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Survival Prep Vitamins and Medications
October 16, 2011
Those of us who have planned or are planning to store up some extra items as preparations for an emergency or disaster, we should not overlook the value of storing extra vitamins and medications. Keeping vitamins and medications could become very relevant if the emergency scenario turns into a long-term situation.
Thinking, planning, and preparing for a long-term disaster may not be for everyone, but there are real risks and threats out there. Some are more real or likely than others, and it is your responsibility to think them through, keep your head out of the sand, and don’t assume that your government is going to be able to take care of you in such a situation.
For example, a killer pandemic is a very real possibility sometime in our future, a potentially disastrous situation whereby everyone is advised to stay indoors and away from others to avoid spreading the deadly virus. A genuine pandemic could last for months or much longer. It has happened before (Spanish Flu of 1918), and will surely happen again. Another example might be a electrical power grid-down scenario brought on by an X-10 (or greater) class solar flare, or perhaps by deliberate EMP. This is not too far from the realm of possibilities in the world we live in today.
Keep vitamins in your survival preps
Michael, a reader from Toronto suggests, “VITAMINS: Stocking up on multivitamins and vitamin C etc…… is a must. As life as we know it falls further into decline, you need to stay as healthy as possible. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: As hard as it may be (insurance firms etc………), try to stock up on as much medication as possible.”
This is great advice. If we have prepared for long term survival and have stocked enough food (and an assured water supply) to last for months or longer, we will be ‘set’ during disaster and will not have to depend upon or risk scavenging for supplies.
An important consideration during a long term disaster scenario is to stay healthy, so, why not at a minimum keep a supply of multivitamins. There are so many multivitamin varieties to pick from, and they are not expensive. Pick up a few ‘big’ bottles and add to your preps (stay aware of expiration dates).
Prescription drugs and pain relievers for your survival preps
Don’t forget about prescription drugs and pain relievers, especially prescription drugs if you are taking any, which should be part of your long-term preps. If you have regular prescriptions, particularly those that are absolutely essential for your well being, you should fill them regularly and try to build up extra while being aware of expiration dates.
You could ask your doctor to prescribe more for the purpose of having some extra on hand – I can’t imagine a reasonable doctor refusing that request – but I could imagine an Insurance company refusing it… which would mean you would have to pay out of your pocket, which may be a reasonable thing to do for this purpose.
Don’t forget about pain relievers. Aspirin is a miracle drug which reduces fever and relieves pain (do not give to children however). Advil (Ibuprofen), Tylenol (Acetaminophen), etc. (generics!)
Again, pain relievers are not expensive. Having a few large bottles on hand of your variety of choice will assure that they will be there if you (or others) need them.
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I would also suggest niacin. It has been proved to shorten the length (&, possibly, the virility of a virus). Am currently without any & suffering through a nasty sore throat/ear ache combo, morphing into a head cold. bah humbug
It is always a problem to know where to go & how to buy meds. There are ways, if you have a sympathetic physician, veterinarian, etc. Few & far between, however.
Glad to see vitamin supplements being covered. I am a long time vitamin taker. Not an expert on all vitamins and herbal extracts but I know what works for me. I agree, that vitamin C crystals are a necessity for home health care. I take 1,000 mg (1/4 tsp.) in my daily water bottle. I also take a 1,000 mg. slow release tablet daily. That is basic. If I feel a scratchy throat or aching in my bones I take more. (I work in the hospitality industry, so I’m exposed to germs all the time.) A conveniently packaged product that also has 1,000 mg. of C plus other nutrients is called Emergen C, I put several packets in each of my kids Go Bags, plus our Evac Bin.
Another important one is natural vitamin E (d-alpha), get a capsule that has mixed tocopherols: beta, delta, gamma. I take 400 IU daily, but often I take more in the evening because of leg cramps.
Epsom salts is good to have handy. Not the kind you bath in, the purer form that you get in the pharmacy area, labelled for internal use. It is recommended for constipation, but it works for eliminating facial tics, improving mood, and magnesium is required if you are taking calcium supplements.
