Cuts, Bruises, Bites, Boils,& Burns
Adder's tongue is used by American Indians as a remedy for snake bite. It is also useful in the treatment of bruises. The leaves and stem of the plant are mashed and made into an ointment, which is applied to the affected area.
One remedy for boils says to simmer the leaves and
tops of dandelion together in a decoction. Or, the plant is crushed and applied to the boils as a poultice.
For bee or wasp stings: remove the stinger, then coat
the area with honey or ragwood. A chrysanthemum leaf massage will also soothe the area.
Meat tenderizer is commonly used to treat bee stings.
This method work well. The fruit of the papaya is also
used for bee stings. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which is a primary ingredient in all meat tenderizers. Papain alleviates the sting of bee and wasp venom, as well as the itch produced by many other types of insect bites. The enzyme breaks down the venom proteins rendering the poison harmless.
In Scandinavia, birch has been found to be a powerful antiseptic. It can be used as a wash or bath for skin problems. The sap, gathered from a hole bored in the tree, is called "birch water." An oil similar to wintergreen can be distilled from the inner bark and twigs. It contains salicylates, natural "aspirin."
Aloe is good for many ailments including insect bites. Simply break open the leaf and rub the juice on the affected area.
The root of the burdock plant is effective in the treatment of minor burns. This plant grows wild, but because Europeans find it so effective in the treatment of various ailments, they often cultivate it
in their gardens.
French settlers brought natural remedies with them from France and Nova Scotia. When the French settled in Louisiana (and became known as Cajuns), their folk medicin was often combined with traditional native Indian cures. They treated sores by placing a piece of lard on the painful area. Or they made a poultice of brown sugar and soap (antibacterial), or a poultice of very hot milk.
The wound healing powers of comfrey have been known since Greek and Roman times. Potions and poultices made from the leaves, stem and flowering parts of the plant were applied to injured skin. The allantoin in the comfrey promotes multiplication of cells and, thus, tissue growth. It contains anti inflammatory agents and seems to regenerate aging skin. Comfrey also breaks down damaged red blood cells and so makes bruises heal more quickly. (Another name for comfrey is bruisewort.) Tannin in the leaves is also very astringent.
Corn starch has long been used in rural areas of the United States as a treatment for insect bites. Make a paste of cornstarch and water and apply to irritated area. A mixture of baking soda and water also works well and is very good for bee stings. This preparation is alkaline, which is effective because it neutralizes most venoms, which are acidic.
Echinacea, also called purple coneflower and Sampson root, was use by Native Americans to treat everything from snakebites to insect bites. Echinacea is an antiseptic and can be used to treat skin problems like boils and acne. Another early Native American remedy for insect bites was the fleshy leaves of plantain. The leaves contain mucilage, which soothes broken skin. Leaves can be crushed and applied directly to the skin to stop bleeding and pain, Rubbing pennyroyal leaves into the skin is good to repel insects. It works for flies, mosquitoes, gnats. ticks, and chiggers.
The acacia tree, found in upper Egypt and Sengal, is a prickly tree that grows well in the desert. The tar from its bark has several medicinal applications. When dried, and powdered, acacia gum can be used to stop bleeding caused by leeches, or any other superficial laceration. Acacia gum is available in whole or powdered form through most mail order herb companies.
Putting a slice of onion on a mosquito bite doesn't sound soothing. However, some English country people still practice this centuries old remedy. Remedies that add their own "sting" may often work like acupuncture by masking or interrupting pain signals from the original injury.
The Romanies (gypsies) developed a remedy still used today to treat swelling or sores caused by exposure to cold (chilblains). They prepared an oil or ointment by pounding a tsp of chopped adder's tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) with an equal amount of ordinary cold cream. The freshly prepared oil or cream (it only keeps for a few days) should be spread on a clean piece of gauze and held in place with a bandage.
Essential balm is another natural repellant made in China. It contains menthil, camphor, and oils of peppermint, eucalyptus, clove, and cinnamon. Bugs don't like the odor of these volatile oils. The repellant lasts for about an hour when applied to the hair,
forehead, neck, hands, or ankles. It also helps prevent itching when bites do occur.
