Herb Academy

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The Family Herbalist’s First Aid Kit

This section will help you select herbal preparations and essential oils for minor burns, cuts, abrasions, insect stings, sprains and strains.

Serious injuries, however, need urgent medical attention. Orthodox medicine is extremely good at treating such injuries. Use your common sense and get help when needed.

The Basic First Aid Kit

Apart from the basic equipment common to any first aid kit such as sterile dressings, waterproof plasters, scissors, bandage, tweezers and so on you can also include the following:

  • A bottle of Bach Rescue Remedy
  • Calendula ointment (with or without the addition of St. Johns Wort (you can make your own)
  • Lavender and tea tree are the best (and least expensive) essentials oils
  • Eucalyptus essential oil – as an alternative to tea tree
  • Bicarbonate of soda – for treating bee and ant stings
  • Cider vinegar – for treating sunburn, wasp stings, mosquito and horsefly bites
  • Distilled witch-hazel – valued for its astringent properties for minor burns, cuts, sprains and bruises

Side note: The remedies listed below are first aid remedies and will not necessarily be used in the followup treatment of the injury. Visit the Herbal Therapeutic Index for remedies for followup treatment.

Burns and Scalds

Herbs: Infused oil of St. Johns Wort, distilled witch-hazel, calendula ointment, calendula tincture

Essential oils: Eucalyptus, geranium, frankincense, lavender, tea tree

Important: Serious burns need urgent medical attention

Cuts and Grazes

Herbs: Diluted tincture of calendula, distilled witch-hazel. Yarrow poultice to help staunch minor bleeding. If the cut is quite deep, use diluted tincture of St. John’s wort.

Essential oils:  Eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemon, pine, tea tree

Important: If there is any risk of infection such as tetanus, seek urgent medical attention

Insect Bites and Stings

Herbs: Calendula and/or St. John’s wort (tincture or ointment)

Essential oils: Eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, patchouli, rosemary

Important: Bee and wasp stings affect some people seriously. If this is the case, summon urgent medical attention

Methods of use:

Bee stings: To neutralize the acidic venom, apply bicarbonate of soda (an alkali) made into a paste with a little water. Bicarbonate of soda also neutralises acidic ant venom.

Wasp stings: wasp venom is alkaline, so an acidic remedy is necessary. Dab with cider vinegar or lemon juice (also for mosquito and horsefly bites).

Most other insect bites and stings can be treated with neat essential oil, diluted herbal tincture or herbal ointment.

Sprains and Bruises

Herbs: Arnica (tincture or ointment), Calendula (tincture or ointment), elder (decoction of leaves), distilled witch-hazel

Essential oils:  Chamomile (German and Roman), eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, marigold, pine, rosemary

Methods of use:

Start with a cold or icy aromatic or herbal compress (witch-hazel is excellent), then apply an aromatic or herbal ointment. For sprains, after the ointment, apply gentle massage above towards the heart and below the injury (not directly on it) to drain off extra fluids.

Side note: A sprain occurs at a joint such as a wrist or ankle when the ligaments and tissues around the joint is suddenly wrenched or torn. Symptoms are pain and tenderness around the joint, often followed by swellings and bruising. Rest the injured part and raise it to prevent accumulation of excess fluids (support with pillows).

Strain (Muscular)

Herbs: Infused oil of calendula, or a 50/50 blend of infused oil of calendula and St John’s wort

Essential oils: As for sprains and bruises

Methods of use:

Begin with a cold or tepid essential oil compress. Once the swelling has subsided take a hot aromatic bath (up to 8 drops essential oil and 4 tablespoons sea salt), followed by a massage with an infused oil or an aromatherapy blend.

Side note: Rest is essential. If you have strained the muscle of an arm or leg, raise the injured part above the level of your heart to prevent the accumulation of excess fluids (support with pillows).

Sunburn

Herbs: Aloe vera juice, bulbine juice, calendula (infused oil or ointment), St. John’s wort

Essential oils: Chamomile (German and Roman), geranium, lavender, rosemary, tea tree

Orthodox: Voltaren gel is a ‘wonder cure’ for sunburn

Methods of use:

Take 2-3 cool (preferably cold) aromatic baths throughout the day, adding up to 8 tablespoons cider vinegar and 8 drops essential oil. Afterwards, pat dry and apply an appropriate aromatherapy massage oil, or infused oil of calendula, or calendula ointment. For very sore patches it is less painful to use than ointment; paint it on with a small, soft bristle brush. Aloe vera or bulbine juice will prevent sunburnt skin from peeling. It also takes out the heat and sting, stops blistering and converts minor sunburn into a tan. Put some into a cosmetic spray bottle with distilled water and mist the skin several times a day.

