I've used the master tonic for keeping me well when everyone else had the flu.

I've also used it for major congestion due to vog. The horseradish and wasabi really clears ur head

Vinegar. Garlic ginger horseradish(i also added wasabi) and chili pepper. 

Ill look for a link.

Here's one
http://www.happy-mothering.com/04/household/recipes/natural-remedies-master-tonic-recipe/

http://recipestonourish.blogspot.com/2011/10/master-tonic.html?m=1

It'll take your breath away.

"You can make a huge batch each time since it doesn’t need refrigeration and it will indefinitely without any special storage conditions."

No kidding. What microbe is going to survive in that stuff?!

Chili Pepper water does much the same thing, by the way. Not quite as full spectrum but its the same principle. A couple months ago when everyone had a bad cold going around I'd get through work by sipping a bottle of home brew chili pepper water. Lots of onion and garlic in it along with the peppers. Helped clear the fog enough to function and made the cold move through more quickly.

You can even take raw garlic like pills. It works better and more quickly if it is freshly crushed, though. My first line of treatment for any potential lung problem is fresh garlic bread. And I mean fresh: butter on toast with fresh garlic crushed onto it and spread like butter. Pretty strong stuff but it kills ANYTHING that is trying to get a foothold in your throat.

Sounds yummy. 

I have a lot of items on hand, also have my very own "A Bag"...being in the Army medical field comes in handy sometimes. I also have some smaller IFAK that I keep around just in case.

Regarding your hiking kit, I would suggest some kind of small splint material.

Good to put some herbal stuff in there, those tend not to have an expiration date. Do keep some Acetaminophen (and rotate it) also. If you can get ahold a IV line, that would be great since you can (in an emergency) use coconut milk for fluid if someone is critically dehydrated. Here in Hawaii, extremely important to be able to make your fresh water safe for drinking since Lepto is prevalent in fresh water sources

Just some of my ideas for you to ponder...

do you have a list of what you keep in your "a bag" and ifaks?
it's always good to see what the pros use

I have a lot of items on hand, also have my very own "A Bag"...being in the Army medical field comes in handy sometimes. I also have some smaller IFAK that I keep around just in case.

Regarding your hiking kit, I would suggest some kind of small splint material.

Good to put some herbal stuff in there, those tend not to have an expiration date. Do keep some Acetaminophen (and rotate it) also. If you can get ahold a IV line, that would be great since you can (in an emergency) use coconut milk for fluid if someone is critically dehydrated. Here in Hawaii, extremely important to be able to make your fresh water safe for drinking since Lepto is prevalent in fresh water sources

Just some of my ideas for you to ponder...

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Tumeric is great to have around. A good for anything medicine.
Nioi is another good one like someone mentioned.
Garlic. Ginger.  Honey is good too.

I wouldn't suggest mixing the alcohol with water, it won't completely mix, and I'm not sure if the water will affect the tincture.

There are also a lot of native plants and methods you could use, if you have the proper training.

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Interesting. Thanks for the explanation. I'll have to bring it up to my Kumu next week.

+1 for www.mountainroseherbs.com

+1 on the 50:50 ratio as well. That's what I use for the same reason.

We have quite a few different bags that can be carried...below is a list of basic items that is contained in our Combat Lifesaver bag (CLS)

