Using Herbs for
Abrasions/Cuts

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.