"Health care" in America - while having "evolved" - leaves
much to be desired i.e. cost, effectiveness, government restrictions of natural
medicines, deaths caused form "modern" medicine, control and pharmaceutical
greed to name just a few. in the blaring light of reality of today's coming
collapse even simple health care will be challenging to say the lease.
While I am not formally trained in herbal medicine, I do have some medical background
and twenty plus years of growing and using herbs and more recently delving into
wild herbs. TEOTWAWKI will change the availability of "home health care" from
government regulated pharmaceutical based approached to real home health care
where individuals - especially those in remote areas - will need to rely on what
is at hand.
I hesitate to even approach this subject, as it is vast, involved, time consuming
and can be very overwhelming. On the other hand, knowledge of hers is powerful
and very useful in survival situations.
History show that American Indians were knowledgeable in plant medicines, including
a spiritual link. That, backed up by the medicine woman or man with extensive
training passed on from one generation to the next.
The colonists - especially housewives - were responsible for their family's health
and well being. Many medicines were grown in the kitchen gardens. The medicines
that couldn't be grown were purchased at apothecaries that carried items imported
by ship. This entailed a dangerous and lengthy trip to the nearest outpost. When
doctors made house calls he expected basic herbs to be on hand provided by the
household.
When the SHTF many
will be on their own. Medication supplies - any and all - will most likely be
disrupted along with everything else. While I have a small
supply of basic meds (over-the-counter pain/.fever medication, cold, and diarrhea
etc) I've chosen to focus on what I can use from nature in my local area: wild
herbs,
plants,
trees as well as growing my own. As mentioned above limited supply and what I
have on hand will eventually expire or will run out. Also important besides growing
my own medicine is the knowledge of what grows wild in my zone will allow me
to wild harvest a variety of medicinal plants in the event of evacuating my home.
I consider it my mental G.O.O.D. kit.
Knowledge literally weighs nothing on my back but can mean everything in survival
situations.
So, having said all that, What to do? Medicinal plant knowledge IS overwhelming!
But don't let fear take up valuable energy. Start with the basics. There are
a number of excellent resource books out there (a list will follow). Build a
library of your own. Create your own resource book: three ring binder or notebook.
If (as is the case with most of us) money is tight, go to the library and take
out books on home remedies, wild herbs in your areas as well as medicinal plants
(trees, shrubs, berries etc.) and take lots and lots of notes. Search the internet
for free articles, videos, and any other information to be found on medicinal
plants. There is a wealth of information out there. Talk to those knowledgeable
in herbs - most local fairs have booths of homemade herbal products - talk with
these people - have specific questions to ask as usually they are very busy with
ten more people waiting to do the same thing. Do you know family,friends, relatives,
neighbors who grow and/or use their own herbs? Visit nurseries that sell herbs
and speak with staff there, this is what they do for a living.
Join together with friends who share this interest and take turns attending different
workshops. Share the information. This works well in regards to books, CDs,and
so on to keep the cost down. Take a botany class, join the Audubon or Sierra
Clubs, subscribe to herbal magazines, check out your local extension office -
there is a vast amount of resources for little or no cost, look for fliers (
I am notorious for picking up these at fairs, farmers markets, nurseries, health
food stores, agricultural shows and on and on). Newspaper articles, magazines,
television shows, and documentaries are also information sources. The point is
there
is
information
everywhere
if
you
pay attention!
Start your own herb garden. I've grown/started many over the years due to multiple
moves. Last year after unearthing an incredibly beautiful rock pile I transformed
it into an herb center. It is relatively small but individual "pockets" allowed
me to plant all kinds of different herbs! (Side note: many herbs are invasive
so be mindful where and how these are planted - know growing information for
each plant you want to grow). Some herbs can take years to become established
and usable for medicine, so start now.
Nature walks. Begin now educating yourself on what grows in your area; learn
the habitat and growing cycle. Throughout the year I'm constantly looking at
plants that grow in my area - what it looks like in the spring all the way to
maturity and harvesting. Even in the winter as some plants are still visible
above the snow and I take note of its location so that I can return during the
growing season. Understand how these plants grow and spread, so as not to annihilate
its growth cycle when harvesting. Many wild plants are extinct or on the verge
due to over harvesting. Take note of the location of the plants you find and
its abundance. One of the biggest challenges is plant identification! Be
absolutely
certain you know the plant before harvesting!
All inclusive books with good pictures, drawings, uses, preparation etc. is hard
to come by. That is not to say there aren't good ones out there you just may
need more than one reference guide. Again talk with knowledgeable people. I personally
learn better from being shown than reading. When I discover or am shown a new
plant I do extensive research to make sure it is exactly what I think it is.
