Natural remedies

Walkindude

Walkindude

Joined
Feb 20, 2007
Messages
402
I was wondering how many of you fellas utilize natural remedies in your travels.

For instance I generally carry a small bottle of Cayenne pepper in my go bag with my first aid gear. I've used it on lots of cuts and finds that it helps stop the bleeding and tends to promote healing.

I've used various other herbs over the years, some for first aid, others for refreshment, such as boiling a fresh cup of wild Chammomile tea while enjoying a nice fire and listening to the coyotes sing. :D

So what useful plants have you found and use?
 
A little sassafras tea in the spring to get the immune system going or to cure a sour stomach

chew on yellowroot for naseau

white pine bark tea as an expectorant for chest cold or a boost of vitamin C

jewelweed for skin irritations

mullein for the sinuses (steam) to prevent allergies (not me, but the kids)

Sweetgum as an antiseptic and well as to clear sinuses.

I know a few other remedies, but that is pretty much all I ever use.
 
Chew up some plantain leaves and put them on a cut to prevent infections. Seems to work, but may not have gotten infected anyway.:confused:

Wet tobacco on bee stings.
 
Drank alot of Sassafras ! Mullien makes a good tea as well.

Read a good article on Plantain that had alot of different uses I wasnt aware of. Tea made from Plantain leaves helps stomach aches as well, also good for colds, flu, etc.

Wild onion juice to numb pain and as an antiseptic, Makes a good soup too !

Theres a magazine called Primitive Archer that has a article entitled "Medicine Man" in each issue, by TR Zimmerman. Worth checking out, lots off good articles on the old indian lore !
 
G'day walkingdude

Walkindude said:
So what useful plants have you found and use?
Click to expand...
Here's a few from an Aussie perspective:

The seed heads of our native plantain (mainly mucilage), when soaked in water makes a good constipation cure.

Eucalyptus oil (from the leaves of eucalypts) when inhaled clears a blocked nose.

The resin from a large number of our eucalypts (when made into a paste with some water) make an effective antiseptic.

Tea tree oil is a well known antiseptic/antifungal.

The juice from bracken fern roots take the sting out of meat ant bites.



Kind regards
Mick
 
Last edited:
I knew this thread would drop like a brick and this stuff is really what we all should spend more time learning when we are out in the sticks !

I use Licorice Fern(Polyodium glycyrrhiza) by either chewing on the raw root or making a tea with it when I have a sore throat or cold.

I use the juice from Snowberries( Symphoricarpos albus )on minor cuts and grazes as it acts as a polysporin.

The leaves from Horse-chestnut can also be mashed up with warm water and used as a natural soap replacement that has a mild anti-septic effect.
 
Exactly Pitdog. I know virtually NOTHING about this kind of stuff. I want to learn more so I should get my lazy butt out and buy a book or two. (Except this place seems to be more fun to learn from).
 
Those little bottles of Tobasco sauce are great.. If you eat something thats a little "off" while trying to survive it can keep you from getting food poisening.. WHy do you think they drown those taco's in TJ with hot sauce??..Ha!!

It also works great at the first hint of a stomach flu.. I know it sounds nuts but if you eat something HOT it can kill the bug before it gets hold of you..

Cayenne would serve in this situation too, and kill 2 birds with one stone.;)
 
I'm a big fan of Yarrow. In one plant you have an astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergen, blood clotter, and pain releaver.

I also like to toss a couple sheep sorrel leaves on my food to give it a nice tart taste. Don't eat too many leaves though... they act as a diuretic.
 
Sugar and/or honey applied to wounds helps healing and staves off infection. Osmotic pressure basically takes out all the moisture that bacteria require to live and they can't spread and infect the wound. Honey also contains amounts of hydrogen peroxide because of the enzymes bees use to convert the nectar, etc. etc.
Sounds quirky to most folks when ya tell them, but feel free to Google it. There's been quite a few studies on it for medical journals and what have you.


Gautier
 
G'day pitdog

pitdog said:
... this stuff is really what we all should spend more time learning when we are out in the sticks !
......
Click to expand...

I agree, especially when you consider that in most environments plants will be the most widespread and accessible resource available to the outdoorsman :thumbup:

IMO they have far more uses than just for firewood and shelter construction.



Kind regards
Mick
 
Where is Doc Canada when ya need him ? I even added the latin names cos I knew he'd pick me up on it if I didn't ! LOL !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top