Peek Inside My Medicine Cabinet: A Naturopathic Doctor and Mom Opens Up

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2017 and lightly refreshed in 2026 with current practice contact information. Some product recommendations reflect the clinical landscape at time of writing.

My name is Dr. Coleen Murphy, ND, LAc. I am a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist practicing in San Juan Capistrano, California, and a mom of two boys.

Since everyone asks me what I do personally to keep my family healthy, I put together this page to share some of the natural remedies I use for my family’s health maintenance and acute needs.

What follows is a walkthrough of my home medicine cabinet, the supplements, herbal tinctures, probiotics, homeopathics, and nutra-ceuticals I actually reach for as a working mom and clinician.

Important safety note: This information is not intended as medical advice. Do not start or stop any medication without the advice of your health care provider, ideally a naturopathic doctor trained in natural therapeutics.

Homeopathic Preparations

Homemade Formulas for Earaches and Croup

Let me start with the homeopathic formulas I’ve made for two dreaded but common childhood illnesses: earaches and the barking cough known as croup.

Many people are skeptical about homeopathy, and the mechanism of action can be hard to get your head around. One thing is for sure: if you see how one dose can shut down an awful 3am cough or throbbing earache in an infant, you will believe.

Hyland’s Aconite-Based Formula

This product contains, among other homeopathics, aconitum, the homeopathic preparation of aconite (Wolf’s Bane plant).

Editor’s note (2026): Hyland’s faced FDA scrutiny in 2017 over their belladonna-containing teething tablets, which they voluntarily discontinued. Their other homeopathic products remain available. Homeopathy continues to grow as a category worldwide, with an estimated $400+ million annual market in the U.S. alone.

Immune Support

Chinese Adrenal Tonic (Yin-Supporting Formula)

As an acupuncturist, I love working with Chinese herbs. This is one of my favorite formulas, an adrenal tonic that supports yin deficiency.

Have you ever had night sweats after a bad bout of the flu? This is when you take this formula. It restores yin and strengthens the adrenal glands to stop night sweats.

Red Marine Algae, An Anti-Viral Powerhouse

Don’t you hate when you go to the doctor and they give you antibiotics for a viral infection? Here is a real anti-viral that boosts the immune system through powerful marine polysaccharides.

Red Marine Algae (RMA) is essentially seaweed and can stop a cold sore (HSV-1) infection in its tracks, far superior to acyclovir in my clinical experience. Look for Gigartina and Rhodophyta species. RMA deserves a place in every medicine cabinet for its anti-viral properties.

You can even use it prophylactically to prevent a cold sore breakout on a big day.

Olive Leaf Extract

Continuing with the anti-viral theme: olive leaf is the first herb mentioned in the Bible. Ezekiel 47:12 speaks of a tree, “The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”

Scientists have identified elenolic acid as the active ingredient in olive leaf. It interferes with critical amino acid production essential for viral survival. Olive leaf extract has been shown to be effective against herpes, flu and colds, bacterial infections, and more.

Children’s Immune Booster in Glycerine

How do you keep your child from bringing home every illness from daycare?

As an herbalist, I look for easy ways to get active ingredients into the body. Herbal medicine takes time to build up and reach a critical, active dose.

Glycerine herbal formulations for kids are increasingly standard. If you have an alcohol tincture on hand, you can boil off the alcohol by maintaining a temperature of 150°F for about an hour. Don’t heat an alcohol-based tincture beyond 140–150°F.

Digestive Health

Probiotics, Both Refrigerated and Shelf-Stable

Probiotics are absolutely mandatory. I keep both freeze-dried and refrigerated probiotics on hand and try to buy a few different brands to increase diversity.

Kids hate taking pills, so I add probiotic powder to their smoothies. Probiotics keep evolving too, we’re now seeing next-generation products in packaged foods and beverages.

Roberts’ Formula, A Natural Remedy for UC, Crohn’s, IBD, and Gastric Ulcers

Roberts’ Formula is a traditional naturopathic remedy with a long history of use for gastric ulcers and digestive disorders. It’s a Western herbal preparation that blends multiple herbs for synergistic effect.

The formula is named after Captain Frank Roberts who, after a life at sea, became a distinguished UK West Country naturopathic practitioner with a special interest in ulcers and gallstones.

The formula has been around a very long time, but the first known documentation of its constituents was published in 1957 in The Encyclopedia of Digestive Disorders (Thorsons).

Supplements and Nutrients

Looking at the supplement shelf: most of these products are immune boosters. I’m a naturopathic doctor, so I have to walk the walk on prevention by enhancing the immune system.

These products either directly enhance immune function or treat symptoms while respecting the body’s innate healing ability. Elderberry syrup is a popular immune booster and easy for kids to take. Echinacea is a classic. Olive leaf extract is my go-to when an anti-viral is needed. And Vitamin C, which I now see I have four separate formulations of.

Liposomal Vitamins, Rapid Absorption

Liposomal formulations promise increased absorption. The liquid is easy for everyone to take, no bulky pills to swallow, but the real reason to take these is the speed with which the vitamins get into your bloodstream.

See my blog post on liposomal vitamins for more info.

Omega-3, 6, 9 Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-3, 6, 9 essential fatty acids are another must for a healthy family’s supplementation regimen. I write a lot about omegas and there’s good info in this blog post about EFAs and the best sources for supplementation.

Turmeric Extract, If You Could Only Pick One

Every product in my medicine cabinet has a purpose, but if you could choose only one to take every day, this might be it: turmeric.

You’ll find a direct correlation between turmeric intake and cognitive ability later in life. Overall, this product is an anti-inflammatory, and at the root of all chronic disease, you’ll find inflammation. So if you were only going to take one product, this may be it. Omega-3s and probiotics would be close runners-up.

Pain and Symptom Relief

Wise Woman Herbals Boo Boo Spray

Doctoring is often about bedside manner. The herbs in this spray provide a mild anti-inflammatory and cooling effect, but it’s really just a great distraction for a crying child with a bug bite or small scrape.

Ibuprofen, Yes, Even a Naturopath Keeps It on Hand

Naturopathic doctors have preached forever about the danger of suppressing the body’s very natural response to disease and pain. All over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers have side effects, notably the impact on liver function. I avoid unnecessary usage at home.

However, sometimes it is necessary, usually when a child has a fever heading for or over 103°F, or for pain preventing a good night’s sleep.

Once you’ve decided a fever reducer is necessary, I find ibuprofen has a less concerning side effect profile compared to acetaminophen, so I usually go with that. I’ve found brands without artificial colors, but some inactive ingredients (HFCS, Poly-Sorbate 80) still give me pause. If your child can safely ingest a tablet crushed into applesauce, that route avoids the liquid formulation.

Order Through My Fullscript Dispensary

Where do I get all this? For years I ordered from Natural Partners, which has since become Fullscript, the leading practitioner-grade supplement dispensary in North America.

The Big Picture

Luckily, we have the ability to supplement daily with natural products that have stood the test of time and science. With respect for the body’s innate healing mechanisms, and the wisdom encoded in nature through herbal medicine, families everywhere are updating their concept of the medicine cabinet away from pharmaceutical interventions and toward natural prevention strategies.

If you’d like guidance on stocking your own home dispensary, or want to schedule a consultation, please get in touch.

In health,
Dr. Coleen Murphy, ND, LAc

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to diagnose or treat a medical condition. Please consult your healthcare provider, preferably a Naturopathic Doctor, before starting or stopping any herbal medicine or supplementation regimen. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Where homeopathy is discussed, any claims represent traditional homeopathic practice and are not FDA evaluated or considered accepted medical evidence.