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Herbs for Emergency Prepardness
- Jodi McKee
- May 23, 2023
- 11 min read
Updated: May 2
I live in the South, and Hurricane season will soon be upon us, and it has got me thinking about emergency preparedness. Honestly, preparedness is never really far from my mind. After experiencing many hurricane seasons here, I know how difficult life can become without electricity or water. Specifically, I would like to talk about herbs and how they can help you in emergencies. Whether you are a hiker, enjoy camping, or live in an area where you feel you could be vulnerable at times, there are many herbal preparations that you should have in your first aid kit.
First question, do you even have a first aid kit? If not, why? A first aid kit is your primary line of defense in an emergency. Think about what you need in a kit and tailor it to your specific needs. Do you have children? Do you have any special medical conditions that need to be considered? Allergies? Elderly parents? Do you need pharmaceutical meds? Do you have enough of a supply, and if you aren't able to get meds for an extended time, are you going to be covered?
Do you have an emergency supply of antibiotics? Yes, you can get that, and I will have a link below explaining how to do so.
Do you know HOW to use the supplies in your kit? I highly recommend a good book that goes over how to treat medical conditions in an emergency. Portable books, small enough to go in a backpack or store in a camper, are good, but just books, in general, to have on your bookshelf are a must. One book that I have that I absolutely love is Herbal Medic by Sam Coffman. Sam is a former Green Beret medic and expert herbalist. This book is the best to have on hand in case of serious or not-so-serious medical situations. I'll link his book at the bottom of this blog post.
There are many options for herbal remedies that you can store and that have a long shelf life. Herbal tinctures, pills, homeopathy remedies, dried herbs, herbal vinegar, herbal syrups, and herbal oils are just a few. Tinctures are usually alcohol-based, so they have an almost indefinite shelf life. They are fairly portable and can be used for more than one purpose. I always have a good variety of shelf-stable tinctures on hand.
It's apparent that I firmly believe in using herbs and have been for a long time. They can be more readily available than traditional pharma products. Sometimes all you have to do is go outside and look around, and you will see some herbal remedy at your fingertips. That is the ultimate convenience, but can you identify medicinal plants in your area? Do you know what they look like? What actions or healing properties does each plant have? More often than not, a medicinal plant will have more than one type of medicinal action of healing quality, so you're getting a good return on your time investment. Again, I'll go back to books to have on hand to help you find the appropriate herb or plant for your specific need. If you have no idea what you're looking for or how to use it, you won't be very effective at finding it. Another reason why I love to keep books on hand because they are permanent reference resources; unless you're serious about studying herbs regularly, you're not going to retain the information. A book is a quick way to read up on your situation and then try to find or reach your herbal first aid kit to get the appropriate treatment. I will link books at the bottom of the page that are great for having on hand, and how to find medicinal plants for the area in which you live, including Canada.
Herbs also have antiviral and antibacterial properties, which are extremely useful in emergencies. Most people think that only pharmaceuticals have antiviral or antibacterial properties, but that's not true. Most pharmaceuticals come from herbal or plant medicine. Take aspirin, for example. Most don't know that the origins of aspirin come from willow. Willow bark was the original aspirin; the specific pain-relieving properties, salicin, were then isolated, and a synthetic version of salicin—known as salicylic acid—was produced in a laboratory, and our modern-day aspirin was made. Unfortunately, though, aspirin comes with many undesirable side effects that willow, on the other hand, does not have. Plants have a way of using constituents that naturally counteract and complement each other, reducing many adverse side effects.
So now let's get down to the TOP 10 Emergency Herbs:
#1 - Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis (L.)- Elderberry is at the top of my list because it has a variety of uses and preparations. Due to their diaphoretic and antiviral actions, Elderflower and elderberry are exceptional allies during colds, flu, and respiratory infections. Taken as a hot tea (or tincture), elderflowers stimulate circulation and promote sweating, removing toxins from the body and reducing fever after their work of killing pathogens is done. Elder is also anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal, anti-viral, and expectorant, and helps in cases of colds, sinusitis, and sinus allergies to reduce inflammation of sinus tissue and allow for the movement of congestion. Elderflowers and elderberries are both anti-inflammatory. The flowers and berries contain anthocyanins (pigments that impart the blue and purple color), which reduce the buildup of uric acid in the joints, so they are used to reduce inflammation associated with rheumatism, gout, and arthritis. It's easy to have a supply of elderberry syrup or tincture and dried forms of the herbs on hand, and it's suitable for children.
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry Tincture
Dried Berries
Elderflower Tincture
#2 - Willow Bark (Salix alba)- Willow extract does more than ease pain. It offers a few notable advantages over its commercial counterpart. The body converts salicin into salicylic acid over a period of time. So while willow works slower than aspirin, it causes fewer gastrointestinal problems. Moreover, willow’s effects last longer in the body than aspirin. Finally, willow bark offers more than pain support; it contains antiseptic, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties, possibly due to the plant's polyphenols and flavonoids. Willow can help with osteoarthritis and rheumatism, as well as lower back pain. What’s more, salicin inhibits the release of cytokines and may help to prevent the destruction of cartilage, giving it an advantage over NSAIDs. Willow can be used as a tincture or a pill form. We have both at our house.
