Homesteaders have to deal with a wide variety of external health issues, including cuts, scrapes, bruises, rashes, blisters, burns, and even fungal infections.
Fortunately, Mother Nature offers us a wide variety of topical herbal remedies that can treat these issues effectively. Below are 12 remedies backed by scientific research. They are ideal to keep around the house for when they’re needed.
1. Aloe (Aloe vera)
I don’t think I know a single person who hasn’t used aloe to treat a burn at some point. This wonderful plant, which is native to the Arabian peninsula, has startling anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties.
This plant’s use as a healing agent was documented in ancient Egyptian writings, as well as 9th- and 12th-century Arabic medicinal texts by Al-Kindi and Ibn Al-Baitar.
Studies have shown that aloe is more effective than silver sulphadiazine in treating second-degree burns1. Its antimicrobial effects are equal to (if not better than) toothpaste in preventing cavities and tooth decay. Additionally, aloe has proven effective in treating diabetic foot ulcers2.
Although this plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Growing Zones 9b and above (e.g., parts of California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas), it can grow just as happily indoors in a pot in any climate.
Keep a potted aloe in a sunny spot in your kitchen, and you’ll always have it within easy reach in case you get burned or cut while cooking.
2. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
You’ve probably seen yarrow growing in ditches and depleted soil more times than you can count, and never realized how healing this plant is.
It’s been used for thousands of years to staunch blood, speed wound healing, and bring down fevers, just to name a few healing actions. Its Latin name, Achillea, refers to the legendary hero Achilles, who treated soldiers’ wounds with this humble plant.
Studies show that yarrow has notable antispasmodic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, anti-parasitic, and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects3. In fact, it’s proven immensely effective against gram-negative H. pylori bacteria (which can be carcinogenic)4.
In addition to its use by humans, yarrow is also used by wild animals to good effect.
Injured wildlife will roll around in yarrow to staunch bleeding wounds, and certain bird species line their nests with yarrow leaves, apparently aware of its ability to repel parasites such as fleas and mites5. This is one of the reasons why many homesteaders add fresh yarrow leaves to their chickens’ coops and bedding.
3. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Despite its supernatural-sounding name, witch hazel wasn’t named for any kind of witchy powers. Its common moniker comes from the Middle English word “wiche“, meaning pliant (in reference to its bendable branches).
That said, this plant does have some startlingly effective medicinal properties, which may have seemed otherworldly to early practitioners.
Extracts made with witch hazel twigs and bark have anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic, and antioxidant, effects. In fact, witch hazel’s proven anti-inflammatory effects make it a popular ingredient in many skincare formulations6. It helps to alleviate conditions like acne and eczema, and improves skin hydration when used as a toner or serum7.
Witch hazel’s astringency can also be invaluable in treating weeping scalp psoriasis as well as weeping blisters from poison ivy exposure8. It can also help lessen swelling and prominence of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
4. Arnica (Arnica spp.)
This friendly little member of the daisy (Asteraceae) family has long been used as a topical anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent9.
It’s native to northeastern Europe, and its flowers and leaves are often used as poultices or infused into salves, creams, gels, and other ointments. Arnica is so well known and acknowledged in the realm of topical herbal remedies that it’s carried in most pharmacies and health food stores worldwide.
Numerous studies have shown that topical arnica preparations are incredibly effective at alleviating pain and inflammation from lower back injuries to ankle sprains, elbow and wrist tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and post-surgery incision pain.
5. Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
The same lavender that’s used in sleep sachets is also a healing powerhouse10. In addition to its scent—which helps to alleviate anxiety and promotes good sleep—lavender has proven antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory.
It can also assist with wound healing by encouraging tissue granulation, which is when soft pink tissue forms to seal up an open wound.
Another reason lavender is a superstar on this list of topical herbal remedies is its proven efficacy at treating burns—both because of its assistance with tissue regeneration and pain-relieving effects11.
When I got second-degree burns on my inner arms and across my chest, I treated them with a poultice of mashed aloe mixed with lavender essential oil. The burns healed in record time with minimal blistering, and I only have a couple of tiny, pale pink scars to remind me of the event.
6. Usnea (Usnea sp.)
This common lichen has been used effectively as a herbal antibiotic for centuries12. In fact, before the rise of pharmaceutical antibiotics such as penicillin, usnea and garlic were two of the primary medicines used to treat stubborn infections.
Although it’s most often taken internally in tincture form, it’s also one of the more important topical herbal remedies to keep in your apothecary cabinet. In addition to being antimicrobial, usnea also has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects.
Usnea contains usnic and barbatic acid, which have been proven to inhibit bacterial, fungal, and viral growth by disrupting the microorganisms’ cell membranes, leading to cell death.
Furthermore, Usnea has been proven effective against gram-positive and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including E. coli and Candida) and has shown to be more effective than the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin against Staph infections13.
