This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #06.Due to the expected negligible skin exposure from such products the risk of induction of dermal sensitization through the normal formulation and use of such products is considered to be negligible. The World Wide Web offers numerous resources. Please visit her site at: Become informed about identifying plants for herbal usage. This article was reprinted with permission from Susun Weed. John’s Wort (Hypericum) tincture three times a day to help inactivate the Lyme’s organism.” If I have symptoms, I use a dropperful of St. I avoid Goldenseal as I believe it could have adverse effects. “If the worst happens and I do get a bite, I help my immune system by taking a daily dose of 2-6 dropperfuls of Echinacea tincture. Also, it takes the tick some time to make up its mind where to bite, so most are unattached and will wash off. If you’ve spent the day in an area where Lyme disease is common, take a shower right away and scrub yourself with a body brush. A recent US Army study showed yarrow tincture to be more effective than DEET as an insect repellent. To repel ticks, mosquitoes, and black flies, try a diluted tincture of yarrow (Alchellia millefolium) flowers directly on all exposed skin. If the leaf you are chewing tastes extremely bitter or burns your mouth, spit it out at once. If uncertain, avoid all shrubs and any trees with slick or shiny leaves. Maple (Acer) or oak (Quercus) leaves are easier to recognize and safer to chew-unless you live where poison oak grows. Play it safe: Learn to recognize witch hazel (Hamamelis virginia) and willow (Salix species) leaves before you chew on them. Any tree will do in an emergency, but if you have a choice, the best leaves are those from witch hazel, willow, oak, or maple. In the woods, you can take a leaf from a tree, chew it, and apply that to the bite. Plantain, comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x), yellow dock (Rumex species), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), wild mallow (Malva neglecta), chickweed (Stellaria media), and yarrow are only a few of the possibilities. If you wish, use a large leaf or an adhesive bandage to hold the poultice in place. Just find a healing leaf, pluck it, chew it, and apply it directly to the sting/bite. Finely ground grains such as rice or oatmeal, or bland starchy substances like mallow root, grated potato, or arrowroot powder, are also used as soothing poultices to ease itching and pain from insect bites.įresh-herb poultices are a little more complicated, but not by much. Clay can be kept on hand at all times and is less likely to contain fungal spores than the real thing.
Powdered white clay, which should be mixed with a little water or herb tea, can be applied directly to the sting as soon as possible. No wonder they’re the number one natural choice for treating insect bites, bee and wasp stings. Poultices ease pain, reduce swelling, and help heal. “Like magic” the pain, heat, and swelling- even allergic reactions- disappear, fast! (Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and carry them in your first aid kit. Pick a leaf, chew it well and put it on the bite.
Symphytum uplandica x how to#
How to use plantain? Make a fresh leaf poultice. A South American variety (Plantago psyllium) is used to make Metamucil™. Many Plantago species have seeds and leaves that can be used as food or medicine. (Most leaves have a central vein with smaller ones branching out from it.) You may find broad leaf plantain (Plantago majus), with wide leaves and a tall seed head, or narrow leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata), with long thin leaves and a small flower head that looks like a flying saucer. Identify it by the five parallel veins running the length of each leaf. Plantain, also called ribwort, pig’s ear, and the band-aid plant, is a common weed of lawns, driveways, parks, and playgrounds. The best natural remedies for insect bites are right underfoot. Weed’s storehouse of natural remedies: Soothe, heal, and prevent bites with safe herbal remedies that grow right where you live, north or south, east or west, city or country. Summertime means insect bites and stings.