventilation tubes can be surrounded by planting rocks.  Radio antennas can be buried along the surface of the soil or can be run inside a flagpole.  Locks are very important as well.  You may want to consider a dual door system, and each door should lock from both the inside and outside. Remember that your goal is to be 100% certain that you can separate yourself from other people.

A little interior design can go a long way.  You do not need to spend a great deal of money, but having nothing but a hole in the ground is not smart either.  You need a comfortable place to sleep, so some cheap beds or cots are in order.

Your goal is to keep your time in your bunker as civilized as possible.  Have a living area with places to sit, books, games, and maybe a TV.  Have an eating area if you have the space.  Make sure there is plenty of lighting.  Remember that there will be no natural light, so go overboard with the lighting.  For privacy use curtains to separate the space.  Even a cheap throw rug or a few pictures on the walls could be a good idea. If you have never been through it before, living in a confined space for weeks or months is very difficult.  Any little detail that normalizes the experience is vital.

If you are considering this project, think carefully.  There are dozens of scenarios in which a bunker could save the lives of you and your family.  However, it is an expensive, time consuming, and difficult venture.

If you have unlimited resources you could have it done in weeks, but for most people a bunker is a project that will take several years.  If you build away from your house you can plan on staring at a giant hole in the ground and a mountain of soil next to it.  If you build under your home it could become drafty and moldy.  You could be lugging equipment in and out tracking mud on every trip.  If you are not careful, the building process can be very dangerous as well.

All that being said, it can be a very beneficial project for the right preppers.  If you truly want to be prepared for any situation, a bunker is your best option.  If you are one of those preppers, then all you have to do is start digging!

California sisters, 8 and 5, survived 44-hour ordeal by drinking fresh water from Huckleberry leaves

Two young sisters who survived for 44 hours in the wilderness of Northern Californiabefore they were found alive on Sunday did so by using basic survival skills they learned at their local 4-H club.

Carolina Carrico, 5 and Leia Carrico, 8, were discovered around 10:30 a.m. by two firefighters who were able to follow their tracks and locate them, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal told reporters.

"This is an absolute miracle," he said. "This is rugged territory, this is an extreme environment. How they were out there for 44 hours is pretty amazing."

Leia and Caroline are seen in this undated photo. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said the two girls walked off into the wooded area nearby their home before being rescued on Sunday. (Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office)

The girls were found uninjured and "in good spirits" roughly 1.4 miles south of their home in Benbow, located about 70 miles south of Eureka in the northwest part of the state.

CALIFORNIA SISTERS, 8 AND 5, REPORTED MISSING, FOUND 'SAFE AND SOUND,' SHERIFF SAYS

Two California sisters missing

8-year-old and 5-year-old California sisters have been missing since Friday.

Officials were able to locate the girls after Delbert Chumley and Abram Hill from the Piercy Volunteer Fire Department initially found their boot prints at 8:30 a.m. After following the tracks, the responders reached an area near Richardson Grove State Park and called out to the girls, who responded.

"The girls were located huddled together under a bush," the sheriff's office said. "The sisters were evaluated by medical personnel for dehydration and given water and warm, dry clothing."

The sisters told officials they were following a deer trail when they became lost.

"The two decided to stay put, drinking fresh water from Huckleberry leaves," officials said.

Leia and Caroline are seen in this undated photo.. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said the two girls were reported missing on Friday. (Humboldt County Sheriff's Office)

The sisters were reunited with family shortly after being located, and could be seen being embraced in photos released by the sheriff's office.

Caroline and Leia Carrico are reunited with family members in this photo released by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. (Humboldt County Sheriff's Office)

Another photo of one of the girls posted by the sheriff's office and already being widely shared on social media shows Caroline Carrico wearing pink rubber boots, dirty jeans, a long pink shirt and a woolen cap.

