HERBAL FIRST AID
By Louise Plant
There
are a wide range of herbs that you can look to be growing in your garden that
can become an essential component of your medicine cabinet. This article looks
at some of these herbs that can be used as first aid measures.
This
list is a few suggestions of the more common herbs that could be kept on hand
in the need of first aid.
ALOE VERA
Aloe
Vera is an essential part to any Australian household. It is the best thing for
minor burns. I tend to keep some in the fridge during the summer months as it
is so effective for any sunburn and when applied cold it just takes all the
heat away. It can be applied a few times a day; the more applications used the
more heat that is taken away from the burn. It is a very easy plant to grow and
it is great for a wide range of skin conditions.
GARLIC
Garlic is a great antibacterial and antiseptic. In
our household it is commonly used for the sniffles and runny noses. It is mixed
with honey for the children, as well as incorporated into our diet during
meals. The cloves can be cut and then applied to
corns to help draw them out, or they can be applied topically to cuts and acne
for its antiseptic action.
COMFREY
Comfrey
is another great healing herb, though it is restricted for internal use within Australia
CHICKWEED
Chickweed
is a common weed that is found throughout every country in the world. You would
probably find one in your own backyard and could be unaware of its great
healing, cleaning and anti-itching properties. It is great for eczema and itchy
dermatitis. Its healing properties also make it good for burns and scalds. The ointments
has great drawing properties and can be used to help remove toxins from boils
and abscesses as well as draw out insect stings and stubborn splinters.
CALENDULA
Calendula
is another great healing herb that works very effectively on small capillaries.
The cream is great for dry, sore skin irritations and as it also has antiseptic
properties it is very useful on cuts and grazes. Calendula is a herb that is
also effective on fungal conditions and it can be drunk in a tea and/or the
cream applied externally.
Distilled WITCH HAZEL
Witch
hazel like aloe is good for minor burns and sunburn, though it also has many
other functions. It is a great astringent and it can be applied to cuts and
scratches to stop bleeding. A cotton swab soaked in the distilled witch hazel
will soon stop a bleeding wound. It is also effective on varicose veins, for
bruises and sprains and it can even help soothe itchy insect bites.
If
you are interested in more articles about herb subjects along this line, please
let us know.
Check out our dried herbs at www.driedherbsonline.com
