Homeopathic Remedy Storage Ideas: Pros and Cons of 8 Popular Options

If your homeopathic remedy collection has grown beyond a handful of tubes, at some point you have probably asked the same question I did: Where on earth am I supposed to put all of these? It usually starts innocently enough. A few tubes in a bathroom drawer or a small bag. Then the collection grows. Before long, you have remedies in three different drawers, a Ziploc bag in a closet, another bag packed for travel, and a handful of tubes that seem to permanently live at the bottom of your purse.

For years, I searched for a homeopathic remedy storage system that was practical, organized, easy to access and, if I am being picky, not ugly. There are actually quite a few ways people store homeopathic remedies. Some are wonderfully inexpensive. Some are clever products that were designed for completely different purposes and happen to work fairly well. Others seem like a great idea until your collection grows or you try to take the whole thing somewhere.

I have tried several of these myself and have seen the others come up again and again in homeopathy groups and online discussions. None is perfect for everyone, so here are the pros and cons of some of the most common homeopathic remedy storage ideas.

 

1. Shotgun Shell Cases

 

Yes, shotgun shell cases. If you have searched online for homeopathic remedy storage, you have probably seen the brightly colored plastic shotgun shell storage cases people repurpose for remedy tubes. They are certainly not glamorous, but I understand why they became popular.

The pros: Shotgun shell cases are inexpensive, easy to find online and give each tube its own individual space. They can hold a surprisingly large number of remedies and work particularly well if you label the tops of your tubes so you can read them while everything is standing upright. They also make alphabetical organization fairly easy.

The cons: The biggest problem is that they were designed for shotgun shells, not homeopathic remedies. Remedy tubes from different manufacturers vary slightly in diameter, so some fit beautifully while others can be just a fraction too wide and get stuck in the holes. Ask me how much fun it is trying to pry one of those back out.

They are also hard sided and bulky. A large shell case can work perfectly well sitting on a closet shelf, but it is not something I particularly want to put inside a handbag or carry on suitcase. The plastic hinges and latches can eventually wear or break too. And then there is the obvious issue. They look like shotgun shell cases, often neon shotgun shell cases. If bright green or orange plastic is not exactly the aesthetic you imagined for your bedroom closet, you are not alone.

Best for: Someone who wants inexpensive, stationary storage and cares more about individual tube slots than appearance or portability.

 

2. Plastic Three Drawer Storage Units

The little Rubbermaid style plastic drawer towers sold at Target and similar stores are another solution I see frequently. I completely understand the appeal. Open the drawer, toss in remedies, close the drawer. Everything is technically in one place.

The pros: They are relatively inexpensive, easy to find and capable of holding a lot of remedies. If your collection is very large, you can even assign different drawers to different sections of the alphabet. You can also add smaller containers or dividers inside the drawers later.

The cons: Without dividers, this is not really organization. It is containment. You have successfully moved your pile of remedy tubes from a bag into a drawer, but you still have to push tubes around and turn labels over every time you are looking for something.

The larger drawer units also take up quite a bit of space and, personally, I do not love having a big plastic storage tower sitting in a bedroom or living space. They solve the question of where the remedies live, but they do not necessarily solve the question of how quickly you can find one.

Best for: Very large collections when capacity and cost matter more than portability, appearance or individual organization.

 

3. Lipstick Cases

This is actually a pretty clever idea and one that looks very promising when you first see it. Amazon and other online marketplaces have countless zippered EVA cosmetic cases with rows of elastic loops designed to hold lipstick. They are soft sided, relatively inexpensive and easy to pack. At first glance, they look almost perfect for homeopathic remedy storage.

Almost.

The pros: Lipstick cases are lightweight, affordable and widely available. They usually open flat so you can see the contents, and the elastic bands are much better than having tubes rolling around loose inside a bag. They also travel much more easily than a large hard plastic box.

The cons: Lipstick tubes and homeopathic remedy tubes are shaped differently. Lipsticks tend to be shorter and wider. Many homeopathic tubes are longer and narrower. Because the elastic loops were designed around cosmetics, the fit can feel a little awkward. Some remedy tubes are loose in the elastic (which means they can fall out) while others sit higher than intended.

Capacity can also be disappointing. A case may look quite large in an online photograph, but once you start putting remedy tubes into it, you may realize that a lot of interior space is being wasted simply because the organizer was designed around a different product. For a small collection, it can absolutely work. For a growing collection, you may quickly find yourself buying a second one.