What are the components of the MES 2005 CLS Bag (NSN 6545-01-532-3674) ?
NSN    Nomenclature    U/I    Qty
6545-01-537-0686    BAG,TC3,COMBAT CASUALTY CARE    EA    1
6505-00-926-9083    ATROPINE INJECTION AQUEOUS TYPE 0.7ML SYRINGE WITH NEEDLE    EA    5
6505-01-274-0951    DIAZEPAM INJECTION USP 5MG/ML 2ML SYRINGE-NEEDLE UNIT AUTO INJ    EA    5
6515-01-519-5778    ADAPTER CATHETER TO LUER SYRINGE SHORT LOCKING 5S    PG    2 ea
6510-00-926-8884    ADHESIVE TAPE SURGICAL POROUS WOVEN 3 INCHES BY 10 YARDS 4S    PG    1 roll
6515-01-233-1917    AIRWAY NASOPHARYNGEAL 9MM ID 12MM OD KINK RES SMOOTH RD EDGES10S    PG    1 ea
6510-00-201-1755    BANDAGE MUSLIN COMPRESSED OLIVE DRAB37X37X52" TRIANG W/SFTY PINS    EA    3
6510-00-935-5823    BANDAGE ELASTIC FLESH ROLLED NONSTERILE 6"X 4.5 YDS 12S    PG    1 ea
6510-01-503-2117    BANDAGE GAUZE COTTON 6 PLY WHITE 4.5" WIDE 4.1 YDS LONG    RO    2 rolls
6510-01-492-2275    BANDAGE KIT ELASTIC    EA    2
6510-00-597-7469    BANDAGE ADH.75X3" FLESH/CLEAR STER DRESS AFFIXED TO PLAS ADH100S    PG    5 ea
6515-01-484-1327    CATHETER IV INTROCAN SAFETY 18GAX1-1/4"LG WINGED NDL TEFLON 200S    PG    4 ea
6515-01-153-5373    CATHETER-NDL UNIT IV 14GAX3.25" LUER HUB AND NDL GUARD RADPQ 50S    PG    1 ea
6510-00-201-7425    DRESSING FIRST AID FIELD CAMOUFLAGED 11.5-12"W 11.5-12"LG ABS    EA    1 ea
6510-01-519-8421    DRESSING OCCLUSIVE ADHESIVE CLEAR 4.75X4" 5S    PG    2 ea
6515-01-491-5719    GLOVE PATIENT EXAMINING & TREATMENT SZ 10LG PURPLE 4.3MIL 100S    PG    4 ea
6505-01-498-8636    HETASTARCH IN LACTATED ELECTROLYTE INJECTION, 500ML    PG    2 ea
6515-01-452-3445    ADMINISTRATION SET INFUSION PUMP VENTED/UNVENTED    PG    1 ea
6505-00-111-7829    LUBRICANT SURGICAL 5 GRAM 144S    PG    1 ea
6505-01-197-8809    ORAL REHYDRATION SALTS USP 27.9GM FOIL PACKET 125 PER PACKAGE    PG    2 ea
6510-00-786-3736    PAD ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL IMPREGNATED NONWVN COTTON/RAYON WHITE 200S    PG    6 ea
6510-01-010-0307    PAD POVIDONE-IODINE IMPRE STER COTTON/RAYON 2X1.375" BROWN 100S    PG    6 ea
6515-00-935-7138    SCISSORS BANDAGE 7.25" LG ANG TO HDL 1.50" CUT LG BLUNT PTS CRS    EA    1 ea
6515-01-494-1951    SPLINT UNIVERSAL ALUM 36"O/A LG 4.25"W GRAY & OLIVE DRAB REUSE    EA    1 ea
6515-01-519-5872    SYRINGE AND NEEDLE HYPODERMIC SAFETY 3ML 23GA STER DISP 25S    PG    1 EA
6515-01-146-7794    TOURNIQUET NONPNEUMATIC ADULT 14X1" BLD TAKING DSGN RUBBER O/A    EA    1 ea
6515-01-521-7976    TOURNIQUET COMBAT APPLICATION ONE-HANDED    EA    1 ea
6515-01-519-6764    TUBE DRAINAGE SURGICAL PENROSE 1"X18" RUBBER RADIOPAGUE STER 6S    PG    1 EA

The basic contents of the Army's IFAK are listed below:

