What to Put Into Your Medicine Cabinet
There are now more than 300,000 over-the-counter medicines:
which ones do you really need? Think about what should be in the medicine cabinet
and what shouldn't, what first aid products you should have, and how to organize
your home remedies so they're available when-and where-you need them.
In general, think of products
as those used daily, those used occasionally, and emergency products.
Products used daily include:
Daily medicines,
Vitamins and supplements.
And of course, toothpaste & dental floss
Products used occasionally-may be used more frequently in winter, especially
during the holidays:
These include headache, pain, and fever medicines and
cough/cold/or flu symptom products. Sometimes its tough to tell, but they are
all made from combinations of up to 5 ingredients: decongestant, cough suppressant,
expectorant, anti-histamine, and fever/pain reducers. It's also handy to have
a cream for itchy skin reactions as well as products for all the usual stomach
or bowel problems.
An emergency first aid kit should be kept at home and in the
car.
Add something for minor burns, an antibiotic cream for
minor cuts, and an antihistamine for unexpected allergic reactions.
Created: 12/30/2003  - Donnica Moore, M.D.