Note: When using wild plants for medical treatment, positive identification of the plants involved is as critical as when using them for food. Proper use of these plants is equally important.
Many plants can synthesize chemical compounds that help them defend against attack from a wide variety of predators such as insects, fungi, and herbivorous mammals. Some of these compounds, whilst being toxic to plant predators, turn out to have beneficial effects when used to treat human diseases. There are hundreds of plants in the wild with beneficial medicinal properties.
Terms and definitions
The following terms and their definitions are associated with medicinal plant use:
Poultice
This is crushed leaves or other plant parts, sometimes heated, that are applied to a wound or sore either directly or wrapped in cloth or paper. Poultices, when hot, increase the circulation in the affected area and help healing through the chemicals present in the plants. As the poultice dries out, it draws the toxins out of a wound. A poultice should be prepared to a “mashed potatoes-like” consistency and applied as warm as the patient can stand.
Infusion or tisane or tea
This blend is the preparation of medicinal herbs for internal or external application. You place a small quantity of an herb in a container, pour hot water over it, and let it steep (covered or uncovered) before use.
Decoction
This is the extract of a boiled-down or simmered herb leaf or root. You add herb leaf or root to water. You bring them to a sustained boil or simmer them to draw their chemicals into the water. The average ratio is about 28 to 56 grams (1 to 2 ounces) of herb to 0.5 liter of water.
Expressed juice
These are liquids or saps squeezed from plant material and either applied to the wound or made into another medicine.
Natural remedies you can implement using plants found in the wild
Many natural remedies work slower than the everyday commercial medicines you may be familiar with. Therefore, start with smaller doses and allow more time for them to take effect. Naturally, some will act more rapidly than others.
The following remedies are for use only in a survival situation. Do not use them routinely as some can be potentially toxic and have serious long- term effects (for example, cancer).
Using plants in the wild as Antidiarrheals for diarrhea
Diarrhea can be one of the most debilitating illnesses for a person in a survival situation. The potential for diarrhea to dehydrate the body is remarkably high. To combat diarrhea, drink tea made from the roots of blackberries and their relatives to stop diarrhea. White oak bark and other barks containing tannin (see note about tannin at the end of the page) are also effective when made into a strong tea. However, because of possible negative effects on the kidneys, use them with caution and only when nothing else is available.
Clay, ashes, charcoal, powdered chalk, powdered bones, and pectin can be consumed or mixed in a tannic acid tea with good results. These powdered mixtures should be taken in a dose of two tablespoons every 2 hours. Clay and pectin can be mixed together to give a crude form of Kaopectate. Pectin is obtainable from the inner part of citrus fruit rinds or from apple pomace. Tea made from cowberry, cranberry, or hazel leaves helps ease diarrhea symptoms too.
Because of its inherent danger to an already under-nourished survivor, several of these methods may need to be tried simultaneously to stop debilitating diarrhea, which can quickly dehydrate even a healthy individual.
Using plants in the wild as Antihemorrhagics for bleeding
Make medications to stop bleeding from plantain leaves, or, most effectively, from the leaves of the common yarrow or woundwort (Achillea millefolium). These mostly give a physical barrier to the bleeding. Prickly pear (the raw, peeled part) or witch hazel can be applied to wounds. Both are good for their astringent properties (they shrink blood vessels). For bleeding gums or mouth sores, sweet gum can be chewed or used as a toothpick. This provides
some chemical and antiseptic properties as well.
Using plants in the wild as Antiseptics to clean infections
Use antiseptics to cleanse wounds, snake bites, sores, or rashes. You can make antiseptics from the expressed juice of wild onion or garlic, the expressed juice from chickweed leaves, or the crushed leaves of burdock. You can also make antiseptics from a decoction of burdock root, mallow leaves or roots, or white oak bark (tannic acid). Prickly pear, slippery elm, yarrow, and sweet gum are all good antiseptics as well. All these medications are for external use only.
Two of the best antiseptics are sugar and honey. Sugar should be applied to the wound until it becomes syrupy, then washed off and reapplied. Honey should be applied three times daily. Honey is by far the best of the antiseptics for open wounds and burns, with sugar being second.
Using plants in the wild as Antipyretics for fevers
Treat a fever with a tea made from willow bark, an infusion of elder flowers or fruit, linden flower tea, and aspen or slippery elm bark decoction. Yarrow tea is also good. Peppermint tea is reportedly good for fevers.