Usnea is one of the plants that I used to treat sepsis when a brown recluse spider bit me.
7. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Although ashwagandha is most well-known as an adaptogen taken internally, it’s also one of the more important topical herbal remedies in Ayurvedic medicine.
It’s been shown to exhibit significant wound-healing properties, and its anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and collagen-promoting actions are often used to treat skin a wide variety of skin conditions.
In addition to reversing signs of aging by increasing skin hydration and elasticity, it’s been shown to prevent squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer).
Ashwagandha has been proven effective at treating (and inhibiting) drug-resistant Candida growth in oral lesions, as well as eliminating fungal infections in open wounds. This makes it ideal to keep on hand for treating fungal nail infections, “jock itch,” ringworm, and the candidiasis “thrush” that some breastfeeding women experience.
8. Neem (Azadirachta indica)
You may already be familiar with neem oil’s antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties because you’ve used it to treat various pathogens around the homestead.
Well, you may be delighted to discover that this multi-purpose plant has been scientifically proven to have startling anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-carcinogenic (i.e. cancer-fighting), antioxidant, photo-protective (i.e. anti-aging), and wound-healing properties (including oral ulcers).
As far as topical herbal remedies go, this is one of the most important and wide-spectrum ones to keep on hand at all times.
It’s been used as a panacea in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia. It can be used in lotions, salves, gels, poultices, toothpaste, hair oil, and countless other topical applications to treat various health issues.
If you’re located in South Asia, Africa, Australia, Central or South America, or Hawaii, you may be able to grow your own neem plants. If not, you can find neem in oil, tincture, or dried form in health food or apothecary shops that carry ayurvedic remedies.
9. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Another plant that has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and __ effects is rosemary. Yes, the same rosemary you use to season some of your favorite dishes.
It also has significant topical analgesic effects, making it excellent for alleviating pain caused by bumps, bruises, sprains, and the like. Furthermore, it’s been shown to not only accelerate wound healing, but also to prevent sepsis in open wounds, including episiotomy incisions in primiparous women (i.e., women who’ve given birth for the first time).
In addition to these effects, rosemary is also a common additive to commercial shampoos and serums to treat hair loss, including alopecia14. This is due to this herb’s ability to stimulate blood circulation around hair follicles, thus encouraging new hair growth. Rosemary is also one of the most easily accessible topical herbal remedies for acne15.
10. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Comfrey has long been used to alleviate the pain and swelling from various physical wounds and to speed the healing process for cuts, strains, and even broken bones.
This herb’s leaves roots have surprisingly effective analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects and also stimulate tissue regeneration.
In one comparative study, 82 patients with ankle sprains were treated with comfrey ointment. In contrast, another 82 were treated with Diclofenac gel (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain due to injury, arthritis, and inflammatory diseases)15.
In this study, the comfrey ointment was more effective than the Diclofenac! This was echoed in a 2006 study in which a similar comfrey ointment proved remarkably effective at reducing pain and swelling, and improving mobility in the knees of osteoarthritis patients16.
11. Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
if you live in eastern or central North America, you’ve probably come across this plant plenty of times. It loves stream banks, wetlands, and damp woodlands, and is often found growing close to poison ivy.
This is hilarious because a mash of jewelweed stems and leaves has proven to be one of the most effective treatments for poison ivy-induced contact dermatitis. This 2012 study confirms its efficacy, as does this 2013 paper from Wilkes University.
It’s one of the best topical herbal remedies in my arsenal for treating insect bites and heat rashes. I’ve found it particularly effective when combined with a bit of aloe vera gel and peach bark tincture.
12. Oregano (Oreganum vulgare)
The same oregano that you add to tomato sauce has scientifically proven anti-parasitic, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, and antibiotic effects.
It’s been shown to both promote wound healing and reduce scarring, and the carvacrol and thymol it contains are remarkably effective at treating topical fungal infections such as candida. Homesteaders who slop around in rubber boots can be prone to athlete’s foot infections, which can be treated effectively with oregano essential oil (EO)17.
It should be noted that oregano oil is quite potent, and can burn skin if it isn’t sufficiently diluted. The general recommendation is to dilute it to 1-2% for topical treatments.
A Word of Caution
Although all of these topical herbal remedies are backed by science, that doesn’t mean they’re either effective or recommended for everyone. Each body is different, and an herb that’s immensely healing and balancing for one person can wreak havoc in another.
Never take any herbal remedies without consulting with your healthcare team, including herbalists or naturopaths.
There may be several reasons why various herbal medicines may not be suitable for you, like allergies to contraindications with medications you’re currently on.
This article is solely for informational purposes, so please ensure that you do proper research before using any kind of plant medicine for yourself or your family members.
Resources:
1: Muhammad Naveed Shahzad, Naheed Ahmed (Department of Plastic Surgery, Nishtar Hospital, Multan) (2013). Effectiveness of Aloe Vera Gel compared with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream as burn wound dressing in second-degree burns.
