The Country Shepherd Herb News

HERBAL FIRST AID

Sample article from The Country Shepherd by Dell Ratcliff

With the return of warm weather, gardeners working outside are prone to the occasional cut, scrape, insect bite and/or bruise. And once summer is here, vacations and playing children offer additional opportunities for 'do-it-yourself' minor first aid. Herb gardeners have a definite advantage here. Often simple remedies for minor injuries are right at hand in the garden. To stop the flow of blood from a small cut, pull off a few old-fashioned yarrow leaves (Achillea millifolium), crush or bruise them slightly, and apply to the wound. This is a simple form of a 'poultice,' a form of herbal healing where usually fresh herb leaves are crushed and bruised, then laid directly on the injury. Yarrow has been used for slowing bleeding and closing small wounds since at least the time the Greeks and Romans. Legend has it that the plants generic name, Achillea, comes from its use by Achilles to staunch the bleeding of his men wounded in battle. Make sure the cut is clean before using yarrow though, it is s effective in closing the skin, you don't want to trap dirt inside the cut that will later cause redness or irritation.

Another commonly available herb that can be used in the same way as yarrow is plantain. This common 'weed' is usually somewhere around the yard, and a small patch should be encouraged to grow in or near the herb garden. You can use either the broad-leaved or the narrow-leaved plantain with excellent results. Plantain juice from the fresh crushed leaves is very soothing for all types of skin irritations, from cuts and scrapes, to insect bites, to small sores or rashes. Using it fresh from the garden is the simplest way, but plantain makes a very good herbal salve, either alone or incombination with other herbs. Making a batch of salve when the plants are in full growth allows you to store the goodness for the winter when you won't have access to the plants when you might need them.

Other herbs providing useful first aid in the garden are lemon balm and comfrey. Lemon balm is considered the herb of first choice for many minor insect stings and bites. As before, crush, bruise, or even chew a few fresh leaves and apply to the bite or sting, leaving in place for a few minutes. Comfrey is perfect as a poultice for minor bruises and strained muscles. Because these are sometimes large areas that need poulticing, many herbalists hold the leaves lightly in place with gauze or cloth bandages for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat the treatment two or three times a day for a day or two, or until healing is complete. Or, you can make a cold compress. Coarsely chop comfrey leaves, pour boiling water over them, and leave to cool. Strain out the comfrey, then soak a wash cloth or tea towel in the cool liquid and place on the bruise or strained muscle. Though much of comfrey's healing power is undocumented, one of its folk names is 'Knit-Bone', referring to its common use in earlier times when it was used to help heal broken bones. Comfrey has some of the most devoted herb fans out there. Many, many times when I have been places talking about common herbs, or herbs and healing, someone comes up afterwards with a story about how comfrey healed themselves or a family member from severe strains, sprains, bruises, etc. Comfrey also makes a great herbal salve.

The common aloe (Aloe vera) is always handy to keep in a pot in the kitchen or perhaps on a covered porch during the warmer months of the year. It is one of the most widely used herbal remedies, with distilled Aloe vera juice added to all types of skin products, especially sunburn lotions and gels. To use fresh, just break or cut off a leaf, slit, then squeeze out the gelatinous juice onto burned areas. It works just as well on minor burns from the stove or grill as it does on tender sunburned skin.

Herbs infused in oil can be used for a variety of topical applications. But their very 'oily-ness' is a distraction to some people. An herbal salve goes one step further and gives you a product that is easier to use and is acceptable to most people. You still will find it greasy, but its effectiveness and healing power make it easy to overlook its few drawbacks.

Making An Herbal Salve

To make an all purpose healing salve, you can cold infuse the herbs in oil, or use heat. I generally use the heat method. The amount of salve you make is completely dependent on how much salve you think you can use or give away in any given amount of time. Because salves store well (easily six months in a dark cabinet at room temperature, and up to a year in the refrigerator) and because it is somewhat time consuming and messy to make, I tend to make a lot at one time. A lot for my family may involve a gallon of olive oil, but much smaller amounts, such as a pint or a quart, may be all you need. Herb salves do make great gifts for friends and wonderful additions to herbal gift baskets at Christmas, so plan to make extra. You can use any vegetable oil as a base, but I always use olive oil. It is more expensive, but I believe the olive oil adds its own special healing abilities to the salve, and I recommend it. Take whatever amount and type of oil you decide to work with and put it into a saucepa so it makes at least one inch of oil in the bottom. Gather an amount of your chosen herb or herbs equal to about 4 times the volume of your oil. Turn the heat on medium. Coarsely chop the herb or herbs and add to the oil on the stove. Add as much as will fit in the pan. After a few minutes the herbs will wilt down into the oil. Add more herbs and stir. The idea is to get as much wilted herb material as you can into the oil so that the oil is as potent as possible with that herb's healing power. You want the oil to be at the barest simmer, so adjust the heat to the lowest level that will still allow a few bubbles to break the surface. Obviously, you must stay close during this simmering stage and keep an eye on the oil. Oil that is becoming too hot will begin to smoke. I have never had this happen with the lower temperatures used in salve making, and consider it a safe activity. Simmer the herbs in the oil for about 20 - 30 minutes. Cut off the heat, cover, and let sit several hours or overnigh ..

