Herbal First Aid in Action

Thirty years ago, I was an herb student in Oakland, California. Some of my fellow students and I were in the middle of a wildcrafting field trip in the mountains when an RV slammed broad side into my little car. The car was crushed, with me inside of it, with many broken ribs, a concussion, and kidney damage. First responders had to cut me out of that car before whisking me away in an ambulance. But before leaving the scene, my friends were able to give me a dose of arnica. This herbal intervention had a powerful effect on limiting the damage from my injuries. Even though my injuries were severe, I didn't sustain a single bruise, or the associated inflammation and swelling, thanks to arnica.

I reflect on that memory when I think about the importance of an herbal first aid kit. That may be one of the more dramatic times I've seen herbs help in an emergency, but it's not the only one. Over the years between then and now, I've seen herbs help in addressing brown recluse spider bites, anaphylactic shock due to insect stings, severe cuts, food poisoning, and many other incidents.

Even when a situation will require a trip to the hospital (as with the car accident), using herbs can have a huge impact on the outcome. The key is knowing which herbs to use when, and having access to them when injuries and accidents strike. Building a good herbal first aid kit, and knowing first aid herbs that grow around you, are some of the things we'll be covering in my upcoming herbal first aid class.

It's really a great feeling to know that you're prepared to help when accidents happen, even relatively minor ones. I hope you'll join us on Sunday, January 12, at 3pm to learn how to put your first aid kit together, and be ready for what life throws at you.

This class, and all my upcoming classes, are included in my new student membership. You can also register for just this class on its own (but the membership is a very good deal!). The membership is a really flexible model that can work with your schedule, with quarterly and yearly options.

Reach out if you have any questions!

~Caty Crabb, Clinical Herbalist