Simple Plant Medicine for Survival

Tannin

Medical uses.  Burns, diarrhea, dysentery, skin problems, and parasites. Tannin solution prevents infection and aids healing.

Sources.  Found in the outer bark of all trees, acorns, banana plants, common plantain, strawberry leaves, and blackberry stems.

Preparation.

Place crushed outer bark, acorns, or leaves in water.
Leach out the tannin by soaking or boiling.
Increase tannin content by longer soaking time.
Replace depleted material with fresh bark/plants.

Treatments.
Burns.
Moisten bandage with cooled tannin tea.
Apply compress to burned area.
Pour cooled tea on burned areas to ease pain.

Diarrhea, dysentery, and worms.  Drink strong tea solution (may promote voiding of worms).

Skin problems (dry rashes and fungal infections).
Apply cool compresses or soak affected part to relieve itching and promote healing.

Lice and insect bites.  Wash affected areas with tea to ease itching.

Salicin/Salicylic Acid.

Medical uses.  Aches, colds, fever, inflammation, pain, sprains, and sore throat (aspirin-like qualities).

Sources.  Willow and Aspen trees

Preparation.
Gather twigs, buds, or cambium layer (soft, moist layer between the outer bark and the wood) of willow or aspen.

Prepare a tea 
Place twigs, buds, or cambium layer in water.
Leach out the salicin by soaking or boiling.
Increase salicin content by longer soaking time.
Replace depleted material with fresh bark/plants.

Make poultice.
Crush the plant or stems.
Make a pulpy mass.

Treatments.
Chew on twigs, buds, or cambium for symptom relief.
Drink tea for colds and sore throat.
Use warm, moist poultice for aches and sprains.
Apply pulpy mass over injury.
Hold in place with a dressing

Common Plantain.

Medical uses.  Itching, wounds, abrasions, stings, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Source.  There are over 200 plantain species with similar medicinal properties.  

Preparation.

Brew tea from seeds.

Brew tea from leaves.

Make poultice of leaves.

Treatments.

Drink tea made from seeds for diarrhea or dysentery.

Drink tea made from leaves for vitamin and minerals.

Use poultice to treat cuts, sores, burns, and stings.

Common Cattail.

Medical uses.  Wounds, sores, boils, inflammations, burns, and an excellent food source.

Source.  Cattail plant found in marshes 

Preparation.

Pound roots into a pulpy mass for a poultice.

Cook and eat green bloom spikes.

Collect yellow pollen for flour substitute.

Peel and eat tender shoots (raw or cooked).

Treatments.

Apply poultice to affected area.

Use plant for food, vitamins, and minerals.