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