Reheat the oil slightly, then strain out the herbs. Put the oil back in the pan on the stove and add about 1 tenth the amount of beeswax to the amount of oil. For a pint of oil, this would be about 2 Tbsp. or so. You can buy beeswax at craft stores or melt down a beeswax candle. Stir carefully until the beeswax is almost dissolved. Cut off the heat and stir until the last of the beeswax is melted into the hot liquid. Cover and let sit several hours or overnight until it is completely cool and solidified. When the salve is completely cool, test its consistancy by dipping a finger into it. The salve should be firm but easily dipped up, sort of like a soft Vaseline� or any other petroleum jelly. If your salve is not firm enough, reheat it and add a little more beeswax. If it is too thick, rewarm, add a little more vegetable oil and let cool again. When the salve seems the right consistancy when cool, reheat once again, then more into small jars such as baby food jars or purchased salve jars.

Four ounce purchased canning jars make very nice salve containers.

Though I usually make a comfrey-only salve, there are lots of possible variations. Comfrey and plantain make a good combination. Chickweed makes a very mild salve good for skin rashes or irritations. Calendua flowers also make a popular salve, very good for lip balms and for soothing dry, chapped skin. And eucalyptus salve can be used to ease chest congestion from coughs and colds in the winter.

Aromatherapists carry their herbal first aid in convenient small bottles, and you may find it easy to do the same. Lavender oil is often the first oil of choice among aromatherapists for minor first aid. It is safe and gentle, being one of the few oils that can be applied undiluted. It is very effective (some believe as effective as aloe) for minor burns and scalds. Lavender oil is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxifer which promotes healing and prevents scarring. In fact, the whole of aromatheray dates back to a French chemist severely burned his arm in a lab accident, and lacking any other immediate first aid measure, plunged his arm into a nearby vat of lavender oil. The speed and completeness of the healing he experienced began the study into the healing properties of essential plant oils. So keep a vial of lavender oil handy. Use it with or in place of aloe for minor burns. You may want to also investigate its other aromatherapy benefits. Rub a few drop on your temple the next time you have a headache. A few drops on a handkerchief or your pillow case can help promote restful sleep.

Tea tree oil is another oil valued for its first aid benefits in aromatherapy. It t is strongly antiviral, antibacterial, and one of the few oils also considered antifungal. It has been used for centuries by the Aborigines in its native Australia and today is the subject of extensive international scientific research. It is excellent for all types of minor infections, including sore gums or a toothache. Just rub a drop or two on the sore or affected area. A few drops in a glass of water make a helpful gargle for minor sore throats.

Remember, for aromatherapy purposes, you must have the pure essential oil of the plant. Make sure the label says essential oil. Fragrance oils are blends of natural and synthetic oils that mimic the scent of the plant, but do not carry their true healing power.

There are many, many simple herbal remedies you can do easily and successfully. All of the following books are recommended as a place to start your medicinal herb education. All will offer the same sensible cautions: Use common sense, if a problem seems serious or is persistant, see a health care professional, educate yourself, and don't presume that natural always means safe. Exceptions always exist. No matter how generally safe or mild, any substance can cause an allergic reaction in occasional individuals. Overall, learning to use herbal remedies is a fascinating and rewarding activity, one that will benefit you, your family and friends.

Recommended Books, Periodicals, Etc:

Home Herbal by Penolope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, NY, 1995, 144pp, hardcover, $19.95 � This is perhaps the best of the introduction to home herbal healing. Very clear and covers a lot of ground.

The Complete Medicinal Herbal, also by Penolope Ody. Also Dorling Kindersley, NY, 1993, 192 pp., $29.95. A larger and slightly more in depth look at the herbs themselves, same great coverage of the basics.

Natural Healing for Babies & Children by Aviva Romm, Crossing Press, Freedom, CA, 1996, paperbound, 256 pp., $16.95 This is a wonderful book on using herbs safely and effectively with children. The author is an Atlanta area midwife and herbal practitioner with lots to say on this important topic.

The Piney Woods Journal of Making Medicine & other Herbal Concoctions by Nancy Garrett, Grassroots Botanicals, Rt. 4, Box 4074, Clarkesville, GA 30523, 56pp., softcover, $10 ppd. This wonderful little booklet is full of Nancy's home spun wit and wisdom. It gives the basics of many herbal remedies, tinctures, salves, syrups, etc.

