We once fought off anaphylactic shock with coffee and diphenhydramine. One of our hiking buddies was allergic to bees but forgot his kit with the epipens. He got stung by a bee, turned white as a sheet, and collapsed in under a minute. A minute or two later he was having trouble breathing.

We got by by dosing him with diphenhydramine, four tablets, 100mg, to start with as I remember it, and a pot of wickedly strong coffee. Given the materials we had on hand this was the combination advised by an EMT who happened to be on the trip with us. In a couple minutes we had coffee up and had pounded the benadryl to powder so it would absorb faster. We fed him the powder mixed with water and chased it with as much coffee as he could handle. The caffeine is supposed to speed up the absorption of the benadryl and should have been at least marginally effective on its own.

An hour later he was looking better and even walked a bit after we had carried him most of the way out. He got into the ranger's SUV on his own.

Strong coffee also helps with asthma attacks. It isn't near as strong or as reliable as an inhaler so it isn't a substitute but in an emergency it can make a difference.

Coffee grounds used as a moist poultice can help take the sting out of blisters and minor burns. Has to do with the tannins in the coffee.

Strong coffee can have a paradoxical calming effect on people with ADHD. I have seen this effect. The kid is all over the place but four cups of coffee later he is able to sit still.

Nicotine has long been known to have a mellowing effect on the symptoms of schizophrenia. Many schizophrenics smoke as a form of low-cost self medication. Some suggest high doses of caffeine may have a similar, but milder, leveling effect. If it is all you have to work with it might be worth a shot.

Coffee, don't leave home without it.