| Why learn about medicinal plants? Certainly, | | | | properties. |
| backpackers shouldn't leave the first aid kit | | | | |
| home, but it can be useful and interesting to | | | | Medicinal Plants For Diarrhea |
| know a few plant medicines too. Whether you | | | | |
| are someday in a survival situation, or you | | | | You can drink tea made from the roots of |
| just lost your first aid kit and have a | | | | blackberries and their relatives to stop |
| terrible headache, wouldn't it be nice to | | | | diarrhea. Just fill the bottom of the cup |
| find relief nearby? | | | | with the cleaned and shredded roots and pour |
| | | | boiling water over them. Let the mix steep |
| You can. There are many effective medicinal | | | | for five minutes before drinking. |
| plants. Some are also dangerous, of course, | | | | |
| just like synthetic medicines can be. I won't | | | | Oak bark and other barks containing tannin |
| discuss those here. This is a quick guide to | | | | are also effective. I have also used the |
| a few safe plant medicines. | | | | twigs to stop diarrhea when I was backpacking |
| | | | in Mexico. Make tea with a spoonful of the |
| Plants For Pain Relief | | | | bark or chopped-up twigs. Tannins can be hard |
| | | | on the kidneys, so drink just one cup of tea, |
| Fill the bottom of a cup with shredded willow | | | | or use oak only if you don't have other |
| bark, and make a cup of tea with it. Let it | | | | options. |
| steep for a few minutes before you drink it. | | | | |
| The active ingredient is salicin, closely | | | | Skin Medications |
| related to salacylic acid, which is used to | | | | |
| make aspirin. You can also try chewing on a | | | | You can relieve the itch from insect bites, |
| few balsam poplar buds. | | | | sunburn, or plant poisoning rashes by |
| | | | applying a poultice of jewelweed (Impatiens |
| Antiseptic Plants | | | | biflora). I have seen a poison ivy rash |
| | | | cleared up overnight using the juice from |
| Sap from "blisters" on balsam firs is a | | | | jewelweed. It is also said to work on sunburn |
| strong antiseptic. Pop the blisters on the | | | | as well as aloe vera. |
| trunks of young trees, and the sap will ooze | | | | |
| out. You can spread it over cuts and small | | | | Make a tea of witch hazel leaves (Hamamelis |
| wounds to prevent infection. It is very | | | | virginiana), and you can use it for relief |
| sticky, however, and it will be difficult to | | | | from insect bites, and sunburn. Witch Hazel |
| wash off (at least it smells nice). | | | | used to be a common astringent that women |
| | | | used as a "tightening" face wash. |
| The crushed leaves of Saint John's Wort can | | | | |
| be used as an antiseptic dressing as well. I | | | | There are hundreds of wild medicinal plants |
| once put a wad of the mashed leaves on a | | | | that could be useful to hikers and |
| nasty gash in my foot, replacing it | | | | backpackers. You don't need to become an |
| occasionally, and the cut healed faster than | | | | expert to benefit from them. Just learn to |
| I've ever seen a cut heal. St. Johnswort has | | | | identify and use a few of the most widespread |
| anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal | | | | and safest ones. |