In the Fiji islands, healers treat burns with the gotu kola plant, a weed that is commonly found in mountainous tropical regions. Fiji healers claim that the plant accelerates the healing of burned tissue. It also acts as an effective antiseptic in the treatment of cuts. The gotu kola is the plant most commonly used for medicinal purposes in Fiji and India. In fact, gotu kola (also called Indian pennywort) was probably introduced to Fiji by Indian settlers. In India it is used to treat tuberculosis, bowel complaints, and leprosy.
Residents of the Fiji Islands use the fruit of the papaya tree to treat various ailments. The people of Fiji also use the tree itself to treat boils. They peel back the bark and collect the tree's milky white sap. This sap is a form of latex, which can be used as a natural bandage on large boils.
For minor skin irritations, the English remedy, dating back to the days of King Henry III, was burdock (Arctium lappa). To use burdock, clean the root thoroughly and slice about 60 grams into 1/2 liter of boiling water. Discard the root and let the liquid cool. Spread 1 tbsp of this lotopn on a cloth and bind it over the effected area for several hours. Burdock lotion should reduce external irritation. The fresh, bruised leaves can be used to treat poison ivy. Burdock root and leaves are available in cut or powdered form through most mail order herb companies.
The French treat sunburn with a tea made by boiling the leaves of the horse chestnut tree. The do not apply it externally, however, they drink it. Astringent tannins, flavonoids, and saponins in the plant can tone and strengthen blood vessel walls, reducing inflammation. Warning: The nuts of the horse chestnut tree are poisonous.
The Chinese crush the leaves or roots of chives, a relative of the onion. The juice is applied to relieve bruises, swelling, and pain from wounds.
The crushed leaves of goldenrod were sometimes used by European herbalists for healing insect bites. The plant contains flavonoids that help reduce inflammation.
American Indian medicine men have long used the root of the Oregon grape plant to cure a variety of skin conditions, as well as other ailments. The crushed dried roots were made into infusions or tonics. Try steeping 1/2 oz of crushed dried root in 1 cup of boiling water. Take 3 tbsps daily.
In England, a well known cure for boils involves hard boiled eggs. After the boiled egg has cooled, carefully peel away the shell so that the inner membrane is left intact. Place this membrane over the boil and allow it to dry. The English say that this relieves the soreness. Once the membrane has dried, replace it with another.
Horseradish syrup is widely used in Europe for treating boils. The root can also be sliced and placed on the swollen area. Renew the application every hour. Warning: Horseradish juice may irritate sensitive skin.
A well known folk remedy for poison ivy or poison oak has been grindelia plant compresses. Soak the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant in boiling water and allow to cool. Using a cloth, apply the liquid to the irritated area. This remedy also works on insect bites. The buds of the grindelia contain a soothing resin, and the plant contains selenium.
When the ancient Romans overindulged in the sun, they treated dry, itching, sunburned skin with a lotion from the leaves and flowers of the hollyhock plant (Althaea rosea). Warning: Though this lotion soothes the inflamed area, it should not be used on broken skin.
On the Ivory Coast of Africa, onion juice is used to treat burns. The juice does not necessarily relieve pain, but it does act as an antiseptic. And infection can be a concern with burns.
Lavender contains many volitile oils that repel insects, especially mosquitoes. For centuries, lavender compresses have been commonly used in France, Spain, and other regions of Europe for soothing bruises, burns, and bites. The oil has antibacterial properties.
For minor burns, the Romans used leek juice as an effective treatment. It is similar to garlic in its effects. The juice is extracted from a whole plant and
applied as a salve to the burnt area. The Egyptians, too used leek juice and leaves as a burn treatment to soothe and heal damaged skin.
The Germans treat bruises with a lemon and water preparation. A lemon is sliced in half and boiled. The resulting solution is cooled and given in doses of one capful a day. This treatment has a scientific basis, especially if the patient is vitamin C deficient. The yellow outer skin, and the white inner skin of the lemon peel contain healing agents (bioflavonoids). These agents combine with the vitamin C of the lemon pulp to help strenghten the small capillaries (blood vessels) throughout the body and accelerate the healing of bruises. This treatment can also be used to help prevent deficiency related bruises.