Willow Bark Capsules
Willow Tincture
Dried Herb
Tincture
#3- St.John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)- SJW’s anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, analgesic, astringent, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial actions make it a powerful aid for wounds, bruises, burns, sprains, muscle pain, and spasms. Its antiseptic properties help with infections in wounds and burns. Topical applications of an infused oil or salve are commonly used for these purposes. SJW also helps soothe the pain associated with damaged nerves and neuralgia and is used to soothe painful sciatica, shingles, and rheumatism. SJW is known as “arnica for the nerves” due to its strong rejuvenating abilities. In Germany, it's been approved for external preparations for injuries, myalgia, and first-degree burns. SJW's active constituents, hypericin and pseudohypericin, are antiviral, and SJW is used in cases of viral infections such as herpes, cold sores, shingles, chicken pox, influenza, HIV, and AIDS. A tincture, herbal oil, and tablet form are all appropriate to have on hand.
Capsules
Herbal Oil
Tincture
Dried Herb
#4 Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris) - Self-Heal has been shown to be antiviral and antibacterial. With astringent, anti-inflammatory, and demulcent properties, self-heal is also used for inflammation and disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract, such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and diarrhea. Self-Heal is a powerful wound healer as it stimulates nitric Oxide ( NO) and endothelial nitric oxide ( eNOS), reducing inflammation and infectious pathogens. Self-Heal will increase wound healing, reduce inflammation and pain, reduce the likelihood of infection, and reduce scar tissue. Self-Heal can be taken internally and applied externally to a wound. You should have on hand a tincture, an herbal oil, salve or poultice, and a capsule can also be helpful.
Tincture
Tea
Ssalve
Poultice
#5- SkullCap (scutellaria lateriflora) - Skullcap has nervine, anxiolytic, antispasmodic, digestive, hypotensive, and analgesic actions. The Cherokee have traditionally used skullcap as a sedative and antispasmodic to relax nervous tension; the herb also has a history of use among the Cherokee for easing breast pains and in formulas for stubborn respiratory conditions and bronchitis. It can be used in an emergency for mild psychogenic shock and pain from injury, as well as nerve pain. In general, skullcap is considered a nerve trophorestorative, which restores balance to the nervous system by nourishing and rebuilding nerves. The nervous system-nourishing skullcap also has antispasmodic, analgesic, and hypotensive actions that help ease stress-related tension headaches, back spasms, facial tics, tremors (such as those associated with Parkinson’s disease), restless legs syndrome, and neuralgic pain related to Lyme disease. Skullcap has been indicated for high blood pressure and related issues such as irritability, anxiety, and insomnia, as well as nervous system deficiency associated with chronic depression, fatigue, restlessness, pain, and spasms. I used skullcap for months after I broke my pelvis. I used it in tincture form every night to help ease my pain and to help relax my nervous system and ready it for a night of deep sleep. It helped me immensely, and I highly recommend it. I recommend tincture or tea preparation, but tincture is better for more immediate relief.
Tincture
Capsules
Dried Herb
#6 - Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Yarrow has been used from at least the time of the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Yarrow has a wide variety of applications, making it one of the essential herbs for home use. Yarrow was used from the time of the Ancient Greeks up until the American Civil War to staunch soldiers’ wounds and support the body’s healing process, hence its common names: soldiers’ woundwort, staunch weed, nosebleed, woundwort, and carpenter’s weed. No first aid kit is complete without yarrow, which is both antiseptic and styptic (staunches bleeding). Yarrow is also antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and analgesic, making it ideal for avoiding infection, staunching blood flow, and easing swelling and pain in wounds. Yarrow can be used to soothing swelling, mainly caused by poisonous bites and stings. Yarrow can be used on fresh wounds and applied to both old and new bruises. Yarrow’s effectiveness for wounds is related to its ability to regulate the flow of blood to and from the skin’s surface through a variety of mechanisms. To stop bleeding and disinfect a wound, apply a poultice of fresh yarrow leaves, a pinch of dried yarrow leaf powder, or a squirt of yarrow extract to a wound, ideally after cleansing. Keep a tincture, fresh, or dried herb on hand.
Dried Herb
Tincture
Tincture
#7 - Arnica (Arnica montana, Arnica spp.) - Arnica is one of the best external remedies for local healing, and it may be considered superior when treating bruises and sprains. The whole plant (including the root) can be used fresh or dried to make topical preparations such as an infused oil, salve, or tincture that can be used externally as a liniment. Arnica improves the circulation to the injured area, which in turn helps to treat inflammation, insect bites, joint pain, bruising, pain, and trauma. Arnica is never to be taken internally, only in homeopathic preparations. Arnica is suitable as an herbal oil or tincture to be applied externally or as a homeopathic pain remedy in tablet form. I take these regularly to ease the pain from my injury.
