A Peek Inside Our Natural Medicine Cabinet

Our natural medicine cabinet has been “unusual” for ten years now. When we discovered how healing whole foods and herbs could be, our approach to over the counter things changed.

I never imagined God would use my daughter’s experience with food sensitivities to show us different ways to heal the body. I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. Afterall, they were more expensive, I couldn’t buy them from the grocery store, and most people didn’t know anything about them. However, seeing radical changes in a short time, with my own eyes, quickly made me an advocate.

As a result, the natural medicine cabinet contains a blend of whole food, homeopathic remedies formulated with natural ingredients created by God, recommended specifically for us by trusted practitioners. The only standard over the counter item residing there is a bottle of ibuprofen.

If this seems impossible, let me assure you, it’s not. So let’s talk about how we curate things, organize the cabinet, and what our favorite companies are!

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

How to Curate a Natural Medicine Cabinet

Filling our cabinet didn’t happen overnight! High quality, natural supplements are more expensive than most store brands. It’s tempting to buy less expensive versions; however, you most likely won’t get the same results and/or higher doses will be required.

The majority of our natural supplements can only be ordered/purchased through practitioners. You may be thinking, “Great! Now I have to spend even more money!” Yes, you do. But hear me out. Would you rather spend money on whatever general/specific supplements you think you need or would you rather have a specific list that’s catered to what your body actually needs and can readily use???

Healthcare is the extreme opposite of “One size fits all.” Over the years we’ve learned the body self-prioritizes what it needs to heal first. My body rarely calls for the same supplements as my husband (even if we have the exact same symptoms). One of my kiddos needs cod liver oil while the other requires tuna omega-3 oil. This is where I’m so thankful for Nutrition Response Testing (see this post for more info) and how it helps us know what each individual body needs.

Our Approach

We started with the supplements our daughter needed, which was mostly digestive related, and then overall support. As her body started to heal, we turned to my body’s needs: minerals, fats, heart help, hormone balancing, general support. Soon after that, hubby’s metal/chemical toxicity was tended to.

As we could, we started keeping basic supplements in the natural medicine cabinet. Things like: cod liver/tuna omega-3 oils, digestive enzymes, calcium, female hormone support, wheat germ oil, vitamins A/B/C/D, minerals, drainage support, bacterial/viral support. If one of us repeatedly call for a supplement, we keep it on hand.

Ten years later, we have quite the variety of tried and true natural based supplements to help us address a wide variety of nutritional deficiencies!

Natural Medicine Cabinet Organizational Tips

Keeping bottles organized is key, especially when you have a lot! Once you find a system that works, stick with it. I’m so familiar with where things are, I can often open the cabinet and pull what’s needed even with the lights off. We’re normally reaching for supplements when someone’s health is amiss, so don’t add stress by not being able to find things.

Shelving

For years, we used a variety of adjustable plastic shelving. We’ve lived in three different houses, each with different cabinet spaces, and found them the best solution. If you have the option of having custom made shelves, I highly recommend! We finally did this a couple years ago and it’s been a game changer.

Alphabetical Order

Our supplements are broken into a different categories. Within each category, supplements are alphabetized. We all know the alphabet and the categories are pretty obvious, so there’s no wasted time standing there trying to guess where a certain supplement might be.

Categories/Groups

Whole food supplements are what we use most often and take up the most space, so those are the main category. Herbal supplements are another, liquid homeopathies a third category, and a smattering of various brands compose the fourth category. There is no actual “numbering system” to coincide with these; it just reflects how they’re grouped in the cabinet.

Labeling

Whenever a bottle is opened, we write the date on the cap in permanent marker. This helps me track how quickly the supplement is being consumed, which helps when order time comes around. And just as kitchen herbs lose their potency the older they get, so do natural supplements. So if a dosage is higher than normal, and the supplement is an older bottle, I can usually contribute it to that.

Our Favorite Natural Supplements

We’re fortunate to have been introduced to the following supplements from trusted practitioners who did a lot of the leg work for us. They spent time researching the company’s practices, formulations, ethics, sources, met with directors, etc. Unfortunately, many companies cut corners by adding fillers, using cheaper synthetic versions, using low potencies, GMO ingredients, etc.

Additionally, taking time to research what other ingredients work synergistically takes time and effort. Rarely, are any of the supplements we use just one ingredient. Instead they are a combination of ingredients that may help boost absorption, provide support to other areas known to be affected, or make the main ingredient more effective.

I always advise working with a trusted practitioner before starting new supplements. They can help individualize a plan and pinpoint what supplements will be the most effective. You should also spend time doing your own research, so you understand what the supplements you’re using are. If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s to never be surprised over what’s needed. Afterall, God created some beautifully complex creatures when he made us!

