Your wilderness med posts - please read

[Diesel]

Guys n gals it would be a big help and of service to everyone that when you post hints, tips uses of particular plants or species that you include some indentifying pics, possibly pics of the procedures, and a link to a verification of the use just as some backup and reassurance

Try to be as helpful as possible remember alot of people are new to this, and many can't indentify anything out in the wild yet

[prkchp76]

i second that diesel i'm estatic about this something new ya who

[Diesel]

glad to hear it bud

[Echo2]

And a big hearty disclaimer that this is the internet after all....:)

I'm not a doctor....but I've seen one on TV.

Seriously though....take everything with a grain of salt....do a lot of research...take some classes.

I have had Wilderness Survival, Wilderness First Aid, EMT training, Haz-Mat training, and a few others....that were a while back that involve dinosaurs.

I am here to tell you...If you do not feel comfortable doing something...DON'T.

You can learn a lot on the internet....sometimes just enough to get in trouble.

So please....read....reply....and enjoy....but verify everything you read before practicing.

[PT945]

Absolutely identify anything you plan on ingesting. There are several books with pictures to help make a positive id and if you still not 100 percent sure DONT EAT IT. A good place to go with plant id is your county extension office.

[bambam55]

wild meds

mine is just an opinion, but if you look around your area u'll find herb shops, some are people into Wicka (ie witches ) but they don't call them selves such, but they celebtate the solstices and equinoxes and such, but they have the medicinal knowlege passed down and know what herbs to mix for what problem.we have one not far my home.I have gone out on a couple herb walks ,they teach you what the herbs look like and what they're used for, I'll go again come spring when the plants just start comming up .It's good knowlege to have.alsothey teach u what the best teas are and some help with different illnesses too.

[m38]

I'd never thought about that, but the Wicca's and Druids might have good local plant knowledge. The only Wicca I know is imply in it for the fantasy, not the "passed down knowledge". Guess I'll stick with packing the books with me in the woods, and talking with my wife who is a Botanist. But she's not an herbalist, so she's not sure what plants will do what to you. She just knows how to identify them.

[mg_50]

Hi all - my first post to this thread. This is a big topic. The info about Wicca is a good point, and some are less "traditional" than others. There are serious traditional people with herbal knowledge from the European Pagan traditions (Wicca and others - these are mostly NATURE RELIGIONS), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Native American paths, and others. But like any group, some of them may know herbalism and others will not. Tread carefully and lightly until you establish a relationship and understand where they are coming from.

There are also usually herbalists associated with local health food stores that sell herbs. They have always been helpful when I talked to them, but they have to be careful and not "prescribe" to keep from being prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license, so they can sometimes be hesitant. My ex-wife was an herbal healer, knew a LOT about herbs, and she worked in a health food store herb section for a while. Sometimes it can be hard to get them to be too specific - they will not be able to tell a really interested person from an under cover agent trying to get them to cross the line, and agents ACTUALLY USED TO DO THAT. Talking with some of them recently, they seem to have lightened up. Local horticulture societies can also be good sources, or may be able to point you in the right direction. Even community colleges have courses in horticulture and often in herbalism. If there is a local herbalist society, then they will definitely be interested in helping you learn more.

ALL our medicines once came from "natural sources" and many today are still derived from such, while others are crafted through chemical engineering. Herbal remedies work differently and are highly metabolism-dependent; one herb or may not work but an alternate will. That is why good herbal reference books usually list several herbs for the same purpose, the same ailment. Also herbs are divided into two broad categories - "food grade" herbs and "medicinal" herbs. You can eat as much as you want of the food grade, and your system will simply pass through any that is not needed. The medicinal grade herbs are stronger, however, and one can overdose on those, so caution is required. There is a lot of good and helpful information to learn, so much that it can seem daunting at times. Pick up the slender introductory books first, and work your way up a step or two at a time. One exception would be buying a good compendium, almost like an encyclopedia listing virtually all herbs, their effects, and associated ailments. Good ones have pictures or photos, as well. Your local book store or larger local health food stores with a book section may have these, and there is always Amazon.com. Good luck!

[cracker]

I have a book called Encyclopedia of herbal Medicine by Andrew Chrvallier, FNIMH
In it he list a few things that might be helpful available in herbal stores.
feverfew- headaches and migraines
slippery elm- coughs and digestive upsets
echinacea- colds flu and infections
lavender-insect bites, stings, burns and headaches
tea tree-antiseptic and antifungal
valerian-stress and insomnia
garlic-infections also the oil for ear ache
arnica- muscle pain or bruises
witch hazel- cuts and scrapes
thyme syrup- coughs, colds, chest infections
myrrh-sore throat and acne
marigold cream-inflamed or minor wounds and sunburn
comfrey- bruises, sprains, help heal fractures

he also shows color pics and how to reduce these into
infusions- for the leaf, or flower
decoctions- for roots, bark, twigs, and berries
tinctures he says are made by soaking the herb in alcohol, vodka or rum
capsules and powders- these you have to buy the empty caps to fill without
the caps you can sprinkle the powder on food or drink
tonic wines- steeping the herb
syrups are a combo of honey and infusions or decoctions
check in to it if interested.