I also always have broad spectrum digestive enzyme tablets on hand. Especially with my survival pantry consisting of lots of beans and rice. lol.
Oh, almost forgot! I am middle-aged and despite all my efforts was having a hard time coping with my busy life. (work, aging parents, teenagers) Started taking Coenzyme Q10. I figure I take quite a bit, 2x 100 mg capsules daily, but it definitely helps.
I also take daily 2 mega halibut liver oil capsules (vitamin A and D), B complex, extra B6, and holy smokes can’t believe I almost forgot my life saver, d-pantothenic acid, 1,000 mg, time release.
Could go on… Love your site. Bye.
Trace minerals are something to take outside a disaster because of the depleation of minerals in many foods everyone eats, and there is a generous supply of magnesium. Beta Carotene for Vitamin A as some of the animal sources of Vitamin A can be hard on the liver. Like Diana says, B complex is something that has more benefits that people could ever realize. Elderberry is wonderful for helping with colds and flu. Don’t forget cranberry pills as they would wonders for urinary infections.
Something else that many people don’t realize is that rather than taking the pill form of vitamins and swallowing them, you can get a quicker jolt of what you are taking by opening the capsule and putting the contents into juice or something, tastes awful though.
For those depending on some medications, store some extra or you probably won’t be able to get after this happens unless you are willing to break into someplace that has what you need.
Vitamin D! If you live in a Northern climate, or just don’t get enough sun (Most of us don’t get near enough), you need to be taking Vitamin D. I live in Northern Alberta and have had my levels monitored for the last 3 years. I have had to take 10000 IU daily for 3 months to get my level up and 5000 IU daily to maintain my levels.
I have had a oncologist tell me that being low in Vitamin D for 2 years increases your chance of colon cancer by 250% (My dad recently recovered from Colon and Liver cancer, his doctor told me the stat). I haven’t been significantly sick since I started taking Vitamin D. I believe I had the swine flu (not diagnosed), and was over symptoms in 22 hours. It was a bad 22 hours, but I was still functional.
I recommend “D Drops” brand, as it is a liquid and is easy to take. It can be mixed with any drink or orally. It tastes like nothing, just slightly oily.
If SHTF, your probably not going to be out suntanning, so I would recommend a few bottles per person be stored. Mine had a shelf life of over 3 years.
Store them and keep them cool. Don’t worry about exp. dates. I’m taking some 3 years out of date and they work just fine. The gov. inforces very consertive guidelines as far as exp. dates are concerned. (I have a friend that ownes a health food store.) If exposed to too much moisture you will know when you open the bottle and then you can throw it out. I’ve only had to do that once.
Ionic silver, ( The original antibiotic…) Yes, COQ10, but add the red rice yeast as complimentary completion. Slow release Vitamin C was mentioned you can also amp it up ( As it is not absorbed generally above 500 mg. the body spits it out. ) with the use of potassium ascorbic, the body recognized K bonds up to 2000 mg. of C. Just as calcium, dolomite, D’s, are taken on by the body better if you take E at the same time. ( Iron bonds better as well )
The hidden issue is that the “White Shoe Boys” using the FDA., EPA, and other government alphabets to stop production of vitamins and supplements developed and marketed post 1994. There is hoarding of the raw materials both to stop production and to raise prices. I used to get red rice yeast 500 caps @600 mg. for $5. Now after being pulled from the market and coming back with a 30 caps for $26-$38 price it is settled down to 120 caps for $12-$16. If you don’t know, this is the natural Statin-drops your cholesterol, cleans your arteries, and dissolve fatty deposits. Just got blood work 2 months apart, Keep up your iodine, kelp whatever, hypothyroidism is setting in everyone with the massive ongoing rise in Transuranic elements and their descendants. Read between the lines…
