🚨 Herbal medicine does not replace a doctor.
For serious illnesses, accidents, or worsening symptoms: Seek medical help immediately!
This guide is for emergency situations when no doctor is available.
1. Safety in Herbal Medicine
- 100% Identification: Only use known plants. Doubt = Leave out.
- Dosage: "The dose makes the poison." Too much can harm or kill.
- Allergy test: Apply small amount to skin, wait 15 minutes.
- Children/Pregnant: Many herbs are NOT suitable for children and pregnant women!
- Documentation: Note what, when, how much – for the doctor.
2. Medicinal Plants for Emergency Stock
| Plant/Herb | Effect | Application | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamomile | Anti-inflammatory, calming, antispasmodic | Tea (flowers), eye compresses, wound rinse | Allergy possible (daisy family) |
| Peppermint | Digestive, cooling, expectorant | Tea (leaves), essential oil (inhalation), stomach-intestinal | Infants: Do not use! |
| Ribwort plantain | Wound-healing, antibacterial, skin-soothing | Fresh leaves on wounds (plaster), tea (cough) | Don't contaminate open wounds with soil |
| Linden blossom | Diaphoretic, fever-reducing, calming | Tea (flowers), inhalation (cough, cold) | Heart patients: Caution (lowers blood pressure) |
| Thyme | Antibacterial, expectorant, immune-boosting | Tea (herb), inhalation, gargle solution (throat) | Thyroid problems: Caution |
| Sage | Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sweat-reducing | Tea (leaves), gargle solution (throat, gums) | Pregnant: Not in high doses! |
| Melissa (Lemon balm) | Calming, antispasmodic, diaphoretic | Tea (leaves), sleep, nervousness, stomach cramps | Thyroid: Caution |
| Calendula (Marigold) | Wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antimycotic | Ointment (flowers), wound dressings, skin irritations | Allergy possible |
| St. John's wort | Wound-healing, mood-lifting, nerve-calming | Oil (flowers in oil), wounds, depression | Sunlight: Skin may react sensitively |
| Nettle | Blood-purifying, vitamin-rich, anti-inflammatory | Tea (leaves), young leaves as spinach, joints | Kidneys: Don't overdose |
| Yarrow | Wound-healing, hemostatic, antispasmodic | Tea (herb), wound dressings, stomach cramps | Pregnant: Contraindicated! |
| Coltsfoot | Expectorant, cough-soothing, anti-inflammatory | Tea (leaves), cough syrup, bronchitis | Liver: Not long-term in high doses |
| Dandelion | Diuretic, digestive-promoting, vitamin-rich | Tea (root/leaves), salad, liver/gallbladder | Gallbladder: Caution with gallstones |
| Plantain | Wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic | Fresh leaves on wounds, tea (cough, diarrhea) | Kidney: Diuretic, drink plenty |
| Comfrey | Bone-healing, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving | Ointment (root), baths, bruises, fractures, joints | Not on open wounds! Liver-toxic orally! |
3. Preparation Methods
3.1 Tea (Infusion)
- Amount: 1-2 tsp dried herb per cup (250ml)
- Water: Freshly boil, pour over herb
- Steep: Let steep 5-10 minutes covered
- Dosage: 3x daily 1 cup (except for calming herbs in evening)
3.2 Tea (Decoction)
- For roots, bark, seeds: Hard parts need longer boiling
- Amount: 1 tsp per cup, boil 10-15 minutes
- Examples: Dandelion root, willow bark (painkiller!)
3.3 Ointment/Oil
- Herbal oil: Lay fresh flowers/leaves in oil (sunflower oil), 2-4 weeks in sunny place
- Ointment: Oil + beeswax (1:4) heat, let cool, fill in jars
- Examples: Calendula ointment, St. John's wort oil, comfrey ointment
3.4 Compresses/Packs
- Tea compresses: Lay soaked cloth on wound/skin area (chamomile, ribwort plantain)
- Hot packs: Warm herbal cushions for muscle tension, stomach cramps
- Cold packs: Cooled tea for swellings, insect bites
4. Checklist: Herbal Emergency Stock
- ☐ Dried herbs (chamomile, peppermint, ribwort plantain, thyme, sage)
- ☐ Herbal ointment (calendula or comfrey)
- ☐ Essential oils (peppermint, lavender, tea tree – disinfection, calming)
- ☐ Honey (natural antibiotic, wound-healing, cough)
- ☐ Apple cider vinegar (disinfection, skin, hair, digestion)
- ☐ Baking soda (disinfection, toothpaste substitute, skin irritations)
- ☐ Identification book for medicinal plants (with photos, offline!)
- ☐ Mortar/pestle (crush herbs)