The Egyptians, Spanish, and Romans have regarded betony as a useful medicinal herb, mainly valuing its astringent quality. The juice of the plant can be used to heal cuts, skin ulcers and sores. And don't throw away the leaves. They can be made into a poultice for sprains.
Descendants of the Norse people still mix honey and cod liver oil into a preparation that they use to treat minor burns. Nutrients in the oil (vitamins A and D) and honey accelerate healing by nourishing areas of healthy skin.
The sassafras root is an effective wound treatment. Boil the root in water and bathe your wound in the steam. The volatile oil in sassafras is both a painkiller and an antiseptic.
The Greeks treat minor burns by dipping a slice of lemon in olive oil and rubbing it over the affected area. The citric acid of the lemon helps clean the burn. Warning: Any first aud treatment involving non water, soluble oil or grease should be used on minor burns only. Major burns sometimes require that a doctor scrape off the damaged skin, a horribly painful process that is complicated if you first applied a greasy oil. So before using this or any other grease based treatment on a burn, be certain that the burn is indeed minor.
The Greeks also used crushed mint leaves on bee stings and other insect bites because of the plant's cooling and soothing properties.
Balsam of Peru is used by many Peruvians for its antiseptic effects. Discovered centuries ago by natives
of Peru, Wester dermatologists have since recognized the healing properties of balsam sap. At one time, it was used by the U.S. military to treat wounds because it appeared to stimulate the resistance of the tissues and exercise a valuable protective action.
American folklore mentions many uses for the potato. Raw potato juice is said to relieve bruises and sprains. Potatoes contain a lot of minerals that help healing.
An old English boil remedy is to place a slice of wild radish on the irritated area. Garden radishes contain sulphoraphine, a natural antibiotic.
The burdock plant is revered for its strong medicinal properties. The root of the plant is often used to treat bruises. It is broken and mashed until it produced a juice, which is then rubbed gently on the bruised area. The burdock plant grows abundantly in rubbish dumps, along roadsides, and in cultivated gardens. It is available in cut or powdered form through most mail order herb companies.
The French used to burn rosemary, a type of mint plant, in hospital wards. The smoke was believed to prevent the spread of infection.
During World War II, the Russian discovered a remedy for cuts and wounds that is still used in parts of Russia today. Raw cloves of garlic are placed at the edges of a wound to promote healing.
The peasants of Sardinia eat large amounts of garlic as a part of their regular diet. In addition, however, they rub garlic juice on exposed parts of their bodies to ward off mosquitoes. These insects avoid the garlic not only because of its strong smell, but also because garlic is fatal to them.
The island of Barbados is said to yield the purest form of aloe in the world. Aloe has been prized for centuries as a burn remedy. Its clear gel, which oozes out of the broken stems and leaves, can be directly applied to burns. The mucilaginous fluid in the leaf relieves pain and has a smoothing and soothing effect on injured skin. The ancient Greeks used aloe as a healing herb as far back as 2,000 years ago. The reputation of aloe was so widespread even in 333 B.C. that Alexander the Great sent a special emissary to the Island of Socotra to retrieve some. Several years ago, someone told me that they ate aloe when their stomach ulcers were bothering them. I tried this remedy and found that it worked better than most store bought remedies. The taste isn't the best in the world, but it isn't that bad either, and is well worth it. Warning: It also works as a laxitive.
The Seminole Indians, who originated in Florida, often use wet papaya leaves as bandages. The wet leaf is placed over an open wound or cut and is left to dry. African tribal healers use thin strips of the papaya fruit for the same purpose.
Crushed chicken eggshells are traditionally used by the Chinese torelieve the discomfort of allergic skin rashes. The shells are ground into a powder, issolved in water, and swallowed 3 times a day. Calcium and other minerals in the shells are used by the body for skin repair. And because calcium has a calming effect, it can help when the allergy is due to a nervous reaction.
