herbal 1st aid recipes and notes

 Solstice Sunscreen
1 1/3C Olive Oil Infused with any or all Lavender, Lemon Balm, Calendula, Elderflower
1 tsp Red Raspberry Seed Oil or Carrot Seed Oil
2 Tbs Shea Butter
1/2 C Beeswax pellets
8 Tbs Zinc Oxide

1. Combine Oils, Shea Butter and Beeswax in double boiler until melted- medium heat, about 10/15 mins.
2. Remove from heat and continue to stir. Add zinc oxide and mix well until thoroughly combined.
3. While still warm, continue to stir and pour sunscreen into sterilized jars. Allow to cool completely and set. Label.

Notes: Do not inhale zinc oxide powder, wear a mask. Do not add citrus oils to oil blend. Makes about 2 1/2C. SPF 20-25. Store in a cool, dry place. If you prefer liquid sunscreen, 1/4c beeswax is recommended for liquid. Refrigerate for added cooling effect. Recipe modified from WellnessMama.  

‘Neosporin’ healing salve’
Recipe adapted from Wellness Mama
Ingredients

• 2 cups olive oil (or almond oil)
• 2 TBSP comfrey leaf
• 2 TBSP dried plantain leaf
• 1 TBSP calendula flowers (optional)
• 1 tsp yarrow flowers (optional)
• 1 tsp rosemary (optional)
• ¼ cup beeswax pastilles

Either combine the olive oil and herbs in a jar with an airtight lid and leave 3-4 weeks, shaking daily
OR
Heat the olive oil and herbs over low heat in a double boiler, crockpot or sun oven for several hours (low heat!) until the oil is very green.
Strain the herbs out of the oil by pouring through a cheesecloth. Let all the oil drip out and then squeeze give the herbs a squeeze to get the remaining oil out.
Discard the herbs. (Note: herb-infused oil can be stored at this stage and beeswax added later).
Combine the infused oil and beeswax in a double boiler or crockpot.
Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the wax is melted.
Pour into small tins, glass jars, or lip chap tubes and use as needed.
Notes
Use on cuts, bruises, stings, poison ivy, and skin irritations.

Herbal Insect Repellant
Ingredients:
1 c Olive oil
¼ c dried Eucalyptus leaf
¼ c dried yarrow flowers,leaf,stem
½ c dried catnip
¼ c rose or lemon geranium leaves & flowers
2 tbls. Alcohol (Isopropyl or Vodka) or witch hazel
2 tbls distilled water or catnip hydrosol
Essential oils: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Citronella (Use all or any combination) 10-20 drops each
To Make:

1. Infuse dried herbs into olive oil using crock pot, double boiler, or sun
2. In a quart jar -Combine infused oil, alcohol or witch hazel and water/hydrolsol
3. Add essential oils
4. Shake until well combined
5. Pour into spray bottle and apply liberally to exposed skin. Re-apply as necessary

**Always shake bottle well before use**

Wound Wash Formula
Mix equal parts (fresh or dried):
Yarrow achillea millefolium
Plantain plantago major
Calendula calendula officinalis


Use approximately 1-2 TB of herbs per cup of water.
Boil water and pour over herbs in glass jar.
Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain well then let cool
before using as a wash, soak, or compress for wounds.






Herb monographs:



Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Part used: Flowering & budding tops- approximately the to 10” of the plant
Preparation: Fresh or dried tincture or tea. Fresh ONLY oil solar infusion- produces a beautiful deep red oil
Uses:

• A very effective nerve medicine both internally & externally. Referred to by many herbalists as “sunshine in a bottle” St. Johns wort has been known to treat mild forms of depression and is excellent for various levels of anxiety and stressed out frazzled nerves.
• Topically, it is used to ease pain from traumatic injury specifically with nerve damage and it reduces inflammation to damaged tissue. St. John’s wort is one of the best topical treatments for any type of burns.
• Anti-viral properties: can be used as immune support against colds and flus

* St. Johns Wort blooms around summer solstice and can be found growing in full sun along road sides, steams and meadows.


** St. Johns Wort has been found to have many drug interactions. If you are on prescription medication, please consult you health care provider before taking this herb.






Comfrey (Symphytum officianale)


Comfrey has anti-inflammatory properties and is used topically for treating wounds, skin ulcers, thrombophlebitis, bruises, broken bones, and sprains and strains.


Comfrey leaves feel a bit scratchy to the touch due to the high content of minerals (including calcium, chromium, manganese, potassium, selenium and silica), but don’t let this discourage you from knowing the deep healing power of this herb. Comfrey’s traditional names’ are knitbone, boneset and the derivation of its Latin name Symphytum is from the Greek symphis, meaning growing together of bones.
Comfrey promotes vigorous cell growth in the body, aiding your body to heal bruises and broken bones. It thrives in the home garden, growing easily and quickly from the smallest piece of root left in the Earth.




Plantain (Plantago ssp)


Plantain is a useful remedy for cough , wounds , inflamed skin or dermatitis, insect bites, rashes, extracting a stubborn splinter, or staunch bleeding.


Though often overlooked by the unknowing person, plantain is well-known among herbalists as one of the best, most readily-available herbs for first aid. Thriving in lawns, roadsides, and other disturbed sites, it is readily available to become one of your herb allies, and can be used fresh or dried, externally or internally. Because it is an abundant, generally-safe weed that offers quick results in a variety of medicinal applications, plantain makes an excellent herbal ally for children and beginning herbalists. Getting to know this plant will enrich your life and ease those insect stings!