I’ll return when there is more time. The government is actively trying to stop the natural systems across the board. This is in the news again today. USDA Substance Evaluation ( CDER ) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. They are trying to make nutritionally sound supplements categorized as drugs and stop their marketing! One last one to add to your basic needs as you age is L-Glutathione. As always Survive-All… Awareness/Preparedness/Action…
FWIW…One way to get vitamin c is to make a tea out of pine needles…now I tried it about 7 months ago and it tasted like crud…but it was easy to do and didn’t cost me a dime…it did smell really good while I was letting the needles steep. Was reading a book about Ojibwa Indian medicine and saw they used pine needles and white pine bark for colds…
Yes, rarely do you hear more than rose hips in the wild for “C”. The fresh new growth needles are a great spring addition to the wilderness salad. As the needles mature there is less “C” and you loose the available fiber that new growth supplies. It is seasonal wisdom combined with preservation methods that will get you through a wilderness trek or bug out… Fresh growth is also quite tasty. Like legumes, there are enough types of ever-green out there for everyone to find a taste they like. The down fall is it’s a short harvest season in the early spring. One day at a time… Survive-All… One day at a time here/now…
That’s right take vitamin C for colds. If you take 1,000 mg of vitamin C your cold will only last 7 days, if you don’t it will last a week. No! No! I meant niacin, it kills viruses. No! Wait! I meant Vitamin D, That’s it vitamin D… No, No, it’s vitamin E stops your cold in 7 days flat AND prevents leg cramps. NO! NO! It’s Vitamin A! That’s it, vitamin A. Or is it cranberrys?? I get so confused. Maybe it’s Ionic silver, yeah, that sounds good, surely someone with a degree has recommended ionic silver. Or was it red yeast rice, damn! It’s one of those pill thingys. I’m sure an old Indian medicine man told me it was the bark of a tree or something. Wait! Wait! There are millions and millions of people who do not take vitamins and supplements and they are just as healthy and live just as long. Maybe all this hype about multi-vitamins and mega doses of vitamins and those crazy supplements are just quacks trying to separate us from our money. Maybe all we need to do is eat a varied diet, avoid fad diets and diets which exclude entire food groups and we will be just fine…
@ GWTW. I can tell you something that does work with the flu and colds and that is carrot juice. I have experimented with this with the flu and when I have been able to guzzle large amounts of carrot juice you can actually feel the flu leaving your body, IF you stomach can take it. I have personally seen people that have taken a lot of Vitamin A actually get a lot better with sicknesses. It would be manure stupid for me to say that CERTAIN foods and CERTAIN vitamins do not work to help fight viruses, because I have seen the results with my own two eyes.
It is really true that people over do it, as someone that worked for the sanitation department said you should see all the vitamins and pills that do not dissolve and end up in the toilet waters. However, there are people that have taken certain supplements and LIVED MUCH LONGER THAN SOME MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL GAVE THEM WITH SOME TERMINAL DISEASE. I have seen dozens of people that I have known over my lifetime get rid of urinary problems with cranberry. I cannot deny this proof, to do so would require putting blinders over my entire head.
I recommend foods IF you can get the right foods to eat because your body recognizes food more so than pills. This is why I recommend putting vitamins into a liquid form that is more easily assimilated. CERTAIN SUPPLEMENTS WORK, THERE IS SIMPLY NO DENIAL OF THIS. Vegetarians that do not take B 12 are in deep trouble, B 12 is a supplement given by what you would consider the medical profession. Also B shots are given by real doctors all the time.
@GWTW Sorry that vitamin supplementation is not your cup of tea. How about I resist making snide and disparaging remarks about guns and ammo, and you resist doing the same regarding vitamin supplementation? Deal?
