herbmed  
Herbal Medicine Chest  
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First Aide

Aloe vera for minor burns, including sunburn, chapped skin and minor wounds.

Witch hazel for scratches, scrapes, shaving irritation, burns and insect bites blood clotting actions, as a compress for minor burns and sprains. Apply directly to the skin for insect bites, nosebleeds and cuts.

A tea of marigold flowers, used externally for small cuts and relief of sunburn. St. John's Wort oil this is a  remedy for burns, minor wounds, a compress can help heal deeper cuts.

Eating chervil can help heal skin rashes.
Chamomile poultice (or tea bag) for itch relief  & skin rashes.

Relief from bruises, where the skin is unbroken, applied topically in tincture form: Tienchi ginseng, hyssop, myrrh gum, prickly ash bark, cayenne, calendula, comfrey and arnica. Helichrysum italicum (curry) essential oil.  Do not use these remedies on the eyes or mucous membranes and wash hands thoroughly after use.

Nosebleeds: a yarrow poultice. With head forward, not back.

Cayenne, a proven styptic, applied externally to stop bleeding. Also warms cold feet, sprinkled inside your boots. Alternative styptics: comfrey and yarrow.

 
ANTI-MICROBIAL HEALING

Comfrey helps heal bruises, cuts, sprains or dislocations, aids the growth of scar tissue after cuts, speeding the healing process. Root  in a gargle tea to ease sore throat or gum disease.

A comfrey based salve, with tinctured combinations seem to work best and are applied directly to the skin.

Plantain, grindelia, St. John's wort, calendula and echinacea  soothe, accelerate healing and disinfect. Essential oils of lavender and rosemary strengthen the effects. Use for any breaks in the skin and for burns. *(Do not use on puncture wounds, use an antiseptic such as echinacea tincture instead)
PEST REPELLENT  & BITES

Eating sugar and sweets increases your attraction to many insects!

Essential oils of lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lemon grass suspended in a base of water and alcohol, are noxious to bugs.

Sprinkle rosemary tea in areas where ants frequent to discourage the insects.

Strong chamomile on skin to prevent insect bites.

For bee sting or spider bite, bruise fresh plantain and apply as a poultice.

Feverfew is an effective insect repellent & poultice for insect bites.

Echinacea is helpful when it comes to snakebite.

OTHER HERBS FOR BITES & STINGS
Alliums, fig, jewelweed, parsley, dock, savory.

POISON IVY / OAK

Liniment for external use: Jewelweed (impatiens) neutralizes the Rhus toxin and works well. Use fresh or tinctured, Other remedies include grindelia, with echinacea, calendula and white oak bark.

ACHES, PAIN RELIEF,
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY


Liniment for external use: Arnica tincture, or one of the creams or rubs, for bruises, strains and sprains (may cause contact rash. Do not use arnica on broken skin).

Lovage or dandelion root tea can help prevent muscle cramps.

Yarrow poultice for slight sprains.

Witch hazel and St. Johnswort tinctures in combination with essential oils of camphor, eucalyptus, rosemary or clove bud reduce pain, swelling, and morning stiffness of arthritis.

Angelica tea eases the symptoms of arthritis.

Parsley as an external poultice to decrease swelling, effective on sprains and strains.

Lavender soothes neuralgic pains, rheumatism, sprains, and sore joints.

Cabbage poultices raise boils to a head and breaks down the trapped blood that forms bruises.

Caraway tea can be used externally as an astringent wash for acne-prone areas. Arthritic joints can be soaked in the tea.

Meadowsweet tincture or aspirin. Willow bark tea works as well.

2 drops of thyme essential oil in 4 ounces of water for mouthwash for toothache or sore throat. Same recipe used externally for crabs, lice & all external parasites.

HEADACHES
*Dehydration is the largest cause of headaches, so drink lots of water!
Headaches can be treated with chamomile, catnip, oregano, mint, lavender, in steam or tea.
Migraines can be treated with feverfew by relaxing constricted blood vessels. Place between bread & butter, the butter helps coat the mouth & throat to prevent contact dermatitis that may occur with feverfew.
Turmeric can be anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-mutagenic and antioxidant.
Valerian eases migraine, intestinal and menstrual cramps.

TOOTHACHE
Add to foods, or tea: marjoram, tarragon or oregano. Chamomile, lovage root or echinacea tea works as well.

Try poultices of chamomile, clove, yarrow, sweet flag, tarragon, watercress, oregano, parsley, marshmallow, juniper, thimbleberry, salmonberry or mooseberry.

Always consult a Naturopath or Physician for diagnosis, confirmation & dosage recommendations before using herbs for medicinal purposes.
Use of herbs should be stopped during pregnancy. This page is for informational use only. It's not to be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. What good is using the leaves in tea if the only good use of the plant is the powdering of the root? And what if the leaves in that new pot of tea are toxic, but the roots are not? Know the facts about the plant material you use.