Caroline Carrico is assessed by search crews after being lost in the Northern California wilderness for 44 hours.(Humboldt County Sheriff's Office)

She is standing while a firefighter kneels down and talks to her.

After being assessed by first responders, the girls were taken to the hospital for observation. Their mother shared a photo of the two having pizza in a hospital bed.

Leia and Caroline Carrico can be seen eating pizza in the hospital after being rescued after spending 44 hours lost in the Northern California wilderness. (Misty Carrico)

OREGON MAN, DOG SURVIVE 5 DAYS IN VEHICLE STUCK IN SNOW EATING TACO SAUCE

More than 250 personnel from across the state responded to take part in the search for the girls, who were reported missing at 6 p.m. on Friday. The girl's mother, Misty Carrico, had noticed the two were gone roughly 30 minutes after they asked to go for a walk and were told no.

Delbert Chumley (right center) and Abram Hill (left center) from Piercy Volunteer Fire found Leia and Caroline 1.4 miles southeast of their Benbow home. They are seen in this photo released Sunday with Sgt. Kerry Ireland (left) and Sheriff William Honsal (right). (Humboldt County Sheriff's Office)

Lt. Mike Fridley said during a news conference Saturday that rescuers were hopeful about finding the girls after granola bar wrappers were found in the woods that matched the brand in the Carrico's residence that their mother said were recently purchased.

"So the wrappers showed us a direction from where they started to where the wrappers ended," Fridley said.

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Fridley said Sunday he was the one who got to call the girls' mother and tell them her daughters were alive.

"She melted on the phone," he said.

16+ Tools For Your Car Survival Kit

Portable Device Generator – Learn How To Build Your Own Energy Generator! 

By and large, I’ve driven older vehicles, as I could never see sticking myself with the huge payments associated with most cars. But just because they were older cars, doesn’t mean that they weren’t good cars. I’ve always tried to keep my cars in good mechanical shape and made sure they were ready to get me through those everyday problems.

But being ready to get through these problems entailed much more than just having a sound engine; it meant having the right things in the car to deal with a wide variety of different situations. We are a highly mobile society today, taking our cars everywhere. So preparing your car to deal with a range of potential problems also means that you’re ready to deal with those problems as well.

This has been how I’ve operated for over four decades now. In doing so, I’ve not only been prepared to help myself through a wide range of problems, but have also been able to help many others who have found themselves in trouble. Whether it was in being the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or finding someone whose car ran off the road in an ice storm, I’ve helped enough people out of trouble, that I’ve often wondered why I didn’t get preprinted invoices to use.

The Vehicle Itself

I always start with the vehicle itself. As I already mentioned, it’s important to have your vehicle mechanically sound. You’re not going to be ready to help yourself out, let alone anyone else, if your vehicle is broken-down beside the road. Granted, there are things which can happen that can’t be foreseen; but if it can be foreseen and you didn’t see it, you’re not helping yourself.

What does this mean in practical terms?

• Change your oil regularly – that does more to maintain your engine’s health than anything
• Check fluids regularly
• Check belts and hoses regularly – there are a lot of breakdowns due to belts and hoses wearing out
• Check tires regularly and fill as necessary – tire air pressure changes with the season, so never assume that it’s okay. Don’t forget the spare either
• All lights are working
• Wiper blades aren’t worn out
• Any red warning lights on the dash have been checked out and necessary repairs made

That’s really not a long list, so it’s not all that hard to keep up with, even on an older vehicle. If you can, you will eliminate a lot of the problems that people end up stuck on the side of the road for; not all of them, but a lot of them.

You may want to make some slight modifications to your vehicle as well, such as adding lights, so that you can see better in an emergency situation. I’ve used a variety of lights at different times; but always make sure that I have at least one powerful spotlight I can use.

Another modification to consider is making sure that you have a good connection point for jumper cables. Some newer cars have the battery hidden. In those cases there are normally contacts you can use, but not all models have them. Make sure you have readily accessible points for jump-starting your car or for jump starting other people’s cars. I’ve even gone as far as running permanent cable to the other end of the car for this purpose.