Take Action

What are your favourite natural first aid remedies? Share them in a Reply below.

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  1. Louise Kock says

    I love lavender Eucalyptus pepperment as I have 3 hockeyplayers as kids – and bulbine for insect bites and cuts – we have a abundance of bulbine on the farm and it is one of the main reasons I am doing this course is to get knowledge I can use in my products

  3. Joanne Madgwick says

    We use tea tree oil in coconut oil for all cuts and scrapes and bicarb / bulbine on stings / bites.
    I know it isn’t a herb but we’ve also found potato to be a great to draw out an infection, planters warts or spider bite and I’ve heard it’s great for burns but haven’t tried it on a burn.

  6. Kerry Burrows says

    I like to use Aloe Vera for sunburns, tea tree oil for cleaning and drying cuts and scrapes as well as lemon juice for mosquito bites. I also like to bath in bicarb every two weeks or so as it is great for withdrawing toxins from the body – just be careful that you have no cuts or scrapes as it burns…

  8. Kerry Burrows says

    I still need to do a lot of experimenting before I can comment on my favourite natural first aid remedies, however I have used Aloe Vera on sunburn and it is excellent. I have also used Tea Tree Oil on mosquito bites. Many years ago, I made my sun a sleeping pillow out of dried lavender, and then used to put on a few drops each night – it really worked for him and it still works for me.

    • Eimear Duffy says

      My favourite herb would have to be lavender. I love the smell of it its so relaxing I uses the oil on my pillow I use a lavender lotion on my hands and it is also lovely in a bath.

  10. Alicia Doel says

    My fave for mosquito bites (I end up in large welts):

    Carrier oil OR neutral base cream

    -Peppermint oil
    -Tea tree oil
    -Lavender oil
    -Cinnamon oil

    Works an absolute treat 🙂

  13. Nandi McCormick says

    Tobacco is good for drawing out insect stingers and fluids that cause itch and inflammation. the tobacco has to be dry, like in a cigarette. moisten it with water (or in a pinch, saliva). Then place it on a band-aid and cover the infected area. As the tobacco dries it will pull out the nasties.

  15. jdgirl.cf says

    Thanks. I’ve been wanting to put together a natural first aid kit. I made calendula infused olive oil last summer and used it for dry skin/ eczema but didn’t know it had so many other uses!

  17. silverocean22 says

    Most of those I use on a regular basis but at the moment one of my prized herb is my Yarrow. I have so much of it now and it works so very well. Took me ages to find and grow out to a mass scale. I dry it and powder it for direct use on a wound or with other herbs and aloe gel or honey. Works very well. Did not know about the lemon with bee stings and wasp stings, that’s very cool info for me!

  24. Shelby Burnett says

    I LOVE tea tree oil and use it frequently on minor cuts and scrapes. I have three children so this is probably the most commonly used essential oil in our household!

  33. beverleymin says

    Vinegar and Bicarb for cleaning with a bit of citrus oil for fragrance
    Bluegum infused water for keeping fleas away from puppies, kittens dogs and cats – daily spray all over
    Vinegar in water to kill germs in water for washing up
    Turmeric, ginger and cayenne pepper tea for inflammation
    Garlic for keeping colds and flu away

  35. Penny Botha says

    For burns and inflammatory skin conditions, I like to use a Mimosa hostilis (teniflora) tincture with a little coconut oil. Inflammation subides substantially within seconds and minor burns heal very quickly

  38. francineheykoop says

    Tea tree oil for cleaning wounds and house clean too.
    Lavender oil neat to calm down.
    Thym and eucalyptus for sinusitis problems and lungs.
    Lemon and orange oils for fresh house smell.
    Ylang-Ylang with Frankincense and more….

  47. miemmie.byrch says

    I am never without lavender and tea tree oil.
    I’ve used tea tree for:
    Gargling if I have a sore throat or mouth ulcer
    Cuts and burns
    I’ve used lavender for:
    Stress relieve
    Head ache
    Cuts and burns
    Pimples
    Fever blisters (mixed with tea tree)

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