Assembling an Herbal First Aid Kit

[Guest guest]

Assembling an Herbal First Aid Kit

 

 

Susan W. Kramer, Ph.D., Esq.

 

http://www.planetherbs.com/

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I've always been fascinated by first aid kits. As a child I loved

going to sporting goods stores where I would run to the camping

department and would (clandestinely) open the first aid kits. I was

always amazed at what was inside, and what wasn't inside.

 

Always, the kits had Band-Aids, surgical tape, bandages, and an

ointment. Some kits had a razor blade and suction cup for snake bite

(I never met anyone who had used this). Some kits had aspirin. First

aid seemed to mean cuts and scrapes and possible snake bite.

 

I'm still fascinated by first aid kits, but have changed my question

from " what's inside? " to " what do I need to be prepared? " Things I

needed to be prepared for have included:

 

Cuts and scrapes

Burns

Bug bites

Contact rashes

Upset stomach

Diarrhea

Muscle aches

Bleeding and Bruises

Poison Ivy and Poison Oak rash

Sore throat, colds, upper respiratory problems

(So far, no snake bites)

 

A great first aid kit, would handle more than just cuts and scrapes.

Ideally, I would not include any chemical preparations.

 

The medicines would be all-natural, potent and effective. I would

include the following:

 

Antimicrobial healing salve. A comfrey based salve, including herbs

such as plantain, St. John's wort, calendula and echinacea, will

soothe, accelerate healing, and disinfect. Essential oils such as

lavender and rosemary strengthen the effects. Use for any breaks in

the skin and for burns. (Do not use initially on puncture wounds,

use an antiseptic such as echinacea tincture instead)

 

 

Insect repellant. Essential oils (lavender, citronella, eucalyptus,

cedarwood, lemon grass, pennyroyal) suspended in a base of water and

alcohol, are pleasant smelling to humans and noxious to bugs. The

combinations work better than the single oils. Make your own or use

the all-natural commercial preparations. Note that eating sugar and

sweets increases your attractiveness to many insects!

 

(Caution: Although pennyroyal essential oil is widely used for

insect repellants, I recommend against this use. It can be toxic

even in moderate doses and is specifically contraindicated for so

many people - especially pregnant women. It is powerful and can

effect people and pets in the vicinity of the user.)

 

 

Muscle aches and pains liniment for external use: Arnica, witch

hazel and St. John's Wort tinctures in combination and essential

oils of camphor, eucalyptus, rosemary and clove bud are all

excellent.

 

Note that some people are sensitive to arnica: STOP if adverse

symptoms result. Do not use arnica on broken skin.

Poison Ivy and Poison Oak liniment for external use. Jewelweed

(impatiens) specifically neutralizes the Rhus toxin and works well.

Use fresh or tinctured, but jewelweed can be hard to find. Other

remedies include grindelia, combined with echinacea, calendula and

white oak bark.

 

 

Echinacea tincture. Don't leave home without it. Internal and

external antibiotic, provides temporary boost to the immune system.

Good in case a cold threatens. Antidotes poison.

 

Ginger capsules. Great remedy for tummy upsets, including motion

sickness, morning sickness and gas. Helpful for menstrual cramps.

Alternatives: fennel and peppermint.

 

Bentonite clay or charcoal tablets, for diarrhea. These are to

assist with detoxification, in case of poisoning. (Of charcoal, take

4 every hour, of bentonite clay, take 1 teaspoon in water, 3-4 times

per day). Drink a lot of water. Helpful herbs include blackberry

root or leaf (root is preferred for its greater astringency: simmer

root for 20-40 minutes or steep leaf for tea for 10-30 minutes).

Similarly, use wild strawberry root or leaf. Raspberry leaf provides

a very mild remedy for diarrhea. Slippery elm tea also provides a

fine remedy (but is still an endangered plant!). Blackberry and

strawberry root and leaf also will reduce internal hemorrhaging.

Cooked white rice works wonders at reducing diarrhea.

 

Meadowsweet tincture or aspirin. Fast acting, anti-inflammatory,

pain-killers. Willow bark tea works well.

 

Thyme essential oil. A " must bring " for camping. Two drops in 4

ounces of water for mouthwash for toothache or sore throat. Same

recipe used externally for crabs, lice, and all external parasites.

Two drops placed in recently boiled water, inhale the steam for

cold, flu, or bronchitis.

 

Rescue Remedy or Five Flower Formula. Outstanding emotional support

for all trauma. Very safe. Don't leave home without it.

 

Cayenne capsules. Proven styptic. Open and apply externally to stop

bleeding. (Yes, it does burn, but it works). It will also warm cold

feet, sprinkled inside your boots.

 

Alternative styptics: comfrey and yarrow. Comfrey is perhaps the

finest internal anti-hemorrhage we have and is great externally as

well, but it recently has come under FDA criticism (read some good

herbal texts and decide for yourself.

 

Bug bite and itch relief. Witch hazel, plantain, grindelia, comfrey

and St. John's Wort all provide relief from insect bites and general

itching. Tinctured combinations of these seem to work best and are

applied directly to the skin. Juice from the plantain is mildly

effective and it grows throughout this region (just crumple the

leaves and rub onto the skin). Lavender essential oil may be applied

directly to the skin and works well. It enhances any tincture

combination.

 

 

Relief from bruises. I think of these as wounds where the skin is

unbroken, often accompanied by discoloration. Useful herbs,

typically applied topically in tincture form, include Tienchi

ginseng, hyssop, myrrh gum, prickly ash bark, cayenne, calendula,

comfrey and arnica. Make your own, use the all-natural commercial

preparations, or obtain a " dit dat jao " from a Chinese herbalist.

Helichrysum italicum essential oil, applied neat, works very well

and is non-irritating. Application of the tincture combination, jao,

or essential oil immediately following the bruise may prevent the

bruise from forming. Do not use these remedies on the eyes or mucous

membranes and wash thoroughly after use.

 

 

The hardware: Band Aids, Bandages, 1/2 inch surgical tape, small

scissors, single edged razor blade, tweezers, cold pack (cools on

impact), ace bandage, bandana. Eye cup (or shot glass). Carry case

(soft sided, waterproof) for the kit.

 

So go ahead, assemble a kit for yourself, your friends, or your

family. They make great gifts. Remember, these are suggestions only

and are based upon the assumption that any first aid kit will have

space and weight limitations. There are other choices for all of the

categories given.

 

If you are sensitive to any of the suggested remedies, don't use

them.

 

Read, listen to your body, and educate yourself. Use common sense

and seek additional assistance when necessary.

 

(Oh yes, the echinacea is helpful when it comes to snakebite.)

 

 

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The author is a graduate of the Living With Herbs Institute in

Atlanta and is continuing her herbal studies with Michael and Leslie

Tierra in California. She holds a Ph.D from Duke University and is a

retired lawyer. She is the President of EarthWays Herbal Products,

which manufactures a premium line of topical herbal and essential

oil blends. Ms. Kramer sees clients and offers workshops on the

therapeutic uses of herbs. She can be reached at 404-248-1684 or at

healall.