Mallow (Malva neglecta and others)


"Mallow escorts water more deeply and completely into hot, dry tissues, softening, soothing, and cooling all it touches" Julie James


I, like many others, pulled this 'weed' out of my garden until I got to know who she was and is! Mallow is an indispensable herbal ally that you will be sure to love! Put a mallow leaf into your mouth and chew, and immediately you will learn much about this plant. The slimy, gooey qualities you immediately feel in your mouth points to this plants main qualities: mucilaginous, or demulcent. Mucilaginous plants offer soothing, moistening support for hot and dry tissues of the body. Whether its hot, dry, and irritated lungs, the hot burning sensations associated with urinary tract infections, or the burning pain associated with ulcers, mallow moistens and soothes such tissues.
The best way to extract mallow's soothing qualities is to prepare it as a cold infusion. Place finely chopped mallow root and/or packed mallow leaves into a pint jar and fill with cool water. Let sit for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. The longer it infuses, the more viscous the tea will be. Strain, and squeeze as much water out of the leaves and roots as possible, and enjoy! -Melody










Herbal Poultices & Compresses


Poultice: A poultice is an external application of herbs placed on the skin to draw, sooth, increase circulation & heal. Poultices are great for reducing enlarged glands, skin eruptions, boils, abscesses, cuts, wounds, insect bites (like a Plantain spit poultice!) and inflammation.


To Make:
Method #1: Mix powdered herbs with hot tea or water to make a paste and apply directly to the skin. Cover with a cloth to hold in place. Use a heated towel or heating pad to keep warm for best results.


Method #2: Using either dried or fresh herbs- combine herbs and warm water to blender. Blend until you have a thick pulp. Apply as above.


**Do not reheat and reuse a poultice that is used for drawing




Compress: A compress is an external application made by soaking towel or cloth in hot or cold water/tea. Compresses can be used for a variety of ailments such as insect bites, sprains, bruises, swellings.
*Determine which temperature is needed. Heat draws energy and increases blood circulation while cold constricts and restrains it. Inflammation and bruising requires cold, while heat assists in easing pain and encouraging healing.


A few herbs to consider:

• Comfrey root/leaf: Soothing, healing, mending skin. A great choice on its own or combined with other herbs. * Do not use comfrey on puncture wounds
• Plantain: Excellent for drawing, drying and disinfecting. Fabulous for insect bites & stings.
• Ginger: Stimulating and warming
• Golden Seal: Anti-microbial, drying & drawing
• Sage: Draws, astringent, all around healer
• Willow: Makes a lovely cooling compress for sore muscles & pain
• Onion: An old time favorite for drawing out infections and easing chest congestion
• Clay: On it’s own or mixed with other herbs for its unbeatable drawing, soothing and disinfecting qualities.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)- Not just for cats!
Part used: leaf & flower used in the early flowering stage without the stem
Preparation: Tea, tincture, hydrosol, oil infusion
Uses:

• Antispasmodic for relieving indigestion & gas *safe and effective for infant colic.
• Nervine & sedative, which can help with sleep & restlessness.
• Fever Reducer: A strong tea added to a bath or used as an enema can help to bring down fever.
• Mosquito repellent: Chemical compounds found in the essential oil of catnip have been found to effectively keep mosquitos away!
• Favorite herb of our feline friends causing an almost euphoric effect in most cats 

* Catnip is easily grown in gardens and will take over if given the chance!









Basic Calendula Slave

1. In a crock pot on low heat add 1 handful (1/2c) dried

calendula flowers + 1 handful dried lavender flowers.
Cover with 1 quart olive oil.

1. Cover and let heat on low for 10-12 hrs.
2. Strain flowers through cheese cloth transferring oil

to a double boiler. Add beeswax pellets. 1/3c beeswax
for every 1c infused oil.

1. Heat oil and beeswax on low until beeswax is melted.
2. Stir and pour into sterilized glass jars. Label medicine.
   
   
   
   

Herbal First Aid kit Suggestions:
** Customize to your family/household needs

• Lavender ess. Oil
• Tea Tree ess. Oil
• St. Johns Wort oil & tincture
• herbal healing salve (comfrey, calendula, yarrow)
• herbal first aid liniment/spray (st. Johns, calendula, goldenseal, myrrh -this stuff is amazing!)
• Valerian tincture
• herbal throat spray
• Echinacea Tincture
• Usnea Tincture (strong antimicrobial: can be used both internally & externally)
• Blackberry root (dried) or tincture (for treatment diarrhea)
• Chamomile herb
• Yarrow (powdered)
• Cayenne (powdered)
• Goldenseal or Oregon Grape root powder
• Fever Tea (Elderflower, yarrow, peppermint)
• Rescue Remedy flower essence
• Arnica homeopathic tablets
• muscle rub
• CBD tincture
• Oregon grape root powder
• magnesium powder
• manuka honey
• Bentonite clay
• Activated charcoal powder
• Emergen C packets
• rose elixir
• instant coffee
• digestive bitters
• Herbal insect repellent
• Herbal Sun Screen
• band aids
• large cotton compress
• gauze roll
• medical tape
• scissors
• tweezers
• needle/thread
• Q-tips.
• *Face Mask
• gloves
• saline