Zero Waste in Medicine? 5 Recipes for Natural Home Remedies

Zero waste in medicine? That doesn't sound right at first, because of course it is extremely important in the medical field to keep everything as sterile as possible. Certain medications therefore require packaging, and bandages or plasters can also be indispensable in cases of doubt. In contrast to many other areas, packaging is often actually useful in the medical field.

But there is still room for improvement here too. Tablets, for example, do not necessarily have to be packed in individual blisters. In the USA, they are already often dispensed in glass containers and do not need to be individually wrapped in plastic. 

Another example is the handout of Crutches. If you get crutches from the hospital after breaking your leg, they usually belong to you afterwards - even if you don't need them any more and probably never will again. So that they don't gather dust and get thrown away at some point, it's worth offering them to a local nursing home or giving them away on eBay.

But paying attention to less waste in medicine can also mean helping yourself as much as possible. For minor ailments that don't require medical treatment, it can often help to use the healing power of nature and see which home remedies you can make yourself. We have put together our favorite DIY recipes. The best thing is that they come without any packaging.

Of course, these never replace medical advice. In each case, the medical treatment required should be individually assessed.

1. Thyme syrup for cough

Thyme is considered a traditional home remedy for colds and has anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antibacterial effects.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of fresh thyme (approx. 50 g)
1 organic lemon
250 ml of water
250 ml honey or vegan alternative

Preparation:  

1. Wash and dry the thyme thoroughly. Simmer in a pan with 250 milliliters of water for 20 to 30 minutes.  

1. Then let the broth cool down.  

1. Strain through a sieve or cloth to remove any remaining herbs.  

1. Squeeze the lemon and process the juice, together with the honey and the thyme stock, in a blender or with a mixer until it becomes a homogeneous mass.  

1. Stored in a sterile jar in the refrigerator, cough syrup will last for at least three weeks.  

2. Lavender tincture for migraines and sleep problems

What is needed?  

• 100 ml of high-quality vegetable oil (sunflower, rapeseed, olive)  
• 10-12 g beeswax (can be purchased at the pharmacy or from your local beekeeper)  
• 10-15 g dried chili, alternatively 25-30 g fresh chili peppers  
• 10-15 drops of essential oil with pain-relieving and circulation-stimulating effects, for example thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus, mountain pine
  muslin diaper, tea towel or coffee filter  
• screw-top jar  

• Pot and melting bowl or something similar for a water bath  
• Small ointment jars for storage
   

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a pan and add the chopped chili peppers. Simmer on low heat for 45 minutes.

Then heat the chili oil together with the wax in a water bath and stir with a wooden stick until everything has melted into a homogeneous mass.

Put a few drops on a plate, let it cool down and check whether the right consistency has been achieved. If the ointment is too thick, you can dilute it with a little oil; if it is too runny, you can add a little more wax.

Then pour the finished ointment into a disinfected container and allow it to cool. When it cools, add about 10-15 drops of essential oils and stir carefully.

4. Ribwort plantain ointment

Ribwort plantain also has wonderful anti-inflammatory effects and even kills bacteria.
Therefore, it can not only be processed into cough syrup, but is also ideal for making an ointment against mosquito bites and itching.

Ingredients:

1 handful of ribwort plantain leaves (usually very easy to pick yourself)
100 ml vegetable oil, e.g. olive or sunflower oil
12 g beeswax

Preparation:

Cut the ribwort plantain into small pieces. Put the chopped leaves into a screw-top jar and fill with oil until the leaves are covered.

Now it's time to be patient: the sealed jar should be left to steep at room temperature for a good two weeks. It should be shaken well once a day. Alternatively, you can leave the chopped leaves and the oil to steep in a water bath at a low heat for 30 minutes.

Then filter the oil through a sieve or cotton cloth. Heat the filtered oil with the beeswax in a water bath and then pour the mixture into the screw-top jar and leave it to cool with the lid open.

5. Dandelion root tea

The yellow dandelion is a very resilient plant and spreads very quickly. Gardeners often see it as a weed - but its uses are so varied!

The young leaves of the dandelion are wonderful in salads or as a tea. The flowers also make a pretty, edible decoration for all kinds of dishes. But it is the root that makes the dandelion a medicinal plant: it promotes digestion, is said to stimulate the flow of bile and liver activity, has a diuretic effect and helps against flatulence and heartburn. A tea made from the dandelion root is therefore a versatile miracle cure.

Simply boil one to two teaspoons of chopped dandelion root with 250ml of water, let it steep for 10 minutes and enjoy!