US ARMY IFAK CONTENTS:
NSN    Nomenclature
6515-01-521-7976    Tourniquet, Combat Application
6510-01-492-2275    Bandage Kit, Elastic
6510-01-503-2117 / 6510-00-058-3047    Bandage Gauze 4-1/2" 100/Pkg
6510-00-926-8883    Adhesive Tape Surg 2" 6's Roll
6515-01-180-0467    Airway, Nasopharyngeal, 28fr, 12s
6515-01-519-9161    Glove, Patient Exam 100/Pkg (4ea)
6545-01-531-3647    Pouch, IFAK
6545-01-531-3147    Insert, IFAK (has folding panels, with cord attached)

There are MILLIONS of options regarding what goes in your "standard" A bag (here is a generic list that has been known to be in mine before):
• MOLLE or “M82” Aid Bag containing:
o Stethoscope
o Sphygmamometer with Case
o Field Dressings ( 8 )
o Cravats (12)
o Israeli Dressings (4)
o Tourniquets (2)
o 1000cc NaCl (2)
o 4x4 Gauze (20)
o 2x2 Gauze (20)
o Bandaid (15)
o Kerlix (6)
o Chest Seal (2)
o Water Seal (3)
o J-Tube (4) (OP airway)
o Nasopharyngeal (3)
o IV Starter Kits (4)
o 14g Needle (8 )
o Scapel 10 Blade (2)
o Scapel 12 Blade (2)
o Latex Gloves (10 pr)
o Pen Light (2)
o VS-17 Panel.
o Chemlite (4)
o Foot Powder (4)
o 4” Tape (2)
o 2” Tape (2)
o 9-Line Medevac Card (1)
o Scissors (2)
o Restricting Band (2) (for starting IV's)
o Oral Thermometer (1)
o Anal Thermometer (1)
o Surgilube (8 indiv packs)
o Sharps Container (1)
o Pocket Mask (1)
o Acetomenophin (1)
o Aspirin (1 bottle)
o Lopermide (1 bottle) (antidiarrheal/Immodium (tm))
o Zithromax (3 pack) (Antibiotic)
o Ibuprophin (1 bottle) (NSAID)
o Naproxne (1/2 bottle) (NSAID)
o Psuedophedrine (1/2 bottle) (decongestant)
o Medical quick reference books.

Hope it helps...

Thanks for the list.  Great starting point.  I should expand my kit

The master instructor that certified me to teach CPR/First Aid told the class that the combat guys he's talked to or gone through training with say there are three basic things to put in an improvised kit.

1) Tampons - sterile and perfect for stuffing in punctures or gsw's

2) Superglue - can be used for sealing wounds and will also kill bacteria and prevent infection

3) Duct tape - need I say more

Later this year I'll be going back to get my Wilderness First Aid/First Responder trainer credentials.

As to herbal remedies +1 to honey.  Our vet had us use that on our dogs wound since it was so large and deep.  The honey when used as a poultice with a bandage helps to prevent infection. 

Who you taking the wilderness first aid with? It's a great course. I took mines with nowls or something like that. It expands a lot on the basic first aid and teaches past the abcs of first aid. Also got a handy little plastic card reference thing I now carry with me.

Nols?
http://www.nols.edu/courses/find/byskill/wildernessmedicine.shtml

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1) I hear a lot of slack on using tampons. I understand the ups and downs, but I always carried one with me in afghanistan for GSW.

I second superglue and duct tape as well.

Quick clot...need I say more?

I thought the same until I learned that the water is necessary to distill water based compounds which alcohol cannot. I verified this with a chemist who said that using only alcohol as a base would extract only alcohol molecules, and certain water based molecules, which also play a role in the tinctures effect, would be lost.

As stated, you would need to adjust the ratio depending on certain herbs, as some are more alcohol based, while others are more water based. But for a general ratio, 50/50 is the basic guideline amongst herbalists and chemists alike.

It is not that any of the herbs or botanicals are "alcohol based" or "water based" but rather that specific desirable compound within the botanicals is water or alcohol soluble. Meaning the substance can be dissolved in that solvent (alcohol, water, benzene, etc.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solubility

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