The Powwow Guy

One of my favorite aspects of Powwow is herbal medicine. I love using herbs and plants to make medicine. There is something extremely fulfilling about making your own remedies right in your kitchen; especially when I use herbs that I've grown myself.

Some herbs and plants are good for quick, first-aid remedies. Here are just a few:

Colds, coughs. Echinacea can be added to a disposable tea bag and added to a cup of regular tea. This helps clear the lungs and fight off the germs that cause colds. You can add honey to soothe your throat. You can add dandelion to give you a rich boost of nutrients and vitamins. You can also make a chest plaster of mustard powder, a little flour, and some warm water. Mix until it's a nice thick consistency, spread it on a bit of gauze, then lay it on your chest.

Bleeding. Powdered turmeric can be sprinkled onto a cut to stop the bleeding quickly. In a pinch, soak a paper towel in ice cold water and place on the cut to stop the bleeding. 

Burns. Aloe can be placed directly onto the burned skin to soothe it, cool it, and keep the skin soft and moist so that it heals faster. You can also run a burn under cool water or place a cold, wet cloth on top of the burned area.

Itchy/dry skin. Witch Hazel is an amazing extract that can be applied directly to your skin. Or you can mix a little Bentonite Clay with Witch Hazel extract to make a paste that will soothe itchy skin rashes. For dry skin, you can use coconut oil (either the solid or the fractionated). 

Not every first aid treatment requires store-bought and chemical-heavy medications. With just a few herbs and other products on hand, you can address everyday cuts, bumps, scrapes, cuts, etc. with what nature provides for us!