Roses were grown in medieval
monasteries for their
medicinal virtues

Stop the Bleeding : To stop bleeding apply a cold compress soaked in a decoction of these astringent herbs, or use the fresh leaves if you have them available. Agrimony ¹, Yarrow, Shepherd's Purse, and/or Roses and more so rose bark. Yarrow has an ancient reputation as a wound herb used to staunch bleeding and disinfect wounds. Gerard tells us it is the same plant with which Achilles stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the genus, Achillea ¹

Healing the skin: There are many herbs and oils that are healing to the skin, and what you use may well depend on what favorite salve you have on hand. That said the first few herbs that top the home herbalist's list are :

• Aloe is soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial - helps heal wounds of all kinds. Aloe makes a great houseplant, both decorative and useful. Buy only the 100% pure organic aloe vera gel and keep it handy in your home first aid kit.
• Comfrey is a time honored treatment for healing sores, bruises and healing broken bones.⁴ Comfrey is a cell proliferant, speeding healing to skin. Those comfrey has recently become controversial for internal use, it is considered safe for short term use on tough skin problems. ⁵
• The bright orange blossoms of calendula are anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic, calendula promotes new skin growth and inhibits bleeding. Gentle enough for children and the most sensitive of skin. ³

Plantain in the driveway

Backyard Remedies:(You are not one of those misguided folks that sprays toxic "weed" killers, to these handy backyard friends, are you?)
If your backyard is anything like mine, you have patches of plantain springing up in patches everywhere. Plantain leaves are best used fresh, the plant can be put in the blender roots and all. The macerated fresh leaves are put on bee stings and used for all kinds of skin irritations Honeysuckle flowers act as natural antihistamine, although they are more useful for treating rashes and inflammation than for treating coughing and sneezing. They are traditionally combined with mint for rashes or outbreaks on the skin following nervous tension, and with scutellaria to treat boils.² Speedwell is a simple and effective as a lotion or skin wash applied to the skin to speed wound healing and relieve itching.

Using Aromatherapy

Plant and oil based Antibiotics Clove is virtually pure eugenol, a powerful, multifaceted phytochemical that anesthetizes, kills bacteria and fungi. ⁴ Both Lavender and Tea tree oils can be applied neat to scrapes and cuts to prevent infection. Put a few drops into warm water to clean wounds. Organic raw honey can be applied to a cut or scrape as an antibiotic and to improve skin healing. Keep a bottle of pure distilled witch hazel on hand to clean and disinfect wounds, and calm the itch of insect bites and rashes.

Herbs Used for Abrasions/Cuts

Acacia * Agrimony * Aloe * Balm of Gilead * Black Walnut * Boswellia * Calendula * Comfrey * Copaiba Balsam * Cornflowers * Cypress * Elm, Slippery * Eucalyptus * Figwort * Geranium * Goldenseal * Gotu Kola * Honeysuckle * Lady's Mantle * Lavender * Myrrh * Oak * Oregano * Plantain * Rose * Salad Burnet * Self-Heal * Shea Butter * Shepherd's Purse * Speedwell * Tamanu Oil * Tea Tree * Thyme * Turmeric * White Peony * White Willow * Witch Hazel * Yarrow *

Agrimony For: Stop bleeding
Profile	It can effectively stop bleeding from cuts and scrapes Penelope Ody, Home Herbal (1995)

Agrimony For: Liver, skin eruptions
Profile	Astringent tonic, diuretic. Agrimony has had a great reputation for curing jaundice and other liver complaints..It was at one time included in the London Materia Medica as a vulnerary herb, but modern official medicine does not recognize its virtues, though it is still fully appreciated in herbal practice as a mild astringent and tonic, useful in coughs, diarrhoea and relaxed bowels..Agrimony is also considered a very useful agent in skin eruptions and diseases of the blood, pimples, blotches, etc. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Aloe For: Wound healing
Profile	Aloe is soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial - helps heal wounds of all kinds. Buy only the pure gel and use topically as needed Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Arnica For: Sprains, bruises
Profile	The tincture of Arnica is used for external application to sprains, bruises, and wounds, and as a paint for chilblains when the skin is unbroken. Repeated applications may produce severe inflammation. For tender feet a foot-bath of hot water containing 2 oz. of the tincture arnica has brought great relief. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)