2: Najafian Y, Khorasani ZM, Najafi MN, Hamedi SS, Mahjour M, Feyzabadi Z. (2019) Efficacy of Aloe vera/ Plantago Major Gel in Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial. Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2019;16(2):223-231. doi: 10.2174/1570163815666180115093007. PMID: 29336265.
3: Saeidnia S, Gohari A, Mokhber-Dezfuli N, Kiuchi F. A review on phytochemistry and medicinal properties of the genus Achillea. Daru. 2011;19(3):173-86. PMID: 22615655; PMCID: PMC3232110.
4: Villalva M, Silvan JM, Alarcón-Cavero T, Villanueva-Bermejo D, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Martinez-Rodriguez AJ. Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antibacterial Properties of an Achillea millefolium L. Extract and Its Fractions Obtained by Supercritical Anti-Solvent Fractionation against Helicobacter pylori. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Sep 20;11(10):1849. doi: 10.3390/antiox11101849. PMID: 36290572; PMCID: PMC9598488.
5: Bush SE, Clayton DH. Anti-parasite behaviour of birds. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Jul 19;373(1751):20170196. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0196. PMID: 29866911; PMCID: PMC6000146.
6: Xue Liu, Jodi Goldberg, Maryanne Senna, Eddy Hsi, Chun Wang, Sabina Gosto, Qian Zheng. 42138 Effect of a novel witch hazel formula on skin barrier health. (2023). Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. doi.org: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.07.614
7: Piazza S, Martinelli G, Magnavacca A, Fumagalli M, Pozzoli C, Terno M, Canilli L, Angarano M, Maranta N, Dell’Agli M, Sangiovanni E. Unveiling the Ability of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana L.) Bark Extract to Impair Keratinocyte Inflammatory Cascade Typical of Atopic Eczema. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Aug 17;23(16):9279. doi: 10.3390/ijms23169279. PMID: 36012541; PMCID: PMC9408886.
8: Trüeb RM. North American Virginian Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Based Scalp Care and Protection for Sensitive Scalp, Red Scalp, and Scalp Burn-Out. Int J Trichology. 2014 Jul;6(3):100-3. doi: 10.4103/0974-7753.139079. PMID: 25210333; PMCID: PMC4158622.
9: Smith AG, Miles VN, Holmes DT, Chen X, Lei W. Clinical Trials, Potential Mechanisms, and Adverse Effects of Arnica as an Adjunct Medication for Pain Management. Medicines (Basel). 2021 Oct 9;8(10):58. doi: 10.3390/medicines8100058. PMID: 34677487; PMCID: PMC8537440.
10: Batiha, G.ES., Teibo, J.O., Wasef, L. et al. A review of the bioactive components and pharmacological properties of Lavandula species. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol 396, 877–900 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02392-x
11: Hajiali, H., Summa, M., Russo, D., Armirotti, A., Brunetti, V., Bertorelli, R., Athanassiou, A., & Mele, E. (2016). Alginate-lavender nanofibers with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity to effectively promote burn healing. Journal of materials chemistry. B, 4 9, 1686-1695.
12: Guo L, Shi Q, Fang JL, Mei N, Ali AA, Lewis SM, Leakey JE, Frankos VH. Review of usnic acid and Usnea barbata toxicity. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2008 Oct-Dec;26(4):317-38. doi: 10.1080/10590500802533392. PMID: 19034791; PMCID: PMC5739313.
13: Popovici V, Bucur L, Calcan SI, Cucolea EI, Costache T, Rambu D, Schröder V, Gîrd CE, Gherghel D, Vochita G, Caraiane A, Badea V. Elemental Analysis and In Vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania. Plants (Basel). 2021 Dec 23;11(1):32. doi: 10.3390/plants11010032. PMID: 35009036; PMCID: PMC8747648.
14: Li Pomi F, Papa V, Borgia F, Vaccaro M, Allegra A, Cicero N, Gangemi S. Rosmarinus officinalis and Skin: Antioxidant Activity and Possible Therapeutical Role in Cutaneous Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Mar 9;12(3):680. doi: 10.3390/antiox12030680. PMID: 36978928; PMCID: PMC10045493.
15: D’Anchise R, Bulitta M, Giannetti B. Comfrey extract ointment in comparison to diclofenac gel in the treatment of acute unilateral ankle sprains (distortions). Arzneimittelforschung. 2007;57(11):712-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1296672. PMID: 18193693.
16: Grube B, Grünwald J, Krug L, Staiger C. Efficacy of a comfrey root (Symphyti offic. radix) extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a double-blind, randomised, bicenter, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2007 Jan;14(1):2-10. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2006.11.006. Epub 2006 Dec 13. PMID: 17169543.
17: Orchard A, van Vuuren S. Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi: 10.1155/2017/4517971. Epub 2017 May 4. PMID: 28546822; PMCID: PMC5435909.