© 1998 by Mary Lou Seymour and Claire Wolfe. This is a work in progress. You may download it for your own use, but it is not yet for circulation. We welcome any comments, corrections or additions you care to offer.

Medical care in a "gulch" usually has two effects on would be gulchers...either they don't take it seriously at all, or, they're scared off the whole idea of gulching by the idea .

Those who have never been sick (except for a cold) or have never had to care for a sick person often fall into group one. "Never been sick a day in my life" "I come from strong stock" "Its all a state of mind" . These folks tend to be under 50:-) Those in group two...often have had serious illness themselves or the "host of ills the flesh is heir to" (especially after age 50), and have seen first hand how quickly dependent even the strongest of us can become on modern medical treatment. And then there are those of us who are just "turned off" by the whole icky subject of medical care.

This is not going to be a comprehensive discussion of every medical emergency conceivable, and we're not going to pretend that "home remedies" and bootstrap field medicine can take the place of all the miracles of modern medicine...from heart surgery to hypertension medicine...cause it can't. But if you're serious about gulching...even if you believe you'll still be able to "get into town" for modern medicine if needed...you'll still need to know some basics on health care, and, hopefully, have someone in your gulch with some EMT training, if not a doctor or a nurse.

*Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson Paperback (June 1983) Hesperian Foundation; ISBN: 0942364058

*The American Medical Association Handbook of First Aid & Emergency Care by Stanley M. Zydio, James A. Hill Paperback - 332 pages Revised edition (September 1990) Random House (P); ISBN: 0679729593

And, dont forget the "Doctor's Bible": the Merck Manual gives signs and symptoms for every disease imaginable...you have to learn to read Merck with composure, though, or Merck can lead you to think that every symtom your patient has is the sign of some dread disease. But its good to know a few basics...like which side the appendix is on vs the gallbladder.

And, the classic on herbal medicine:

Back to Eden : The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine Natural Foods and Home Since 1939 by Jethro Kloss, Promise K. Moffet Paperback Revised edition (December 1989) Lotus Light Publications; ISBN: 0940985101

Order from the publisher, your local bookstore, or order online from the Self Reliance Bookstore for these and others.

Medicine & Supplies:
Every gulcher needs to bring with them a supply of any prescription meds, and a notion of how they're going to replenish them when they run out, or what they're going to substitute if replenishment isn't available. Each gulcher also needs to provide a basic first aid kit (Outdoor Research has some nice ones) for themself and their family, and, a supply of the following very basic medical materials. (Note: you can purchase "carry along" First Aid kits in most department stores...the main benefit is the EZ carry box. The supplies can be restocked cheaply.)

BASICS (A years supply for one person)

Alcohol (4 bottles minimum)
Hydrogen Peroxide (4 bottles)
Antiobiotic cream (bactroban or polysporin) (2-3 tubes)
"Anti-itch" cream (2-3 tubes)
Calamine Lotion
tincture of iodine
Packaged "towelettes"
Bandages: (all sizes, at least one box each size)
Adhesive tape (2 rolls, the non "ouch" kind if possible)
Gauze bandages (several sizes)
Ace bandages (several sizes, 2", 3" minimum)
Super Glue (for "instant stitches"..)
Vitamin E Oil or capsules (speeds healing)
Aloe Vera gel (burns)
Blister "donut holes"
Corn Pads
Scissors (get good, sharp scissors!)
Shears (again, good ones...don't skimp here)
Tweezers (yep, good ones)
Thermometer
A box of "Kotex" or other sanitary napkins Maxi Size (excellent for staunching bleeding)
Box of Epsom Salts
Hot water bottle
Ice pack (the ones you keep in your freezer)

Non Presciption Meds: (tylenol, advil, cold meds, benadryl, antacids, anti-diarrheal (immodium-ad), citrate magnesium laxative/purge, laxative tablets such as Ducolax.
(Minimum of 500 tablets Tylenol & Advil, more if you take regularly.)

Note: to figure a "years supply", figure how much of each non prescription med you currently take per month, and multiply by 24...not 12.)

Each group of 4 people should also bring:

Cheap suture set: 1 pk suture Nylon
1 pk suture Gut Disposable: hemostats, needle holder, forceps.
Stethascope, Blood pressure cuff, surgical kit (with sterile scalpel, hemostats, small
scissors, and suture (i.e. nylon or prolene 3.0 and 5.0 ),

All should be encouraged to stock up NOW (while available) on presciption meds such as

Antibiotics--
Keflex 500 mg. 3x/ day for respiratory or skin infections.
Bactrim DS one twice a day for respiratory or urine infection (sulfa drug which stores well).
Penicillin (Amoxocyllin)

Also lidocaine 2% without epinephrine with syringe (10 cc) and needle (23 or 25 guage)for numbing skin prior to sutures.

Also, consider sterile gloves, and an epinephrine pen for anaphylactic shock (bee stings, ant bites, or general shock).

Pain Meds: Darvocet, Tylenol III with codeine

Hormones: estrogen, progesterone, birth control pills

Easiest/cheapest antiseptic is saltwater.

dental maintenance items
toothpaste (years supply)
dental floss
toothbrushes (minimum 4)
proxi-brushes (those little brushes that you run between your teeth)
(we recommend you become obsessive about teeth cleaning...)

HERBAL REMEDIES

A few herbal remedies to Stock up on :
Natural antibiotics: Golden Seal, Garlic
Hormones: Dong Quai, Black Cohosh, Sarsparilla
Heart/hypertension (regulates) Hawthorne, Garlic
Other: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B complex (B-12 and B-6), Calcium, Multi Vitamin, Melatonin, DHEA

http://www.wic.net/waltzark/herbcomb.htm Healing herbs are often used in combinations when combatting an illness. Herbs are combined to give the benefits needed from each, some to give a boost to others, some to boost the body with healing energies. This site gives some of the more popular herbal combinations.

GO TO HERBAL REMEDIES for a discussion on how to grow, preserve, and use herbal remedies

ACUPRESSURE

* Guide to AcupressureAcupressure and acupuncture have been used in the Far East for thousands of years to treat disease, but this poorly understood science has only gained wider acceptance in the West in recent times. Chinese medicine emphasizes personal responsibility for one's health, unlike much of Western medicine. This page is designed to put the relief of common and usually minor discomforts and symptoms into your own hands. Includes instructions and a "map" of all the pressure points.

ALTERNATE ANTIBIOTICS

An amazing number of folks are currently using veternarian antibiotics (for animals) on...themselves. Vet antibiotics are much more inexpensive, and, are supposedly the exact same as "human" medicines. You "dose" by weight.

http://www.apohealth.com/ APO HEALTH an amazing assortment of vet/med/dental supplies, including antibiotics (vet)(example: amoxycillin 250 mg caps, 500 for $12.75) PS For allergic reactions, one of the best and cheapest things to have is Benadryl. The generic diphenhydramine is just fine. This is a good multi-use medication. It treats allergic reactions as well as regular nasal allergies. It also reduces nausea, motion sickness and can be used as a sleeping pill. As always, be sure to ask if someone is allergic to medications. Yes, you can be allergic to allergy meds!

RETURN TO GULCH INDEX

CARE TO HELP "BUILD THE GULCH"? ONWARDS TO HELP US BUILD THE NEXT SECTIONS:(Several of these sections are "half built", some need a lot of work, all have comments, questions and links to get you thinking!

ONWARDS TO:
II. Buying & developing a Gulch property

III. Housing

IV. Transportation

V. Energy

VI. Living,

Part II: Jobs and services

Part III: Money and barter

VII.Security

VII. Communications: Within the Gulch and with the outside

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