Balm of Gilead For: Sunburn, frostbite, skin injuries
Profile	Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, creams containing Balm of Gilead buds are used to treat frostbite, sunburn, superficial injuries of the skin, and external hemorrhoids. . Balm of Gilead. (), Moutain Rose Herbs

Bilberry For: Bruises
Profile	Bilberry fruits have a great reputation for strengthening and protecting capillaries and improving circulation making them a good choice for bruises. Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

bromelain For: Digestive aid, Sports injuries
Profile	Bromelain "releases" inflammation by breaking down proteins in swollen tissues. It also helps the digestion of proteins, stops blood clot formation, and has antiviral properties. Bromelain inhibits the formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a chemical in the body that causes inflammation. At the same time, it stimulates the production of prostaglandin E: (PGEj), an anti-inflammatory chemical. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Calendua flower lotion For: Sprains, abrasions
Profile	A lotion made from the flowers is most useful for sprains and wounds, and a water distilled from them is good for inflamed and sore eyes. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Calendula For: Heal skin, stop bleeding
Profile	Anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic, calendula promotes new skin growth and inhibits bleeding. Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Chamomile For: Boils
Profile	To treat boils, bath the area with hot water and a blend of 3 to 4 drops chamomile, lavender and tea tree twice a day.

Chickweed For: Skin abscess
Profile	Try a chickweed poultice on an abscess, carbuncle or other inflammatory sore. And don't forget to try chickweed in a salad. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Chickweed poultices For: Minor burn, rashes
Profile	Chickweed poultices are useful for cooling and soothing minor burns and skin irritations, and rashes particularly when associated with dryness and itching.

Cinnamon For: Antiseptic, allergies
Profile	The phytochemical compounds in cinnamon and cassia ease allergies, reduce pain, counteract bacteria and fungi (including candidas), and disinfect wounds. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Clove For: Antiseptic, analgisic, Toothache
Profile	Clove's healthful help comes courtesy of eugenol, a powerful, multifaceted phytochemical that anesthetizes, kills bacteria and fungi, fights free radical oxidation and things the blood. Clove oil is virtually pure eugenol. Clove oil has been used for generations to relieve pain from toothache, however, avoid Clove oil when treating pain due to root canal work, since it may cause inflammation. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Comfrey For: Broken bones
Profile	It's a time honored treatment for healing sores, bruises and healing broken bones. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Comfrey cream For: Diabetic sores
Profile	Comfrey's astringent tannins form a protective surface over wounds that promotes healing.You may want to try comfrey or allantoin skin creams for diabetic sores.

Elder flowers For: Skin rash, chilblains
Profile	Externally a cold infusion of the flowers may be used as an eyewash for conjunctivitis and as a compress for chilblains, and are used in ointments for irritation of the skin. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Geranium oil For: Stop bleeding
Profile	Geranium oil can be applied to stop excessive bleeding and hemorrhaging. Because of its antimicrobial properties, it beneficial for hygienic maintenance. Marlene Ericksen, Healing with Aromatherapy (2000)

Goldenseal For: Skin care, antibioctic
Profile	Goldenseal is uses in skin care applications for its wide spectrum antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Goldenseal makes a good topical antiseptic for minor injuries.

Goldenseal For: Topical antiseptic
Profile	Goldenseal makes a good topical antiseptic for minor injuries.