I have taken vitamin and food supplementation all my life. My mother started reading Adelle Davis when I was a kid and I’ve drank more “tiger’s milk” than I care to think about. I’ve done a lot of reading from many sources all my grown-up life. I wouldn’t have stuck with extra vitamin supplementation if it didn’t work. I have a physical job and at 56 I expect to be working til I’m 70+, so I have to make sure this body can continue to beable to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, clean guest rooms, hang drapes, clean the chandeliers, take care of the plants, move furniture, etc. all with a smile on my face. At 5’11″ I am within my proper weight range at 155 lbs. I do not have any blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol issues. I recovered from a severe knee injury with the help of mineral and vitamin supplementation. I still have all my teeth (CoQ10) and I can chop wood with the best of them. (ok, maybe not the BEST of them.) I have more stamina than most of the 20-year-olds at work. Sure, my age is showing, I use reading glasses (but only indoors), my memory could be better, and I dye my hair. C’est la vie.
@ GWTW, Well, I guess if you live in a concrete Jungle you don’t have reason to learn from information that is put forth with regard to survival in the wild… A short look at body metabolism and chemistry would be a great precursor to a formed opinion put forth dismissing supplementation. It has been mainstream for decades that we are each as different as snow flakes having unique nutritional needs. With the potential food costs and lack of variety looming over us, it may be time to study things like the origins of the reference to something like oh, say, “Limey’s”. That knowledge of sources in the wild to complement a full circle diet 101 should be something to learn and incorporate into a system of “Survivalism”. If you hate broccoli it may be that we need to read with a skeptics view the validity of posts that tend to not forward Modern Survival wisdom. ( Yes, that was a reference to G.H.W.Bush ) Proclaimed confusion excuses are of no use to any of the persons looking to learn. Time wasting, space taking, using a lack of correct knowledge IS a hallmark of a disinformationist. Very least, it is uninformed discourse thus useless to anyone, put forth by someone who is in need of attention. You might try St. John’s Wart, camomile, valerian, ( Historically a survival root the Ute and other western 1st Nations used in the dead of winter when hunting and trapping was cut off by nature. ) Rattle snake venom isn’t poison to ingest though I don’t recommend using it beyond the available homeopathic forms. This is a science that may tax a mindset that doesn’t see the existence of life as energy. Not gonna teach here research it yourself. Then get in some Gain- Game- “Nash Equilibrium”, “Chaos”, “String Theory”, and “Quantum Mechanics”. Maybe you should start with the “String Theory” as you may find Transcendence befall you… Likely the lack of awareness put forth above does not allow the intuit to recognize a prayer when it comes your way… And it’s “Red Rice Yeast”, not red yeast rice. Quite an interesting use of red rice which is a wild plant that rice growers try to stop from cross pollinating. A subject worth researching and gleaning wisdom regarding survival, GMO’s, “Big Pharm.”, Multi-National Corporate Farming and “Their” Globalist agenda. Oh, and the use of Fungi Perfecti, Foti, Silver, ( which for some reason is in water purification filter systems, Hum?, Silver nitrite a purifier? ) and add some valerian as it has been clinically proven as the only know catalyst to actually re-grow nerve tissue. Maybe some balance and centered life experience will blossom and that nasty haze of confusion will lift… Survive-All… Otter Walks on Two Feet, 1st Nation Iroquois, Member Mohawk Long House Medicine Society. P.S. Thank you all for your prayers for Russell Means, Space Ship Earth, Mind over Matter works. Death is but a change of clothes. I have been pronounced dead in 55, 68, 69, 08, and keep coming back having seen more work. Recent diagnosis of lung cancer now nonexistent has perplexed the AMA once again… Blessings and Peaceful long life to All…
@Otter. You said it! Whatever works best for your body and heals you and makes you feel good so you don’t have to suffer through very, very, very expensive medications that have so many side effects to them. If someone eats more brocolli and carrots than any rabbit or groundhog could ever eat and it keeps them healthy, then that is what works for them then do it. There are of course people out there that will tell you that they have smoked all their lives and they are in their 80′s or 90′s and will dismiss any health issues as bunk because of their own experiences. Well, prehaps if they had lived a healthy life style they might have lived past 120 years and broken the all time record. There are people that have lived all their lives healthy and dropped dead at 50, but if they hadn’t they might have never reached 25.
It is good to see that you healed yourself, whatever you are doing is right for you. Don’t stop. Hope you continue to have good news with your health. You add much to this site.