The Google image search is great in this area because numerous pictures are available
all in one place.
Once you are confident of what a plant looks like, where it grows, how it grows
(wild/cultivated/both), its uses, administration (teas, tinctures, poultices
etc), side effects, interactions with other herbs and/or pharmaceutical medications
and any allergies associated with the plant move on to the next one. (You do
not have memorize this information but have it available for reference either
in your resource book or library.) For example, one of my favorite herbs is Echinacea
(boost your immune system). I have used it for years but last year was the first
time I've tried growing it. Another favorite is chamomile (helps with digestion
and sleep) - easy to grow and use.
This past summer I studied my lawn! There are many "weeds" that grow
naturally and have multiple uses. For example common plantain: rub the leaf on
bug bites to relieve the itch, apply to burns and can be used a a diuretic just
to name a few of its uses. If you are looking for a specific remedy, see if the
plant(s) grow in your area and start looking! Last year my son got into poison
ivy which resulted in quite a rash. A local man was selling an once of sweet
fern for $12.00! It grows naturally in my area. Being a tightwad I researched
what it looked like and its habitat and set out hunting for it. I finally located
it, harvested some, prepared it and it worked wonderfully with no side effects.[JWR
Adds: It goes without saying, but for liability reasons, I must remind
readers that using
your
lawn
as
a
source
for
medicinal
herbs
or
salad greens is an option only if you use no chemical
fertilizers, pesticides,
or weed
killers.]
This can and is time intensive but well worth the effort. The best way to approach
it that I have found is to incorporate it into my daily life. No matter where
I was or what I was doing outside I constantly scoped0ed out the surrounding
plants. At night I would search the internet and/or my books to identify the
plants. The sweet fern for example, and wild blueberries, both of which grow
in the wild locally. Knowing what sweet fern looks like and the type of area
where it grows allowed me to locate it easily which happened to be in the same
vicinity as the blueberries! Can you say multitasking? I also discovered this
winter while reading a "weed" book that one of the "weeds" that
all but consumed my garden, one that we tirelessly ripped up, is a wild edible
plant! Another popular "wee" of our garden turned out to have medicinal
properties.
I by no means have extensive leisure time to devote to medicinal plants. Last
year we had a huge garden with over twenty-five different varieties growing which
I canned, froze, ate and gave away, picked wild and cultivated blueberries, strawberries,
apples, (making jellies, applesauce, and freezing) and what my garden didn't
produce, I purchased form local farmers markets. My significant other built a
sizable three room addition that was completed in about tow and half months.
We picked, cleaned, froze and pickled fiddleheads. I mention this only to help
others be aware of what can be accomplished when you set your mind to it. As
survival focused individuals, we are all busy! Things are going to be busier
as the economic crisis gathers speed and we tirelessly work to prepare. I did
sit down and endlessly study I plug away at it whenever time allows - even during
the winter months. It does not matter how much you know or don't know. Start
where you are at, keep it simple, be consistent (even if it means consistently
inconsistent!). If you learn only one plant a month that is twelve in a year's
time and that is significant! BTW, if you have specific health issues tailor
your
research to plants that address them. Often insurance companies do not allow
you to refill prescriptions before your supply is down to less than a one week
supply.
So
get going, good luck, and God bless!
PS: If you have insurance, now is the time to take care of your ignored health
issues, as it will be much more difficult and expensive after the SHTF.
Starter list of books: (These are just a few suggestions to start with. You
can design your library to fit your needs)
A Field Guide To Medicinal Plants and Herbs - (for your region) from
the Peterson Field Guide Series
Tom Brown's Field Guide - Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown
Back To Eden by Jethro Kloss
The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines by Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila
The Herb Book by John B. Lust
A field guide to weeds in your area. [Ask your USDA Agricultural
Extension Office Agent. They often have free reprints and fact sheets on weeds
available]
Herbs you can start with: (The information that follows the herbs is
very brief and general. Be sure to do your own detailed research)
Aloe: Vera -- Easy to grow/maintain houseplant; a must for every household
- burns
Cayenne: powder -- Gel cap or spice bottle; bleeding (internally and externally),
shock
Comfrey -- plant/salve for wounds, cuts, scrapes
Goldenseal -- Supplement/salve, fighting infection
Echinacea purpea (Purple Cone Flower) -- Boosts immune system
Peppermint -- Stomach ailments
White Willow Bark -- Same active ingredient as aspirin