Gotu Kola For: Wounds, Scars
Profile	Gotu kola speeds healing of wounds of all kinds and deters scarring and keloid formation. Phytochemicals such as asiaticoside, asiatic acid and other trierpenes appear to support connective tissue and blood vessels. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Gotu kola For: Heal skin, wounds
Profile	The active ingredient, asiatic acid, is particularly effective in stimulating synthesis of collagen, a prominent component of the deeper layers of skin. Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Honeysuckle For: Skin rash, boils
Profile	Honeysuckle flowers act as natural antihistamine, although they are more useful for treating rashes and inflammation than for treating coughing and sneezing. Traditionally combined with mint for rashes or outbreaks on the skin following nervous tension, and with scutellaria to treat boils . . (), Moutain Rose Herbs

Lady's Mantle tea For: Bleeding, stomach upset
Profile	An infusion taken internally is good for loss of appetite, rheumatism, stomach trouble, diarrhea, and excessive menstruation, and as a blood coagulant. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

Laurel (Bay) For: Sprains, bruises
Profile	Oil of Bays is used externally for sprains, bruises, etc., Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Lavender For: Skin abrasions
Profile	To treat skin abrasions first clean the affected area with warm water with 5 drops of lavender diluted in a bowl. Apply one neat drop of lavender, or tea tree and leave to heal.

Plantain For: Burns/wound healing
Profile	Plantain's juice is in fact antibacterial and quite soothing when applied to a burn. Like comfrey, it contains allantoin, an anti-inflammatory phytochemical that speeds wound healing, stimulates the grow of new skin cells, and give the immune system a lift. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Rose bark, rose For: Stop bleeding
Profile	Rose and more so rose bark are astringent, and help staunch bleeding

Shepherd's Purse For: Nosebleeds
Profile	Good first aid herb for nosebleeds, wounds and cuts. Best if used fresh

Slippery elm For: Cuts, burns, irritated skin
Profile	The high mucilage content of Slippery elm is responsible for it's effectiveness in herbal medicine for treating itchy, inflamed, or irritated skin as well as cuts, scrapes, scratches, and minor burns.

Speedwell For: Wounds, itching
Profile	Speedwell is a simple and effective as a lotion or skin wash applied to the skin to speed wound healing and relieve itching

Tamanu oil For: First aid- cuts,sores
Profile	In Pacific island folk medicine, tamanu oil is applied liberally to cuts, scrapes, and sores.

Tea tree oil, Chamomile, Lavender For: Skin abscess and boils
Profile	Essential oils of tea tree, help cure skin abscesses and boils. Apply a few drops neat, or use a clean compress to apply to the skin. Essential oils contain natural antibacterial compounds to prevent and treat infection and reduce inflammation.

White Willow For: Healing cuts, burns
Profile	Cooled and applied externally, the decoction helps aid healing of sores, burns, or cuts.

Witch hazel For: Sunburn, Skin Irritations
Profile	The extract of the bark of this tree is astringent, decreases inflammation and soothes sunburns. Linda B. White, M.D., The Herbal Drugstore (2003)

Witch Hazel For: Scrapes, cuts, scalds, sunburn
Profile	A general and all purpose remedy for scrapes, cuts and abrasions, scalds, sunburns and other inflammatory conditions of the skin.

Wormwood and Vinegar For: Gout, Bruises and Wounds
Profile	The famous Portland powder,(a combination of tonic and bitter herbs named for the Duke of Portland who made the remedy public) once noted for its efficacy in gout, has this drug as its principal ingredient. A decoction has ever been found a most excellent application for wounds, bruises, and sprains, relieving the pain nicely in most cases; every reader will recall 'wormwood and vinegar' in this connection. Latterly it has been found diuretic, discutient, and antispasmodic in epilepsy. The bitterness of the herb is communicated to the milk of cows who may browse upon it, and also to mothers' milk if the drug be taken. Charles F. Millspaugh, American Medicinal Plants (0000)

Yarrow For: Stop bleeding
Profile	Traditionally used to staunch bleeding and disinfect wounds. Penelope Ody, Home Herbal (1995)

Abrasions/Cuts Information

• Bruises/Sprains :
  Life is full of bumps, bruises and other minor injuries. This may well be why there are so many home and herbal remedies that have been passed down from generation to generation.
• Burns/SunBurn :
  Home treatments for minor burns, natural skin healing herbs lessen scarring, and soothe pain.
• Insect Bites/Rashes :
  Take these steps to take the sting out of insect bites and rashes from poison ivy and poison oak and prevent infection. Alcohol, witch hazel, or jewelweed vinegar make good drying agents as a base for your home remedies.
• First Aid :