Standard Process

Standard Process offers whole-food based nutritional supplements. They’re a multi-generational, family owned and operated company that’s been successful for over 90 years old. Standard Process was founded by Dr. Royal Lee, who was a pioneer in the twentieth century, known for advocating for natural health and holistic healing. Taken from their website:

From our inception, Dr. Royal Lee recognized the negative impact the Standard American Diet had on overall health. He believed that processed foods depleted our food sources of the rich nutrition once found in them. He understood that good health comes from good nutrition, and the best nutrition comes from whole foods. Dr. Lee dedicated his life to perfecting the production of whole food-based supplements from the soil used to grow crops to the manufacturing processes used to create the supplement – Standard Process has always focused on putting vitality into every bottle.

Standard Process – About Us

We have always experienced positive results with these supplements. Our bodies are able to breakdown, absorb, and utilize the ingredients. They’re made with natural food ingredients (often grown on their own farms) and various bovine/porcine organs. We rarely, if ever, worry about taking too much since they’re literally just food. I’ve even used the garlic supplements to flavor meals when in a pinch!

I can’t say enough positive things about Standard Process supplements, which is probably why they take up the vast majority of our natural medicine cabinet! Some of their products are available online, but it’s always best to meet with a practitioner first to ensure you’re taking exactly what your body needs.

MediHerb

MediHerb is a line of products formulated with a single herb, or a combination of herbs, that work synergistically to provide optimal results. The supplements are manufactured in Australia, and Standard Process is the sole distributor in the United States.

They source high quality herbs from around the world. Supplements go through five rounds of testing before being bottled. MediHerb also “utilizes a seven-day slow drip 1:2 Cold Percolation technology to preserve the full phytochemical spectrum of the herb.”

We find these herbal supplements to be more helpful in acute situations as the potency can be higher than whole foods. Caution is needed when using MediHerbs with children, so most often, Jason and I are the ones utilizing these. Similar to Standard Process, some of these products are available online, but again, I’d suggest meeting with a practitioner first.

Physica Energetics

Physica Energetics offers Spagyric (plant alchemy) botanical and hand potentized homeopathic tinctures. I won’t pretend to understand the various research and formulation methods they use, but I can share this:

Physica Energetics is a unique company offering a harmonic alchemical foundation of disciplines of physics, biology, astrophysics, chemistry, and mathematics, creating a product line to assist in removing obstacles to cure and emphasize healing. We’re proud of that, particularly as we enter this new era of health care with a dominant emphasis on bioenergetic, integrative, and preventative medicine.

Physica Energetics – About Us

I do know the tinctures work – and quickly! I’ll never forget the time H was feverish, ornery, and uncomfortable from an ear ache. I dripped a few drops of Inflamma-Tox into his ear and sublingually. Within fifteen minutes he was running around, yelling and playing with his sister, no complaints. We were like “Whoah!”

Physica Energetics products are only available from licensed/certified practitioners.

Miscellaneous

There are two other companies we’ve used the past couple years. The first is Healthy Families for God. I’ve followed Sara Poff for several years now and really appreciate how she digs into research. The information she shares is backed up by resources and/or taken from her nutrition experience. I also like her Biblical perspective when it comes to natural healing. She spends time personally sourcing the ingredients in their supplements to make sure they meet her high quality standards. Ordering is available online.

The other company is Young Living. I’m not a huge fan of MLM organizations overall. However, we’ve personally experienced quick, positive results with several of their essential oils and supplements. Ordering is available online and I appreciate the option to become a member without having to build a team and/or do marketing.

Earthley wellness

As the price of supplements continues to increase, I’ve been searching for less expensive alternatives that would still provide healthy, quality, natural remedies. I was introduced to Earthley Wellness by a friend over the summer and have been very pleased with everything we’ve tried so far.

Earthley was started by a mom, whose child suffered from allergies and health challenges. After disappointment from conventional suggestions and failed healing, she decided to do her own research. The result was a homemade diaper cream, which led to studying herbalism, creating tinctures for friends and family, and eventually opening this company in 2016. A story so familiar to our own!

They offer a wide variety of herbal tinctures for various ailments, many of which are made with vegetable glycerin (as opposed to alcohol). A huge plus! The vast majority of products contain, “NO added sugars, colors, flavors, preservatives, allergens (gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, fish) or other junk!” In addition, third party labs are used for testing.

Ordering can be done online, shipping has been quick, health improvements have been noticed, and the price point is much easier on the wallet! I really love how the products “simply” use God’s creation, often found in your own backyard. When grown and cared for carefully, the herbs, flowers, tree barks, and berries are filled with naturally occurring vitamins and nutrients.

As a reminder, it takes time and resources to build a natural medicine cabinet. I’ll be the first person to admit surprise over how many health hiccups we’ve overcome using naturally occurring ingredients. Of course there have been times conventional medicine was needed, and we’re thankful those options exist too.

If you’re trying to find a natural/holistic practitioner, check out the Institute for Functional Medicine and/or the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

What natural things do you have in your cabinet that you absolutely love? Share with us in the comments!