Herbal Oil
Tincture DO NOT INGEST, EXTERNAL USE ONLY
#8 Plantain (Plantago spp. (esp. P. lanceolata and P. major) - In the 1st century AD, Greek Physician Dioscorides included plantain for its wound healing and anti-infective properties in his treatise De Materia Medica. There are more than 250 species within the Plantago genus worldwide, and all are said to be edible or safe for consumption. Plantain has been referred to by a Cherokee Elder as “Indian band-aid,” because it is an effective remedy for bites, stings, cuts, and scrapes, and it helps to draw out slivers, splinters, or stingers. Plantain may also be used to soothe and cool the pain, itching, or burning symptoms of poison ivy, nettles, or sunburn. All of these indications, combined with the herb’s overall safety and ease of identification, make plantain an excellent herb for kids. The enzymes in one’s own saliva may also add to the medicinal effect and make a poultice, and you can also use a leaf in your sock for hotspots, blisters, or even plantar fasciitis. Plantain has also been shown to possess antimicrobial properties applicable in treating abscesses, ulcers, dental issues, mastitis, and, historically, even blood poisoning. Ghana uses plantain to maintain oral hygiene, relieve tooth pain, and support healthy gums. Plantain grows everywhere, so you shouldn't have to look far to find a fresh source of this plant. Many preparations are available for plantain, including a poultice, tincture, syrup, mouthwash, etc.
Tincture
Salve
Dried Herb
Herbal Oil
#9 Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis) - Valerian is truly the go-to herb for normalizing the nervous system, offering neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and other benefits. For thousands of years, valerian has been used as a relaxant, mild sedative, soporific, and sleep aid, and is considered especially useful when muscle tension is leading to or caused by anxiety and/or an inability to sleep. Valerian is used in cases of both anxiety and depression, helping to soothe frayed nerves and tension and gently lifting spirits. It is believed to normalize the nervous system, helping to sedate those who are agitated but stimulating those who are depressed. As an antispasmodic and analgesic specifically indicated for pain with tension, valerian is not only used for tension headaches and skeletal muscle spasms but also for uterine and intestinal cramping. Valerian also contains high amounts of magnesium, which helps muscles relax and can support Restless Leg Syndrome. Again, this was another go-to herb that I used daily during my injury to help ease pain and promote sleep at night. I recommend having a tincture or capsule on hand.
Capsules
Tincture
Dried Herb
#10 Passionflower ( Passiflora incarnata L.) - Passionflower’s usefulness in cases of insomnia and restlessness is very prominent in the Eclectic literature and includes excellent descriptions of the herb’s effects as being one that promotes a peaceful, restful slumber, whereby the individual wakes well-rested and refreshed. You may wonder why I have this as a must-have in my emergency prep list, but when someone has sustained a serious injury, pain can significantly interfere with getting a restful sleep. It's hard to heal from an injury if you're not getting enough deep, rejuvenating sleep. With such profound effects on the nervous system and many of its functions, some also experienced passionflower to be effective in spasm and spasmodic pain, including that of the digestive and female reproductive systems, irritation with muscular twitchings, headaches from nervousness, and spasmodic actions of the respiratory system found in croup and some forms of asthma. One of the interesting discussions about passionflower and its effective relaxing properties comes from Eclectic literature surrounding the debate on whether or not this herb should be considered narcotic in its actions. For example, Felter (1922) argues against designating a narcotic action to the herb, stating its slow-acting influence as a nerve calmative whereby rest results from a quieting influence, and this restful state consequently allows for sleep. For example, in a small placebo-controlled clinical trial including 36 participants diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), researchers discovered that Passiflora was as effective as oxazepam (a sedative benzodiazepine) in managing GAD and with a lower incidence of job impairment performance (Akhondzadeh et al., 2001). A modern herbalist might argue that if passionflower were truly narcotic in its actions, there would be noticeable cognitive or functional impairment. Wood (2009) states that passionflower increases concentration during waking by “cutting out excessive internal chatter,” but that it does not induce drowsiness as would be expected from an herb with a truly narcotic action.
Either way, this is a powerful and effective herb everyone should have. Passionflower was another one of my go-to herbs during my injury to control pain and promote deep sleep. I recommend that you have a tincture on hand and the dried form of the herb to have as a tea. Capsules would also have a place in your herbal first aid kit.
Tincture
Capsules
Dried Herb
Books I highly recommend you have on hand to get you started:
Herbal Medic:
Boreal Herbal for my friends in Canada:
The New Healing Herbs:
Herbal AntiVirals
Herbal Antibiotics
Alchemy of Herbs:
Herbs of the Southwest:
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West:
Link to get an emergency supply of antibiotics:
Jase Medical
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The information offered on HealWise websites is for educational purposes only. HealWise makes neither medical claims nor is it intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. HealWise neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements.
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