Using plants in the wild to treat colds and sore throats
Treat these illnesses with a decoction made from either plantain leaves or willow bark. You can also use tea made from burdock roots, mallow or mullein flowers or roots, and yarrow or mint leaves.
Using plants in the wild as Analgesics for aches, pains, and sprains
Treat these conditions with externally applied poultices of burdock, plantain, chickweed, willow bark, garlic, or sorrel. Sweet gum has some analgesic (pain relief) properties. Chewing the willow bark or making tea from it is the best for pain relief as it contains the raw component of aspirin. You can also use salves made by mixing the expressed juices of these plants in animal fat or vegetable oils.
Using plants in the wild as antihistamines and astringents for itching or contact dermatitis.
Relieve the itch from insect bites, sunburn, or plant poisoning rashes by applying a poultice of jewelweed (Impatiens biflora) or witch hazel, which give a cooling relief and dry out the weeping (Hamamelis virginiana) leaves. The jewelweed juice will help when applied to poison ivy, rashes, or insect stings. Jewelweed and aloe vera help relieve sunburn. In addition, dandelion sap, crushed cloves of garlic, and sweet gum have been used. Crushed leaves of burdock have received only so-so reports of success, but crushed, green plantain leaves show relief over a few days. Jewelweed is probably the best of these plants. Tobacco will deaden the nerve endings and can also be used to treat toothaches.
Using plants in the wild as sedatives
Get help in falling asleep by brewing tea made from mint leaves or passionflower leaves.
Using plants in the wild to treat hemorrhoids
Treat hemorrhoids with external washes from elm bark or oak bark tea, from the expressed juice of plantain leaves, or from a Solomon’s seal root decoction. Tannic acid or witch hazel will provide soothing relief because of their astringent properties.
Using plants in the wild to treat heat rash
Tannic acid or witch hazel will provide soothing relief because of their astringent properties but cornstarch or any crushed and powdered, nonpoisonous plant should help to dry out the rash after a thorough cleansing.
Using plants in the wild to relieve constipation
Relieve constipation by drinking decoctions from dandelion leaves, rose hips, or walnut bark. Eating raw daylily flowers will also help. Large amounts of water in any form are critical to relieving constipation.
Using plants in the wild as Anthelminthics for worms or intestinal parasites
Most treatments for worms or parasites are toxic—just more so for the worms or parasites than for humans. Therefore, all treatments should be used in moderation. Treatments include tea made from tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) or from wild carrot (poisonous) leaves. Very strong tannic acid can also be used with caution as it is extremely hard on the liver.
Using plants in the wild as Antiflatulents for gas and cramps
Use tea made from carrot seeds; use tea made from mint leaves to settle the stomach.
Using plants in the wild as Antifungal washes
Make a decoction of walnut leaves, oak bark, or acorns to treat ringworm and athlete’s foot. Apply it frequently to the site, alternating with exposure to direct sunlight. Broad-leaf plantain has also been used with success, but any treatment should be used in addition to sunlight if possible. Jewelweed and vinegar make excellent washes but are sometimes difficult to find.
Using plants in the wild as Dentifrices for teeth
Use twigs of sweet gum for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic properties.
Using plants in the wild as Insect repellents
Garlic and wild onion can be eaten, and the raw plant juice rubbed on the skin to repel some insects. Sassafras leaves can be rubbed on the skin. Cedar chips may help repel insects around your shelter.
Special note about Tannic Acid
Tannic acid. Because tannic acid is used for so many treatments (burns, antihemorrhagics, anthelminthics, antiseptics, antidiarrheals, antifungals, bronchitis, skin inflammation, lice), a note as to its preparation is in order. All thready plants, especially trees, contain tannic acid. Hardwood trees generally contain more than softwood trees. Of the hardwoods, oak—especially red and chestnut—contain the highest amount.
The warty looking knots in oak trees can contain as much as 28 percent tannic acid. This knot, the inner bark of trees, and pine needles (cut into 2-centimeter [1-inch] strips), can all be boiled down to extract tannic acid. Boiling can be done in as little as 15 minutes (very weak), to 2 hours (moderate), through 12 hours to 3 days (very strong).
The stronger concoctions will have a dark color that will vary depending on the type of tree. All will have an increasingly vile taste in relation to their concentration.
Image Credits
In-Article Image Credits
Medicinal herbs in clay pottery bowls via Flickr by Fidelia Nimmons with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 12, 2009Featured Image Credit
Medicinal herbs in clay pottery bowls via Flickr by Fidelia Nimmons with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 12, 2009
