Class on Herbs for First Aid

                    The Top 4 Herbs for First Aid

#1 Activated Charcoal Activated charcoal is made from hardwood, coconut husks or bamboo. For the purpose of first aid the char from coconut or bamboo is best. Regular "Kingsford" type BBQ charcoal is not the same thing as Activated charcoal. Charcoal briquettes are full of chemical and toxins and are not a suitable substitute, even in an emergency.

Activated charcoal bonds with toxins and then are disposed of through body's the elimination system. It needs to be taken with water to facilitate the bonding process. It is also important to drink lots of water since A.C. can be dehydrating if taken in quantity.

Use activated charcoal for:
Food poisoning
Mushroom poisoning
Toxic chemical poisoning, (but not effective for caustics like lye)
Snake bites
Spider Bites
Bee Stings
Prevents intestinal infections
Cuts down on intestinal gas
Has the ability to draw out toxins and bacteria through the skin

For Toxic chemical poisoning:
Use for toxic agents as long as it has been established that poisoning is the actual problem. But is known to be less effective on caustics like lye, boric acid, cadmium, cyanide, DDT, ethanol, ethanol glycol, Iron led, lithium, mercury, methanol, potassium chloride, selenium, strong acid or alkali and organic solvents, It is effective in adsorption of over 4000 chemicals,drugs and toxic wastes.

10 grams = 2 tsp. of activated charcoal. 10 grams of activated charcoal should be given for every gram ( 1/4 tsp.) of poison ingested. 

If the amount of poison consumed is unknown then administer 1 gram (1/4 tsp.) of activated char. per 2.2 lbs of body weight.

Adults dose initial dose 50 grams (3 1/2 tblsp. to 7 tblsp.) depending on weight
Dilute in 8 oz. water to every 2 tblsp char.
Subsequent doses 2 1/2 tsp. every hour.
Dilute in at least 4 oz. water. Do this every hour until symptoms resolve.

Pediatric dose
 1 year: 10 grams (2 1/2 tsp.) to 25 grams (2 tblsp) orally once depending on weight

1-12 years: 25 grams (2Tblsp)to 50 grams (3 1/2 Tblsp) orally once depending on weight

13-18 years: Single-dose: 25 (2 Tblsp) to 100 g (7 tblsp.)orally once depending on weight

Dilute in 8 oz. water per 2 tblsp. char.

Do not use charcoal capsules! The capsules are not packed with char that is strong enough to handle poison. Get loose coconut or bamboo char from a reputable source.

Never try to give an unconscious person activated charcoal!! Always dilute charcoal, never give it dry, it can easily be aspired into the lungs and cause serious health risks!

For Snake Bite

Use about 1/4 cup  activated charcoal and enough water to make a thick paste, squirt a full dropper of stock solution strength echinacea tincture onto the activated charcoal. 

Keep bite victim quiet, elevate bite area slightly if possible, but not so that the bite is above the heart.

Dampen a palm sized quantity of activated Charcoal with water to make a paste. place paste in a layer of surgical gauze add 10 drops of echinacea tincture and bind to the wound, wrap in plastic then hold in place with an ace bandage.  Mix one tsp. of activated charcoal and 1 tsp. echinacea tincture with a small amount of water, and give to bite victim as soon as possible, ( always administer activated charcoal in water as the powder can easily be aspired into the lungs in the dry form). Then every hour after that continue with echinacea alone until the swelling, pain and discoloration recede, then go to 1 tsp. 3x a day for another day or two.  After four hours replace bandage with a new poultice of activated charcoal and echinacea.  At 8 hours the activated charcoal will not be effective any more, so change from activated charcoal to a paste of bentonite clay and echinacea. Using the same gauze, plastic and ace bandage procedure as before. Change the bentonite clay dressing every 4 hours until the swelling, pain and discoloration have been completely resolved. Snake Bite Keep bite victim quiet, elevate bite area slightly if possible, but not so that the bite is above the heart. Dampen a palm sized quantity of activated Charcoal with water to make a paste. place paste in a layer of surgical gauze add 10 drops of echinacea tincture and bind to the wound, wrap in plastic then hold in place with an ace bandage.  Mix one tsp. of activated charcoal and 1 tsp. echinacea tincture with a small amount of water, and give to bite victim as soon as possible, ( always administer activated charcoal in water as the powder can easily be aspired into the lungs in the dry form). Then every hour after that continue with echinacea alone until the swelling, pain and discoloration recede, then go to 1 tsp. 3x a day for another day or two.  After four hours replace bandage with a new poultice of activated charcoal and echinacea.  At 8 hours the activated charcoal will not be effective any more, so change from activated charcoal to a paste of bentonite clay and echinacea. Using the same gauze, plastic and ace bandage procedure as before. Change the bentonite clay dressing every 4 hours until the swelling, pain and discoloration have been completely resolved.