It’s a good idea to check your vehicle for towing points as well, both in the front and rear. Some cars are not easy to connect to for towing, while others have actual towing points installed. I’m not talking about the towing points used by a tow truck here, but used by a friendly passer-by to get you off the road and out of traffic, or that you would use to do that for someone else.

If your car doesn’t have good towing points, you can easily rectify that problem by attaching some U-bolts to the structure. Just drill holes though and bolt them on. That makes it much faster and easier to hook a tow strap or chain to your vehicle. Of course, if you have a trailer hitch, that can be used as well.

Emergency Vehicle Equipment

The next category of equipment to consider is emergency equipment for your vehicle itself. This is the equipment you need to have, in case of car trouble. Hopefully you’ll never have to use this for your own vehicle, if you are properly maintaining it. But you might end up using these items on other people’s vehicles as well, saving them from a catastrophic problem.

• Basic tool set for repairs – metric socket set, metric wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers
• Jack – I wouldn’t count on the scissors jack that comes with the vehicle, as they are hard to use and not very stable; rather, I carry a hydraulic one
• Lug wrench – again, I don’t count on the one that comes with the vehicle, as it is hard to use, but rather a star wrench
• Water – for an overheated engine
• Hose repair – Duct tape and hose clamps works well for this
• Jumper cables – good quality ones, the cheap ones aren’t good enough
• Towing strap or chain – I prefer a nylon strap, but some people like chains better
• Heavy-duty paper towels – to clean your hands

In addition to these items, it’s a good idea to keep some spare oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and brake fluid in your car. A lot of minor emergencies are nothing more than someone forgetting to check their fluids. Along with the battery, those should be the first thing to check.

Personnel Needs

Taking care of your vehicle is merely the starting point. If you take care of it, there’s much that your vehicle can do to take care of you. Today’s cars and trucks are designed with a lot of safety features installed, so that they can protect you in the case of an accident. But they can do more than that; they can act as an emergency shelter, should you need. People live in their cars all the time; and while it may not be a comfortable place to live, it can protect you from the elements in a pinch.

But you’ll want to have some personal equipment and supplies in the car, so that you can be at least somewhat comfortable, in the case of an emergency. If you end up in one of those situations I mentioned in the introduction to this article, you want to have the things you need to have, in order to take care of yourself.

To start with, make sure you have a good EDC bag with you. By “good,” I’m referring to one that is heavy on survival gear. My personal EDC bag is a combination EDC, survival kit and get home bag. Other than transportation, water and my pistol, it has everything I need, so that I can survive several days.

In addition to that EDC, your car should also have:

• Blanket and pillow (lots of people forget the pillow)
• A seasonally appropriate coat and hat
• Good work gloves – by “good,” I mean durable. They can double to keep your hands warm
• Potable water (drinkable)
• Snacks – things that will last well, like granola bars, nuts and jerky
• Head lamp with extra batteries
• Bungee cords – useful for more than just tying down loads
• First-aid kit – this needs to be a good trauma kit, with enough supplies to take care of major injuries and splint broken bones. Make sure you learn how to do things like a preliminary evaluation of a patient, how to stop bleeding, treat shock, properly use a tourniquet, and how to treat a sucking chest wound
• Toilet paper – get stranded once, and you’ll be glad you have it

Don’t take this list as being totally complete. There may be things that you need to have, which I don’t mention, such as prescription drugs that you need for a chronic condition. We are each different, with different needs, so you have to make sure that you have what you might need, in the case of emergency, not just what I think I need.

It’s not hard to keep all of this, and even more, in the trunk of your car. I’ve kept all of this in my cars for decades and never had a problem being able to haul the groceries home from the store or go on a trip. It’s all a matter of packing it away well, so that space isn’t wasted.