Most important primitive medicine?

**bulrush** · 02-21-2008, 09:44 AM

I was thinking of the most useful thing that could have medical uses, that is fairly easy to make in a primitive situation.

Alcohol. Not for drinking, but for sterilizing cuts and instruments.

I have no idea how to make hydrogen peroxide, a great antiseptic, so I go with alcohol. Since, if we are unable to make antibiotics, what's the next best thing? I mean, you're doing hard work outside, you're going to get cuts and punctures. Getting a bad infection could mean death. (I said *bad* infection, a minor infection is not so serious.) I mean, I have gotten 7 huge boils over the last 7 years, and I only went to the doctor for 2 of them. I lanced them myself, kept them clean, and took lots of tylenol.

Any other thoughts?

Garlic has mild anti-biotic properties, so you could spread garlic on the wound, and smell like the Olive Garden.

**Rick** · 02-21-2008, 10:04 AM

If your question is solely for cuts and scapes, there are a number of natural ways to stop the bleeding. Spider webs have long been used to promote clotting as have ground black pepper and ground cayenne. Thistle can be used to make a tea wash to treat boils. Pipsissewa can be used to make a tea wash for cuts as can Heal-all and Common Juniper. Coneflower root or leaf tea can used as a wash.

Boiled acorns to stop bleeding. Common Plantain, Smooth Sumac, Shepherd's Purse, Witch Hazel and Silverweed all make good poultices to stop bleeding. Horsetail not only makes a tea wash to stop bleeding but you can make a poultice that can be used as a bandage.

**Assassin Pilot** · 02-21-2008, 11:40 AM

*as Rick uses his new super-mod powers to access his new infinite survival data*

**carcajou garou** · 02-21-2008, 12:58 PM

ASA, from willow branches.

**bulrush** · 02-21-2008, 01:18 PM

I was looking for the single item with the most medicinal use.

One might argue eating fresh fruits and vegetables might be the best way to prevent infections and illness in the first place.

**trax** · 02-21-2008, 01:25 PM

I can't say one plant with most uses and of course it depends on what flora and fauna exist in your environment. I definitely agree with the headache medicine from willows, birch makes excellent bandages (inner bark layer) and has some ASA (or something that helps with headaches) available in it too, but not as much as willow.There's a kind of moss that grows up north that makes really good bandages and poultices too, but in my life I've been shown these things without learning their proper names. I've learned some of the names of medicines from people here in different threads, I'd already used the plants but never knew what they were called until I became a member here.

**Rick** · 02-21-2008, 01:40 PM

Trax - I think you're talking about Spragnum Moss? Grows in and around wetlands.

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Bulrush - I don't know that there is an answer to your question. To me that's a bit like asking what's the best prescription medicine. It begs the question, for what?

**trax** · 02-21-2008, 01:51 PM

It's different than sphagnum (did I spell that right?) but very similar, probably the same "family" or whatever.

**Rick** · 02-21-2008, 01:57 PM

2nd cousin twice removed no doubt.

**marberry** · 02-21-2008, 11:57 PM

aola vera, hands down. its insainly common and even more insainly easy to grow. you fillet the large leaves and the inner gel can cure severe burns and cuts. its also extremely nutritious and you can make string out of the mid outer layer and it helps prevent cancer (i think)

**RobertRogers** · 02-22-2008, 10:04 AM

One word, almost too simple to believe but the most effective medicine the world has ever known. prevention

**Sam** · 02-22-2008, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by RobertRogers

One word, almost too simple to believe but the most effective medicine the world has ever known. prevention

I thought prevention was cautions cousin.

**bulrush** · 02-22-2008, 03:12 PM

Marcraft I think you're right about aloe. However it won't grow outside if it freezes. I have personally used aloe from the store many times and it cured a real bad sunburn. I had no pain after 3 days of using aloe every 4 hours, and it's non-toxic.

RobertRogers, I hear ya about prevention. But I was referring to the "oops, too late for prevention" situation.

**Chuck** · 02-24-2008, 12:09 AM

Usnea is an anti-microbial

Chickweed for burns

wormwood tea for flue

Willow- pain relief (natural form of aspirin)

yarrow to help a break fever

mint for upset stomach

cottonwood buds for Balm of Gilead

**AdventureDoc** · 02-24-2008, 09:55 PM

Great topic!

I liked the willow bark and aspirin reply. As people are suffering more and more from heart disease, aspirin is proving to be a valuable tool in this fight. Plus, fever reducer, pain control and I hav heard willow bark is a mild antiseptic, although i have never seen a decent article to prove this one way or another.

Cinchona plant was a traditional african plant used to combat malaria, as well as artemesin from SE asia. They deserve honorable mention!