Slippery elm is a food and a medicine that comes from the red elm tree. The American Indians used it for a variety of ailments. Slippery elm powder comes from either the inner or outer bark. Mix the powder with water to make a poultice and apply to uncomplicated burns as well as to ulcers, wounds, and boils. The soothing, healing properties come, in part, from the high mucilage content.
Burnet can slow the flow of internal and external bleeding, and has therefore been used for hundreds of years by soldiers. The Hungarians used the herb to help heal their wounds after a battle. And American soldiers during the Revolutionary War drank burnet tea on the night before battle to help keep them from bleeding to death if wounded. To make burnet tea, crush 1 tsp of dried leaves or 1 tbsp of fresh leaves and steep in 1 c. boiling water. This has a cucumber like taste similar to borage.
Fenugreek is a good source of vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The seeds contain up to 30% mucilage (a plant gum), making a good poultice. Fenugreek poultices have a drawing effect and soothe boils.
South Americans grow castor bean plants as a mosquito repellant. Warning: Handle this plant with caution. The whole plant, including the seeds, contain a blood poison. However, the oil is safe to use on the skin, and is even taken oraly as a purgative. The poison remains behind in the seed.
In Taiwan, tea (which contains tannin) is regarded as a potent remedy for sunburn pain. Cold tea compresses or baths quickly remove the sting of tender, sunburned skin.
St. John's wort was made into a salve and used to heal wounds and burns by the Greeks. They took the plant to war with them to stop bleeding. The plant apparently relieved inflammation and healed wounds, grazes, bruises, and scalds. To make the salve, fill a glass jar with flowering heads of the plant. Top off the jar with olive oil and seal. Place in the sun for 4 weeks, shaking daily. As the contents settle, add more fresh St. John's wort. You will wind up with an amber colored oil that smells pleasantly spicy. Filter out the sediment, and bottle the oil.
In the western United States, a strawberry field is a good place to find relief from mild sunburn. After washing, rub a cut of strawberry over your face to sooth the sting.
South American Indians had a really sweet treatment for cuts and other skin injuries. Before dressing a wound, they would douse the bandage with honey. Scandinavians also use honey, which they mix with cod liver oil and apply to wounds.
Tea leaves are commonly used to soothe itchy bug bites. Few of us realize, however that the people of Taiwan were the first to discover that the tannin released by wet tea leaves neutralizes the discomfort produced by many types of insect venom.
The Aztecs used the agave plant for the treatment of
cuts. A popular remedy involved mixing agave sap with egg whites. Mexican Indians still use this cure. The agave was known as the "century plant" among the Aztecs, who believed that it bloomed only once every 100 years. In reality, it blooms every 10 years.
The Cheyenne Indians used a poultice of onion bulbs and stems to treat boils. Onions, like garlic, contain large amounts of sulphur compounds (which are detoxifiers and antibiotics). Once the boil came to a head, the Indians washed out the pus with raw onion juice and water.
The healing magic of ginger stops the pain of burns instantly, reduces swelling, and helps to eliminate blistering. Whatever the source of the superficial burn (hot water or fire), it can be treated by crushing fresh ginger, squeezing out the juice, and applying it
to the burn with a cotton ball.
The kino tree, one of the most widely cultivated trees in India, produces an oily gum, also called kino, that is prized for its astringent properties. Among other things, kino gum is used to treat all kinds of skin ulcers, including boils. The gum is harvested by piercing the bark. It is usually sold in cut or powdered form through mail order herb companies and health food stores.
The Chinese make a salve from the indigo plant and use it for insect bites. It works well to relieve pain and itching.
The Irish treatment for a boil involves filling a jar or bottle with hot water. Wait a few seconds, until the jar is thoroughly heated, and then pour out the water. Place the hot mouth of the jar over the boil. As the air in the jar cools and contracts, suction will draw out the core of the boil. Be careful not to squeeze the boil during this treatment, as you might spread the infection. Note that this is the same cure as the Oriental process called "wet cupping."
The Mohawk treatment for bruises involves the bark and leaves of the witch hazel tree which they boiled then cooled and applied to the bruised area.