Best for: Small collections or occasional travel when you want a soft sided case and do not mind that the dimensions were originally designed for cosmetics.

 

4. Ziploc Bags 

I feel like the Ziploc bag might be the unofficial starter homeopathy storage system. It was certainly one of mine.

The pros: They are practically free, everyone has them, they weigh almost nothing and you can see through them. If your entire collection consists of ten or fifteen tubes, a Ziploc bag may honestly be all you need. They are also surprisingly useful for duplicates, backup tubes and travel.

The cons: Things start falling apart when ten tubes become thirty, then sixty, then one hundred. One large bag means digging through the entire collection every time you are trying to find one particular tube. You can solve that by making several bags for different sections of the alphabet, but now you have six Ziploc bags and you are digging through those instead. All of those tubes bumping against each other can encourage lids to fall off and remedies to spill out or become contaminated.

The tubes also have an uncanny ability to arrange themselves so that every single label is facing away from you. There is also very little structure or protection. A Ziploc is fantastic for backup storage. I just do not love it as the primary organization system for a large collection.

Best for: Small collections, duplicates, backups and inexpensive travel storage.

5. Craft, Bead and Tackle Organizers

Walk through the craft aisle of almost any large store and you will find plastic compartment boxes made for beads, jewelry supplies and tiny craft pieces. Fishing tackle organizers use essentially the same idea. They can make a surprisingly functional homeopathy organizer.

The pros: They are inexpensive, easy to find and available in dozens of sizes. Many have adjustable dividers, which makes them more flexible than a shotgun shell case if you own remedy tubes from different manufacturers. The clear lid is useful because you can see at least part of the collection before opening the box, and the compartments make it possible to divide the remedies alphabetically.

The cons: Most compartments hold several tubes rather than one tube each. That means you have narrowed your search from an entire box to one compartment, but you may still need to sort through several tubes. Those tiny plastic dividers also have a talent for popping out of place just when you do not want them to and finding the exact right size compartment is harder than it should be.

Like shotgun shell cases, these boxes are generally wide and rigid. They work much better on a shelf than they do inside a handbag or suitcase. And once again, you are adapting something that was designed for beads, fishing tackle or screws rather than something designed around remedy tubes.

Best for: Budget friendly home storage when you want compartments but do not necessarily need every tube held individually.

6. Wooden Racks and Stackable Remedy Trays

Wooden storage racks and stackable trays are some of the more attractive homeopathy storage options I have seen. These range from beautiful wooden racks that sit on a shelf to small stackable organizers that hold individual tubes upright. There are also 3D printed trays made specifically around common remedy tube sizes.

The pros: Visibility is excellent. If the tubes stand upright and you label the tops, you can see a large part of your collection at once without opening drawers or digging through anything. Wood is also simply nicer to look at than a giant plastic organizer. If your storage is going to be visible, that may matter to you.

Stackable trays have another advantage because your system can grow with your collection. Instead of replacing your storage every time you add more tubes, you may be able to add another tray.

The cons: These are primarily home storage solutions ad the wooden cases are expensive! Nobody is putting a wooden remedy rack into a purse. Open racks also leave the collection exposed, so you have to think more carefully about where the rack is kept. I prefer keeping my remedies in a closet or another interior storage area rather than leaving them exposed to direct light, heat, moisture or strong household odors. As always, follow the storage information provided by the manufacturer of the products you own.

Capacity can become expensive too. A beautiful twenty tube holder may be perfect when you own eighteen remedies. It becomes a very different storage proposition when you own one hundred and fifty.

Best for: Someone who wants a beautiful, permanent home storage system with excellent visibility.

7. Fabric Remedy Pouches and Roll Up Cases

Fabric storage is another option, and there are now handmade organizers specifically designed for homeopathic remedy tubes. Some use individual elastic loops. Others roll or fold like pencil cases. There are small versions designed to fit into handbags and much larger versions intended for substantial remedy collections.

The pros: Fabric is lightweight, flexible and easy to travel with. A soft case takes up much less awkward space in luggage than a rigid plastic box. When the case is actually designed for remedy tubes rather than lipstick or another product, the elastic placement can also be much more practical. Fabric storage is generally quieter, softer and much easier to tuck into another bag.

The cons: Very large roll up organizers can get surprisingly bulky once every loop is filled. Some designs also require you to unfold quite a bit of material before you can see your entire collection. You also need to look carefully at how the tubes are held. A pretty fabric pouch with no individual organization can quickly become exactly what you started with, only now you have a prettier bag full of loose remedy tubes.

