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