Keep bite victim quiet, elevate bite area slightly if possible, but not so that the bite is above the heart. Dampen a palm sized quantity of activated Charcoal with water to make a paste. place paste in a layer of surgical gauze add 10 drops of echinacea tincture and bind to the wound, wrap in plastic then hold in place with an ace bandage.  Mix one tsp. of activated charcoal and 1 tsp. echinacea tincture with a small amount of water, and give to bite victim as soon as possible, ( always administer activated charcoal in water as the powder can easily be aspired into the lungs in the dry form). Then every hour after that continue with echinacea alone until the swelling, pain and discoloration recede, then go to 1 tsp. 3x a day for another day or two.  After four hours replace bandage with a new poultice of activated charcoal and echinacea.  At 8 hours the activated charcoal will not be effective any more, so change from activated charcoal to a paste of bentonite clay and echinacea. Using the same gauze, plastic and ace bandage procedure as before. Change the bentonite clay dressing every 4 hours until the swelling, pain and discoloration have been completely resolved. 

Spider Bites

Use the same Bentonite clay procedure as for snake bite. 

Food Poisoning

For food poisoning take 1/4 tsp.to 1/2 tsp. for a child, 1 tsp. for Adult of activated charcoal in water. Repeat after 30 minutes, then hourly if the symptoms persist.

Drink as much water as stomach will tolerate, since activated charcoal needs water to work and the charcoal tends to be dehydrating.

#2  Bentonite Clay                                                     

Bentonite clay can be used to treat:

Boils

Infected wounds 

Spider bites

Snake bites

Eczema

Psoriasis

Diaper rash

It also helps heal blisters

Can be used to neutralize poison ivy oils on the skin

Can be used as a detox for heavy metals and other toxins in the body

Supports the immune system

Kills harmful virus' and bacteria in the body

Strengthens the gut walls

Is good for dental health 

Removes fluoride from drinking water 

Can be used as a deodorant

#3 Yarrow

Stops profuse bleeding

Relieves pain

Reduces fever

Prevents infection

Helps heal wounds

promote regrowth of healthy skin

Minimizes scarring

#4 Manuka Honey

Is the only effective treatment for MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria

Is antibiotic, antiviral, antiseptic, antifungal 

Is a wound leveler, allowing for healing from the bottom up to reduce thickening and scarring

Applied to burns to keep infection under control and to enable the regrowth of skin

Other important herbs for use in first aid

#5 Cayenne

Can stop a heart attack in 30 seconds, reducing damage to heart muscle

Prevents blood clots

Stops internal bleeding

Helpful in stopping brain damage due to stroke

Stops bleeding

Prevents and treats arthritis 

Increases body's sensitivity to insulin, ( so diabetics need less insulin)

Pain reliever

#6 Turmeric

Reduces inflammation
Heals wounds
Helps with aches and pains, especially joint stiffness
Reduces the affects of arthritis
Helps to balance blood sugar
Lowers serum cholesterol and triglycerides, significantly increases HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), safe and low side effects
Lowers the risk of cancer, limits the growth of blood vessels in tumors
Natural pain reliever
Strengthens immune system
Improves cognitive functions
Helps boost mood
Anti- aging agent
Reduces swelling due to sprains

Turmeric needs to be accompanied by black pepper. The Piperzine in the pepper make the turmeric more accessible to the body, ( increases  by 2000 times what is available without the pepper). Can be administered as a capsule or added to food or beverages.
#7 Ginger

Anti inflammatory

Eases nausea and morning sickness

Relieves indigestion

Reduces pain

Fights infection, particularly useful for respiratory infection

Fights dental infections

Reduces muscle pain and soreness

#6 Echinacea

Boosts the immune response in the body

Fights Strep throat

Used in tandem with activated charcoal and Bentonite clay to neutralize venom

Is antibacterial so can be used on wounds to not only cleanse but promote healing

Other herbs that are useful in first aid

Other Important Herbs for First Aid

Olive leaf- Natural antibiotic

Yerba Santa-Bronchio dialator

Hawthorn Berry- Cardiovacsular regulation, lowers BP, conditions heart, arteries and veins

White Willow- Natures asprin 

Plantain-counters stings, stops itching, eases pain, promotes healing

Kava Kava- a sedative that is handy for the emotional meltdown

Lavender- calmative, soothing for sting, bites rashes, aid in sleep

Chamomile- calmative, anti inflammatory, antisceptic, antispasmodic, reverses pink eye

Comfrey- heals wounds, knits broken bone, fights infection