Best for: Travel and people who prefer lightweight, soft sided storage.

 

8. Dedicated Homeopathic Remedy Cases

Eventually you arrive at the most obvious option: a case that was actually designed for homeopathic remedy tubes. There are several versions available now. Some use foam inserts, some are hard sided, and others use elastic organization inside a soft case.

The pros: The most important advantage is simple. The product was designed around the thing you are actually trying to store. The height, spacing, orientation and overall dimensions can be designed with remedy tubes in mind rather than lipstick, ammunition or fishing tackle. That means less wasted space and generally a more useful fit.

A soft, purpose built homeopathy storage case can also be considerably easier to travel with than a rigid plastic organizer while still keeping each tube in its own place.

The cons: Purpose built storage generally costs more than grabbing something you already own or repurposing a $10 plastic box. You also still need to pay attention to dimensions. 

And yes, this entire problem is ultimately why I created the Remedy Keep Travel Keep, and the next product the Remedy Keep Home Storage. After years of Ziploc bags, plastic boxes and products that almost worked, I wanted something designed around standard remedy tubes from the beginning. I wanted enough capacity to make it useful, a soft case that would fit easily into luggage and something I would not mind seeing every time I opened my closet.

Sometimes the best product ideas really do start with thinking, surely there has to be a better way to do this.

So Which Homeopathic Remedy Storage Option Is Best?

The answer really depends on the size of your collection and what you need your storage to do. If you own twelve remedy tubes, you probably do not need an elaborate organization system. A small pouch or divided box may be perfectly adequate. If you own one hundred and fifty tubes, a small travel case obviously is not going to solve your entire storage problem either.

For a larger collection, I actually like having two systems. Keep the bulk of the collection organized at home, then have a smaller organized case for travel or the tubes you want to keep separate from the main collection.

I also think visibility matters more than people realize. If you can open your case, drawer or organizer and immediately see the labels, you are far more likely to keep the collection organized.

Whatever you choose, the goal is not to create the world's most impressive remedy storage system. It is simply to stop digging through a pile of tiny tubes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeopathic Remedy Storage

What can I use to store homeopathic remedy tubes?

There are many options for homeopathic remedy storage, including purpose built remedy cases, shotgun shell cases, plastic drawers, craft organizers, wooden racks, fabric pouches, cosmetic cases and simple zippered bags. The best choice depends on the size of your collection, the dimensions of your remedy tubes, how much organization you want and whether the collection needs to travel with you.

Are shotgun shell cases good for homeopathic remedy storage?

Shotgun shell cases can be an inexpensive way to keep remedy tubes standing upright in individual spaces. The main drawback is fit. Because the cases were designed for ammunition rather than homeopathic remedy tubes, some brands fit better than others and slightly wider tubes can become difficult to remove. They are also fairly bulky for travel.

What is the best way to store a large homeopathic remedy collection?

A large collection usually benefits from a stationary home storage system with enough capacity to keep tubes visible and organized. Plastic drawers, wooden racks, stackable trays, large divided organizers and purpose built remedy cases can all work. A separate smaller case can then be used for travel.

What is a good homeopathic remedy storage option for travel?

Soft sided cases generally pack more easily than large rigid plastic boxes. Look for a travel organizer that keeps individual tubes secure, closes completely and is appropriately sized for the remedy tubes you own.

How can I make homeopathic remedy tubes easier to find?

I find alphabetical organization and simple labels on the tops of the tubes to be the easiest system to maintain. For smaller collections, sorting by the first letter is usually enough. With larger collections, dividing busy sections by the first two letters can make things easier without turning organization into a complicated project.

Should I keep duplicate remedy tubes in my main storage case?

You certainly can, but I prefer moving exact duplicates into a separate zippered backup bag. It keeps the primary storage case from becoming unnecessarily crowded and gives you a convenient backup or travel supply.

Is it better to store homeopathic remedies upright or lying flat?

Either can work from an organization standpoint. Upright storage has one practical advantage because you can label the tops of the tubes and see many remedy names at once. If you use a flat case, choose a design that keeps the tubes individually secured and their labels easy to access.

What should I look for when choosing a homeopathy storage case?

Start with the practical things. Check how many tubes it holds, whether your particular remedy tube dimensions will fit, how easily you can see the labels and whether the case leaves a little room for your collection to grow. If you travel, also consider how much space the case takes up when it is completely full.

For me, the best homeopathy storage system is the one that does something very simple well: I can open it, see what I have and find what I am looking for without digging through a pile of tubes.