If you're concerned about treating wounds, burns, scrapes and other injuries with harsh alcohol- or peroxide-based disinfectants, consider assembling a first aid kit of natural ingredients. Pack the kit with essential oils, dried herbs, herbal teas, and clean gauze. Use botanicals known for their cleansing and disinfectant properties. If possible, make an ointment ahead of time enriched with healing, disinfecting herbs. If time and the severity of the injury permits, make a poultice from just-picked wild plants. Whether you use a pre-made ointment or a same-day herbal poultice, clean wounds with an essential oil rinse before applying the ointment or poultice.
Make-Ahead Approach
Step 1
Purchase or gather herbs known for their disinfecting properties. Calendula petals, comfrey root, powdered myrrh, yarrow blossoms, and goldenseal root make up the base of herbalist Dina Falconi's "wound balm" recipe. Use them as a blend, or focus on one ingredient, such as calendula.
Step 2
Dry herbs in a low oven or dehydrator if you've gathered them fresh. Otherwise, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3
Grind herbs with a mortar and pestle or in a clean coffee bean grinder.
Step 4
Place all herbs and powders in a clean glass jar. Use a jar that can hold the amount of powdered herbs you've purchased or gathered. Fill the jar with the powdered herbs. Cover the herbs with olive oil until they are completely saturated. The amount of olive oil varies with the amount of herbs you'll need to cover, but aim for at least 6 oz. in order to end up with 3 oz. after the herbs, which soak up oil, have been strained. Cap the jar with a tight-fitting lid and let steep for six weeks.
Step 5
Strain the herbs from the oil and discard the herbs, once the mixture steeps at least six weeks.
Step 6
Pour infused oil into a glass measuring cup; stop at the 3 oz. line. Grate enough beeswax into the measuring cup to fill the combined mixture to the 4 oz. line.
Step 7
Place the measuring cup in a saucepan partly filled with water. Turn the burner to low and heat the mixture gently until the beeswax melts.
Step 8
Remove the pan from heat. Pour the thickened, infused oil into a wide-mouth jar. Cap the jar and store it in a dark closet.
Step 9
Follow Step 1 in Section 2 before applying the balm.
Same-Day Treatment
Step 1
Mix 6 drops of tea tree essential oil with 1 cup tea water. Pour the water over your wound or soak the wound in the solution, if desired.
Step 2
Scrub thoroughly with a clean cloth. Vigorous scrubbing with a clean cloth does not remove healthy tissue and helps loosen dirt and debris, notes the Columbia University Medical Center.
Step 3
Chop a large amount of plantain leaves, calendula leaves or yarrow blossoms in a food processor with a total of 3 drops lavender or tea tree oil and enough water to moisten the mixture into a paste.
Step 4
Apply the paste thickly to the wound. Cover it with a clean cloth or gauze. Change the bandage once a day, if needed.
Tips and Warnings
- According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the herbs and essential oils most effective for disinfecting wounds are calendula, chamomile, lavender, marshmallow, gotu kola, powdered slippery elm bark and echinacea, as well as lavender tea tree essential oil. If you're looking for a natural "kitchen cupboard" remedy to treat an injury in a hurry, turn to honey, advises UMMC. Honey has antiseptic properties and the ability to provide its own protective coating to the injury once the honey dries. Do not apply honey to an open wound.
- Severe cuts and burns should be treated at the emergency room or hospital rather than at home.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh or dried herbs (e.g., calendula, comfrey root, etc.)
- Olive oil
- Glass jar with tight lid (minimum 6 oz. size)
- Heat-proof measuring cup
- Sauce pan
- Wide-mouth glass or ceramic jar (size varies)
- Beeswax, 1 oz.
- Tea tree essential oil
- Yarrow flowers, calendula petals or plantain leaves
- Lavender and tea tree essential oil
- Clean gauze or cloth
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Wounds
- Columbia University Medical Center: Department of Surgery: Wound Healing
- "Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair"; Dina Falconi; 1998
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lavender
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