Remedies: How to Grow, Harvest, Dry, Store and Use Herbs by Keran Hayllar, 84 pp., paperbound, A no nonsense guide with up to date information, very good. $14.00

The above three are all by Georgia herbalists, and all provide very good information.

Herbs for Health is the new bi-monthly publication of Interweave Press, publishers of The Herb Companion. This new magazine is full of good information on using herbs for health, just like it says. Look for it on newstands or write to the publisher. Interweave Press, 201 East Fourth Street, Loveland, CO 80537-5655. $24 for one year, $42 for two.

Also in Atlanta, Patricia Howell's Living With Herbs Institute is a wonderful resource. Contact Patricia at 404-361-0587 to receive a free brochure with the 1997 schedule.

Before you start cleaning up your yard, and weeding your garden this spring, stop and look at what you have. Many of the most common "weeds" in our area are really "herbs" with a long and useful history. Here are a few of the most common wild spring herbs with a brief description of how they are used. (Note: These are "backyard" common plants, not the special wild herbs of the mountains.)

BLACKBERRY - Rubus lacinatus - The berries, leaves, and bark has all been used for healing purposes. The fruit is high in Vitamin C and makes a fine homemade wine. The leaves are a nice addition to herb tea blends.

CHICKWEED - Stellaria media - This common garden "weed" can be eaten fresh from the yard, or added to early spring salads as a tonic. The whole plant can be crushed and used as a poultice for skin inflammations and rashes.

CLOVER, RED - Trifolium pratense - Long grown for livestock forage, all clovers are healing cover crops for poor soils. The blossoms, fresh or dried, make a tea that is considered a spring tonic, and also useful for chest complaints such as colds, and coughs. The tea is also considered somewhat sedative, and thus helpful to relieve tension and help you relax.

DANDELION - Taraxacum officinale - Fresh root tea traditionaly used for liver, gall bladder, kidney, and bladder ailments. Taken as a tonic for the digestion. All parts can serve as food. Dried roots can be ground as a coffee substitute. Leaves are rich in vitamins A and C and can be eaten raw or lightly steamed. Flowers make one of the favorite homemade country wintes.

MULLEIN - Verbascum thapsus - This imposing biennial is always a welcome addition wherever it turns up on our farm. We mow around it just to admire the large, velvety leaves, and the imposing flower spike. Mullein flowers steeped in oil are a common herbal remedy for minor earaches. The dried flowers can be infused to make a tea for respiratory complaints.

PLANTAIN, BROAD-LEAVED OR COMMON - Plantago major - Introduced perennial now found all over the United States. Other species are also common and can be used the same ways. The fresh leaves can be used as a poultice to soothe minor skin inflammations, burns, and insect bites. The leaves can be used instead of, or in addition to, comfrey or other herbs in herb salves for topical applications. The leaves, fresh or dried, are used by herbalists as an ingredient in internal cleansing formulas, to purify the blood, or as a diuretic.

VIOLET - Viola odorata - The common wild violet is one of the earliest blooming spring flowers. The deep purple or occasionally white blossoms are always welcome in my garden. I know it is a rampant self-sower, and can be a nuisnace, but all nuisnances should be so beautiful. The leaves are high in vitamins A and C, and can be added to spring salads. The flowers can be made into a deep purple syrup, as well as candied for herbal decorations. The dried leaves are used in teas as an expectorant, and also as a diuretic.

YARROW - Achillea millefolium - A European native now naturalized in many parts of the United States. A common name of woundwort tells of the use of fresh leaves to staunch the flow of blood. The leaves and flowers are good in tea mixtures for colds and flu.

The following books are recommended to help you start finding and using common wild herbs in your area. Most of the things we are talking about are well known as common garden weeds. But, as always, do not use something unless you are sure you have the right plant, and gather them from areas away from roadways and any area that may have been sprayed with insectides or herbicides.

• READER'S DIGEST MAGIC AND MEDICINE OF PLANTS - Reader's Digest Association, 1986.
• FIELD GUIDE TO EASTERN MEDICINAL PLANTS - Steven Foster and James Duke, Peterson's Field Guide Series, 1990.

The Country Shepherd Herb News is a bi-monthly, 16+page publication of herbal news and information for Southeastern herb gardeners. Each issue has information on growing & using herbs in our hot and humid climate, recipes, craft ideas,and more. Often one herb or herb group is spotlighted in an issue.A regional calendar of events lets you know what is happening with herbs in your area.

Articles by herb experts, letters and questions from readers, and visits to different herb businesses are also part of what you will find in The Country Shepherd Herb News. Contributions are welcome. Ifyou have a special recipe, favorite herb, anything you want to share, send it along and let others enjoy it also.

Date created: 2/5/96
Last modified: 11/18/97
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