The Minimalist's Holistic Medicine Cabinet
- Alex Kelly
- Aug 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 10
When sickness hits, remain calm and remember the facts!
It’s never fun to see your child sick, but remind yourself IT IS A GOOD THING. They are actively building and strengthening their immune system - and better now when they’re more resilient than when they are adults and less so.
“Immunity is immunity. When you get it, you have it. So, if you get it earlier, you’re going to be immune earlier.” Jordan Scott Orange, MD, PhD, chair of pediatrics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and physician-in-chief of NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
What do you really need in your medicine cabinet?
This is such an individualized topic. Every family dynamic and personality looks different, and will play a role. For me, while I’m a pretty anxious person by nature, I am surprisingly extremely calm and collected when it comes to general sickness.
For our family, I do not feel like we need all the tinctures and remedies out there. For most sicknesses we have been able to treat with 2-3 products max - sometimes even less than that.
Others feel better having alllllll the possible options available to them, which is totally understandable! The great thing is, you can make a perfectly functional holistic medicine cabinet with as much or as little as you want, or that budget allows!
I find enjoyment in trying and testing new things so our cabinet wanes and flows, but these are the staples I always have on hand.
Nebulizer
Every symptom while sick has a purpose! The body produces more mucus when sick to help trap pathogens, while coughing/sneezing helps expel them.
Instead of reaching for decongestants or cough suppressants that actively work against the body’s natural function, focus on thinning the mucus so it can easily be expelled.
Nebulizing saline helps thin up mucus and moistens the respiratory tract - which can soothe coughs and reduce inflammation.
DIY SALINE:
Humidifier
Humidifiers add moisture to the air which helps relieve congestion and sooths irritated airways. Maintaining humidity in the range of 40-60% can also reduce transmission of pathogens.
When sickness hits our home, I always make sure to have a humidifier going in my kids’ rooms when they sleep, as well as in the family room to ensure the overall humidity remains in that 40-60% range. I also keep hygrometers in every room.
If choosing a plastic humidifier, I recommend going with cool mist to minimize microplastics in the air.
Garlic Oil - for ear infections
Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antiviral. One study showed that naturopathic ear drops containing garlic was just as effective in managing ear pain as OTC ear drops. Another found that allicin and s-allyl cysteine (SAC), two derivatives of garlic, were effective at killing certain microorganisms that cause ear infections. I recommend starting garlic drops as soon as congestion begins, as a preventative.
Saline Spray & Nasal Aspirator
As my kids have gotten older, we rarely use our nasal aspirator anymore. But during the baby stage it was a lifesaver.
The saline loosens the mucus, moisturizes the nasal passages, reduces inflammation, and helps flush our irritants. The nasal aspirator physically removes mucus, which can be hard for babies to do on their own.
This helps with breathing, feeding, sleeping, and can reduce the risk of ear infections.
Spraying saline before using the aspirator softens the mucus, making suction more effective and comfortable.
"Just in Case"
We have never had to use medicated medicine to treat a sickness in our home, and I hope we never do. However, I am not one to deny there can be a time and a place. I would rather be prepared, so I’m not having to run around at 2am grabbing less then ideal options - even if I may never open the bottles.
We consider Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen an absolute last resort before an ER decision is made, as it can prolong the illness and deplete immune function. For babies under 6months Acetaminophen is the only studied and recommended option. For babies 6months and older, you should try Ibuprofen first. If you try that first and it’s not working, then you can try Acetaminophen (again, as a last resort before ER contemplation).
Genexa is one of the cleanest Acetaminophen options on the market. For Ibuprofen, I would just go with a dye-free option.
I also keep Genexa’s medicated cough syrup and antihistamine on hand. Again, we have never had to use them and I don’t plan on ever using them - but I would rather be over prepared for the worst than scrambling the last minute.
The only time I would foresee myself using Dextromethorphan/Guaifenesin would be for a situation like whooping cough where we may be desperate for some much needed rest in order for the body to heal.
And an antihistamine for a possible allergic reaction that I don’t feel equipped to handle naturally. I don’t foresee that happening, but you never know!
Fevers can be tricky because they can be a symptom of so many different illnesses and diseases - some very serious. For the purpose of this post, I am focusing on viral illnesses. If your child has a fever of unknown origin or has odd symptoms (not typical viral symptoms), you may need to seek a higher level of care.
Things you can utilize from home
There are quite a few household items you probably already have that you can easily utilize for treating and comforting!
Wet Socks for Fever
Sleeping in wet socks signals your body to dilate the blood vessels in your feet resulting in blood being moved to and warming, the feet. This increases circulation throughout the entire body. This cycle should continue throughout the night and helps boost the immune system and reduce body temperature - making it great for fevers. You can do this by placing damp cotton socks on your child's feet followed by thick wool socks.
Onions for Fever and URIs
Onions contain sulfur compounds with known antimicrobial properties, which can help fight infection. When sliced and placed against the skin, they are thought to absorb illness-causing agents or reduce body heat through the feet, offering relief from fever symptoms. You can also place a sliced onion next to the bed while sleeping to help with respiratory symptoms. We have done this many times!
Honey for Coughs
Honey (for 12mo+) can help relieve coughs by soothing the throat, reducing irritation, and suppressing the cough reflex. Its natural antibacterial properties may also help fight infections. A 2012 study published in Pediatrics found that a small dose of honey before bedtime was more effective at reducing nighttime coughing in children than dextromethorphan (Cohen et al., 2012).
Steam Shower for Congestion
Steam showers can help relieve congestion by moisturizing the nasal passages, loosening thick mucus, and soothing irritated airways. The warm, moist air makes it easier to breathe by thinning mucus and reducing sinus pressure. Breathing in steam may also calm a dry throat and relax the chest. Turn shower on as hot as it will go, close the door to trap the steam, and sit in the bathroom for 10-15 min. With babies, especially, we love utilizing steam showers and then nasal aspirating right after.
Helpful Extras
chest rubs / pain / nasal support / throat support / sore throat / tummy relief / tummy ache / stomach ache / electrolytes / homeopathy / homeopathics / homeopathic
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