Herbal first aid with arnica, calendula, comfrey and more
Adding some herbs into your first aid kit at home can make a great difference in wellness outcomes for small injuries, burns and inflammation.
I'm writing this blog to complement the presentation this Friday at 11.45am Queensland garden expo. This presentation will go into detail about these herbs and more for first aid. I will share the back story of herbal first aid that we have been offering in festivals and events since 2015. This is the similar to the presentation that I offered at the ICNM ( international congress naturopathic medicine) In London 2019 and I will go into details of how gardeners can make these herbal first aid medicines from their gardens at home.
Its easy to make these at home from herbs growing in your garden and its also good to chat with your herbalist about getting some of the liquid extracts so you can use them in your first aid kit at home.
Without too much detail here is the low down on my favourite herbs for first and and why they are so great! Also remember there are lots of other herbs you can use too. Do your research and grow in your garden your favourites!
Arnica
Arnica for Injury, bruises, accelertaes healing, reduces pain swelling and relieves inflammation quickly. Helps healing of ligament, tendon and muscle damage
Calendula
Is our herb of choice for itchy skin, insect bites, small open wounds, redness, broken skin, rashes, unusual open wounds. offers antimicrobial relief, cools and soothes skin, relieves heat and acts as a fast wound healer and tissue proliferator.
Comfrey
Reduces inflammation, tendon and muscle recovery. Offers pain relief, seals and heals wounds. Comfrey is glue to cuts and broken skin, healing and sealing. used for puncture wounds and deep cuts on skin, relief to sprains and fractures. We use this topically only.
Antimicrobial, burn relief, good for kitchen, motor bike, sunburn relief. Relieves nerve pain, settles the nervous system, nerve pain relief, trauma, shock. It's cooling and can be used internally to reduce anxiety, stress and depression in trauma. Very calming. Check medications and contraindications.
Turmeric
Turmeric for inflammation care, preventing infections, relieves pain, offered both topically as a compress and internally as herbal medicine. Very good for joint pain, inflamed skin, when someone has fallen or been hit by object. Good for old reoccurring spinal and joint injuries popping up.Aids digestion, and we use this for food poisoning internally.
Ginger
Ginger for travel sickness, food poisoning, induce vomiting, digestive issues, nausea, headaches, prevents infections topically, anti inflammatory, where infection is pending, pain relief, increase circulation, warming. Combination of skin condition where its inflamed and infected.
Thanks for reading this. The info here is very basic and I have not described how we use these herbs as compresses, poultices, teas and internal extractions.
If you would like to know more and are available on Sunday August 15th to come to Maleny and share in our Long Table wellness day dedicated to Herbal first Aid
This weekend I will be at Eumundi markets on Saturday as usual and then at the garden expo in the afternoon from 2.30pm. Darina and I will be ta the expo on Friday and I will be there again on Sunday. Come and say hello.
Love Dominique