The tar from the bark of the Egyptian thorn tree, also
known as the acacia tree or the gum arabic tree, can be used to soothe a burn. Apply the gum while it is still wet. This tree is found most commonly in the deserts of upper Egypt and Senegal. It also can be found throughout North Africa. Acacia gum is available through most mail order herb companies.
In the Middle East, milk thistle, which is used for digestive problems, is also used on the skin. The soft leaves are stripped of prickles and the whole bruised leaf is held in place over a persistant wound or slowly healing infected area. This leaf plaster should be changed frequently.
Thyme is used widely as a spice for meat and poultry. The ancient Greeks burned thyme in their homes to repel stinging insects. Because the dried flowers keep insects away from stored linens, use the leaves and flowering tops in sachets for this purpose.
Tincture of marigold (Calendula officinalis) is in the same family as arnica and has many of the same wound healing properties. It is antiseptic and antibacterial, and is also effective against fungus infection. British physicians used it during World War I to dress wounds. Add a few drops of tincture of marigold to a cup or more of boiled water. Make a dressing and keep the dressing wet. This dressing can also be used for children.
To Stop A Cut From Bleeding: Use equal portions of salt and flour mixed. Apply mixture to cut, and allow to dry.
When bitten by an insect, the Chinese cut open an Indian mock strawberry, a small, creeping perennial with yellow flowers and tasteless, strawberry like fruit, and rub it over the affected area.
In Europe, window boxes of easy to grow sweet basil, tansy, fennel, or bay adorn many homes. Besides being decorative, these plants seem to keep house flies away. And except for tansy, which is an antihelminthic (de-wormer), these herbs are good cooking spices as well. Basil when planted near tomatoes, will repel tomato pests. An old wives tale says that the best way to grow basil id to curse it daily. I've never tried it. I seem to have better luck when I pamper my plants. But you never know till you try.
Apple Salve: Fry one large or 2 small sour apples in 1 cup lard, leaving peelings on apples. Add a piece of beeswax the size of a hulled walnut. Let the wax melt and then strain the mixture and pour the liquid into a receptacle with a lid. This is especially good for burns and is healing to all wounds that do not require a treatment to counteract poisons.
For wasp stings. Make a strong decoction of Chamomile and apply it often.
For wasp stings. A little lemon juice applied to a sting or insect bite will soon releve the pain and the itching.
For wasp stings. Make a strong decoction of lobelia and apply it often or use lobelia extract, it is suppose to be an infallible cure.
Mix 1 teaspoon lime juice and 1 tablespoon honey. Swallow tiny amounts slowly 2-3 times a day.
Mix equal quantities of castor oil and lime juice. Massage the affected area with this mixture. Also drink 1 cup warm water mixed with lime juice and honey.
If sting looks fiery and swells, poultice it with cloth of cotton or wool dampened with lime water or a strong solution of bicarbonate of soda.
MOSQUITO REPELANTS DON'T REPEL..
they hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito' sensors, so they don't know you're there.
The average life span of a mosquito is two weeks.
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Poison Ivy: Tincture of one pint black alder bark to one quarter water and one cup olive oil. Wash frequently. A viable and easier alternative is to make a poultice of clay mud.
Nose Bleed: It is said that if you make chewing motions with your mouth while your fingers are in your ears, this will stop the bleeding
Itching: Blood root pulverized and steeped in apple vinegar until well incorporated will ease the itch. Lotions made from aloe, lanolin, coconut oil, and/or cocoa butter also help greatly. Another alternative is a poultice made from two tablespoons each tansy, catnip, horehound and hops mixed with vinegar.
Infections: To ten ounces petroleum jelly add two sliced onions and two ounces each beeswax, honey and elder leaver. Warm over a low flme for about 30 minutes. Strain and apply to the wound with a clean dressing.
Chapped Skin: To one ounce wax add four ounces of glycerine and four to five drops of oil of roses (or other scent you like). Warm until well mixed and apply as needed.
Burns: A poultice made from wheat flour, molasses and baking soda will relieve a burn and often hasten the healing process.
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Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.
~Garrison Keillor
For skin care, part of a deepcleansing routine: 5 or 6 drops in a pint of warm water or in facial steamer.
