Injuries

“Joanna Campe of Northampton learned this from her teacher, Eva Graf of Great Barrington and uses it all the time with great success – including in the jungle of Columbia and on a glass cut wound: with a mortar and pestle mix Goldenseal* powder and Slippery Elm* powder with water to make a thick paste. Apply to wound thickly as an antibiotic covering and cover with bandage. After wound is beyond getting infected you may rub banana into it to keep it from scarring. I have used Cayenne powder directly on a cut to stop the bleeding and to avoid infection and was amazed that it did not sting until three hours later.” – Lauren Mills (Williamsburg, MA)

* Editors Note: Goldenseal and Slippery Elm are on the United Plant Savers (UpS) At Risk List, therefore only cultivated plants should used. 

“When I have an injury, like a backache or a sprain or anything of that nature, I go out and buy as many Epsom salts as I can afford and take a hot, hot, hot bath. I remain in it as long as I can then I get out and drink as much water as I possibly can … it helps, and it will help you too!” – Star Drooker, Raine Arrow Drooker, Jesse Salmon Boy Drooker who is eternal, Fire & Water Cafe (Northampton, MA)

“A wormwood pack for your bruises: Use 1 heaping tablespoon of dried Wormwood herb per 1 cup water. Make an infusion. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain. Dip cloth in tea, ring out. Place some of the wet, strained Wormwood into the cloth. Fold over to make a large compress. Apply to bruise and secure with plastic wrap.” – Kathleen Duffy

“Hey, don’t leave home without your rescue remedy… RESCUE REMEDY is a Bach Flower Remedy Composite made up of 5 Flower Essences that is used for all aspects of emergency: Accidents, Physical Ailments, Emotional Upsets, Stress, etc. Dr. Edward Bach, who developed this remedy over 60 years ago, attributed it with saving many lives. The negative patterns or conditions that Rescue Remedy works with are virtually limitless. They include everything from near fatal accidents to emotional upsets to minor cuts and bruises. Rescue Remedy can be used both internally and externally.

• It can be applied to burns and lacerations.
• It can be dropped in the eyes, or the ears, or on the head in cases of headache.
• It can be rubbed on the skin to relieve stiff, sore muscles or sprains.
• It is helpful on insect bites or stings.
• It revives dying plants.
• It helps in any recuperative process for people, plants and animals
• It can be used for sunstroke.
• It revives the spirits.
• It is very helpful in cases of colds or fevers.
• It helps one to cope with extreme pain and shock.
• It can be used in recovering from addictions, in hysteria and in pregnancy.

It contains Clematis for being fully grounded, Cherry Plum for letting go, Impatiens for patience, Rock Rose for transcendence and Star of Bethlehem for peace. It is the remedy of emergency. The standard dose is 4 drops as often as needed. The Flower Essence Society makes “Five Flower Formula” which is an analogue for Rescue Remedy.” – Tony(a) Lemos

“Here is a remedy for abrasions: Chew up some fresh Plantain leaves and apply the poultice of chewed-up leaves to the abrasion. This stops the stinging and promotes healing. If you’d like, you can make a plantain “band-aid” by taping a fresh Plantain leaf over the Plantain poultice to hold it in place.” – Joanne Levy

“I use the tincture of collinsonia as centerpiece for a throat formula I call Performer’s Throat. Its fairly miraculous for bringing a voice back that’s been rocked by overuse. Even as close to a performance as an hour. The only time it doesn’t seem to work is when the person actually has laryngitis. It brings circulation to that area, widening out tightened cords. Also, interestingly, it does similar things for the colon, so is also good for hemorrhoids, and for prolapse of any kind. My Performer’s Throat formula changes a bit from here to there, but always contains at least collinsonia, calamus, spilanthes, propolis. I’ll add glycerin for taste, maybe a touch of ginger, sometimes elder, sometimes yerba mansa.” – Chris Marano

---

For more from this series, check out these posts from A Cure for What Ails

• A Cure for What Ails: How to Stay Healthy in the Happy Valley
• 25 Western MA Folk Remedies for Colds & Flu
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Sore Throats
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Chest Congestion and Allergies
• Western MA Women Share Folk Remedies for PMS
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Stomach Ailments
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Stress
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Injuries
• Western MA Folk Remedies for Wellness

---

Tony(a) Lemos

Tony(a) is the director of Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield, MA, she also maintains an herbal medicine practice in Western Mass. She is a graduate of Natural Therapy at Raworth College in England and has apprenticed with many influential herbalist, including Susun Weed. She has taught at conferences and festivals all over New England, including Green Nations Gathering, Falcon Ridge Folk Fest and the Women’s Herbal Conference.

(Photo credit: (ccl) hakaider)