Find out what “nature’s good drugs” look like and how they work!
When we are packing for camping, survival or other forms of travelling, we try to prepare for all kinds of inconveniences. No one likes to be surprised with sudden stomach ache (or worse conditions) during the trip in the middle of the wilderness. Unfortunately, poor sanitary conditions outdoors are not what our bodies are used to anymore, so it’s easy to meet undesirable health problems.
Good if you have all kinds of pharmaceuticals with you. But what if you don’t? Fortunately, Mother Nature is still a place where we can find remedies to cure some of our health issues. As in this medical joke:
2000 B.C. – Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. – That root is heathen, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. – That prayer is superstition, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. – That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. – That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.
2010 A.D. – That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.
In today’s blog post you will find information about medicines you can find growing on meadows and in bushes, helping with basic and common problems.
Remember! This blog post does not equal visiting a doctor and consulting with professionals. Its purpose is to show you the diversity of nature’s ways to help in extreme situations. Edible and poisonous plants can sometimes look very similar, so always check if what you’re about to eat from the wilderness is safe.
Scientists claim toothache to be the most oppressive ache there is. Apparently those are scientists who haven’t been in labor or kicked in the men parts, but still a majority of people will agree: toothache is very unpleasant. The herb that is great for killing bacteria in your mouth is salvia. If you’ll find salvia growing outside, take several leaves, make a brew and rinse your mouth with it.
SALVIA. Occurrence: Old World and both Americas.
Bladder infection & other urinary track infection
Who doesn’t know the burning during urination is a really lucky man. Or should I say woman! Infection caused by bacteria is usually a women’s issue. Well known solution when you can go to the store is to drinking a lot of cranberry juice. And here is another bladder infection hero: yarrow. Drinking brew of yarrow smooths discomfort over and disinfects the urinary track.
YARROW. occurrance: asia, europe, north america.
Other plants that might be helpful because of their diuretic properties are:
ELDER FLOWER. occurrance: europe, middle east, northern africa.
BIRCH LEAVES. occurrance: europe, asia, north america.
When you got the flu you should above all take care to warm yourself and sweat the illness out of your body.
- Great natural sudorifics are birch and elder flower. (see in the bladder infection paragraph)
- For aching throat, gargle with a brew of salvia. (see in the toothache paragraph)
- Wild mint is great for the fever.
WILD MINT. occurrence: Europe, west and central asia.
The least romantic disease. Isn’t it stressful when you are in the middle of your weekend trip for just the two of you and you’re suddenly grounded by your bowels? If he or she really loves, they can go outside and find leaves of the nettle for a special tea for you that will soothe diarrhea in a natural way.
NETTLE. occurrance: europe, asia, northern africa, north america.
Sometimes you have to help your bowels get to work. You can use seeds of the white mustard to make extract for drinking.
WHITE MUSTARD. occurrance: southern europe, northern africa, western asia, pakistan.
Menstrual Cramps and Anxiety
Known well as a sedative, Melissa is also great with menstrual cramps and headache. Drink brew of Melissa if you want to calm, but be careful if you don’t want to get sleepy.
MELISSA. occurrance: northern africa, southern europe, asia.
Wounds and scratches on skin can cause infections, sometimes very dangerous. Good if you have a band-aids to secure the wound from the dirt. If not, you can use plantain. Take a leaf or two and chew it in your mouth to create the pulp. Use this pulp as an unguent, covering the wound completely. It will speed up the healing process and close the wound from the possible negative environment influence.
To stop excessive bleeding, you can use yarrow.
PLANTAIN. occurrance: europe, northern africa, western and central asia, both americas, australia.
If you are fan of treating yourself with herbs, camping can be a great opportunity to collect them and bring them home to dry and use in the future. There are many other medical properties of herbs! Just remember to check photographs and descriptions of herbs before collecting them.
- Nettle: helps in hypertension, anaemia, digestive track infections.
- Elder berries: detoxicating properties.
- Pedunculate oak: helps with skin diseases.
- Yarrow: Whet appetite, soothes bloating.
- Salvia: Lowers blood sugar, soothes diarrhea, bath with salvia helps with skin diseases.
- Birch leaves: detoxicating properties.
- Melissa: brew for the headache.
Nature can take care of us when we are in need. You only have to learn to take from it wisely. We encourage all of you to get closer to the Mother Nature by learning about its richness and perfection.