I’ve been watching Outlander religiously and so I have herbal remedies on my brain. I keep wondering- If I were sent back in time, and I had to practice primitive medicine as a healer (I am a registered nurse) — Would I succeed?
Claire in the herb garden at Leoch.
I’m not a physician, but with my experience I can stitch up cuts, clean and bandage wounds, even set fractures. I can probably diagnose the usual things like asthma, pneumonia, hepatitis, an enlarged prostate, a bladder infection, an ear infection, strep throat, tonsilitis, influenza, even appendicitis. But would I dare remove an inflamed appendix in an attempt to save a life only to lose said life to the resulting peritonitis?
I can help to deliver a baby. I know a little about a breach delivery as well, and I could probably do a C-Section in an emergency, but keeping the mother alive would be next to impossible.
What do I bring to the table? The knowledge of germs, isolation, disinfection, and sterilization. I’d be busy boiling water.
Most important of all? The washing of hands.
I have some limited knowledge of herbs and tonics and their uses. Of course herbs are not like antibiotics. The dosage is not standardized. Many are also toxins - nightshade and foxglove. Did you know foxglove is digitalis, used to treat heart failure? Deadly nightshade is atropine, which can increase a slow heart rate. But the dosages would elude me. I could just as easily kill a man as cure him.
But I would take the following (limited) knowledge with me into the past:
Honey and garlic are germicidal. Both can be used to treat an infected wound and both are helpful for a cough and congestion. Honey can help sooth a sore throat in addition to its germ-killing properties.
Garlic can also be used as a de-worming agent. (Good to know, right?)
Leeks and onions are decongestants.
Raw vinegar is an excellent disinfectant. It can also help with digestive issues, yeast infections, various skin conditions.
Beer increases lactation. Seriously.
Alcohol, is, well, alcohol - I guess I’d use alcohol as an anticoagulant (blood-thinner), an anesthetic, to distill herbs and plants, and to sterilize equipment and wounds.
Yarrow can help stop bleeding and it can reduce a fever.
Yarrow.
Willow bark can reduce a fever and help with joint inflammation.
The bark of an oak tree makes a good astringent and can help relieve kidney stones if taken as a tonic.
Witch hazel is an astringent - can help heal abrasions and mouth ulcers.
Witch Hazel.
Lavender helps to heal burns and abrasions and soothes insect bites and stings.
Lavender.
Mint and bee balm help with digestive disorders, as does wild ginger.
Bee Balm.
Bilberry is good for the eyes.
Billberry.
Salt water makes a good rinse for wounds and mouth sores.
Sugar can be packed into a would to accelerate healing - sugar is germicidal. (I have personally packed decubitus ulcers with sugar with excellent results.)
Elderberry and cherry help with cough and congestion.
Elderberry.
Black pepper is terrific for chest congestion. (But I’d have to remember it’s also a deadly poison.)
Black peppercorns.
Tea is an astringent. It’s very helpful for minor burns.
Mustard can definitely help a cough but it can also cause a chemical burn if left too long on the skin.
Echinacea, or cone flower, helps to improve the immune system.
Echinacea.
Valerian root acts as a sedative. Not strong enough to remove a bullet from a man’s chest, but…
Valerian.
I know about more herbs, but probably not many of them would be found in Scotland.
So tell me, what herbs are you familiar with?
I love the idea of herbs, and natural stuff for disinfecting. Now if they’ll just pick the right plant on the show it might prevent people from running out to eat whatever that was that was not lily of the valley in the 2nd or 3rd episode.
I love the idea of herbal remedies as well. Knowing what the herb is good for is one thing, but knowing how best to prepare it is another. I have absolutely no idea. I guess I better stay here in 2014 because in the 1700′s I would be pretty much useless with medications. I am, however, great in the kitchen. Perhaps Mrs. Fitz could find a place for me somewhere.
Gerri - I was thinking the same thing! I would be terrific in the kitchen! I do know how to use some herbs, but I also know that while herbs can mitigate some mild symptoms, they aren’t powerful enough to cure serious illnesses.
Step - LMAO! That Lily of the Valley was nothing like any Lilly of the Valley I’ve ever seen! Or wild garlic for that matter! And we have wild garlic and onions around here.
Going back in time will be rough until we can figure out how to get internet access in the past. I wonder if Google is working on that?
Maybe, hubby. You’d do okay aside from amputating limbs without anesthetic!
Great post, Julia. My mom would have loved working with you.
She taught me about leeks, onions, garlic, honey and raw vinegar. I learned to fill little loose-weave bags with lavender and make sachets and dryer bags, and the only wine we kept in the house was elderberry wine, and that was for all kind of health help. Valerian and yarrow were off limits because of the potential damage if misused, and only she used mustard treatments, and then very carefully.
But my favorite was rosemary. Used in teas and baking, it was the herb of remembrance, and could also be stirred into some soups. When I had to move Mom and Dad to the assisted living because of his Alzheimer’s, the new owners of their house dug up many of her herbs in order to build a landscaped patio. I bought Mom several rosemary plants and made hot teas and rosemary bread, but it was too late to do much to enhance her memory.
Oh Marylin! I do love your mother! I neglected to mention rosemary and thyme and bay leaf and the various sages, chamomile and feverfew. I’ve experimented with all at one time or another. I too avoid valerian. Never know what you’re gonna get.
Now I grow rosemary, two types of sage, several types of thyme, lemon balm (which you can’t eradicate), bee balm- another herb you can’t eradicate, and we have wild anise growing everywhere- in every vacant lot.
Your mother and I would have had such fun! I bet she knew that if you are in need of vitamin C you should chew on pine needles!
I’m sorry elderberry doesn’t grow in California. Back in Iowa my grandmother and I would harvest the berries, get rid of the poisonous stems, and make our elderberry jelly and syrup. It was a great deal of work, involving much cheesecloth and straining, but I loved it. We picked wild asparagus as well - which is a tonic for the kidneys. I miss those days.
I have heard that garlic is also good for lowering blood pressure. I love garlic and use it a lot in my cooking.
Very interesting post. Learned a lot.
Yes, seems to be true, Roberta. Plus it is a strong anti-viral agent.
Because so many of my books are set in primitive settings, I have an extensive library about herbs and have experimented actually making tisanes and teas and even some salves. It’s labor intensive and requires meticulous attention to measurement. This is a great post! One you might look into is marigold…
Oh yes, for sure marigold, Anny! I know you love herbs. How cool that you’ve experimented! Write a blog post about it! Sandra Cox also has loads of herb info!
And be burned as a witch!
You know what, Tom? You’re absolutely right. Or drowned which would prove my innocence. Can’t win for losin’ when it comes to an accusation of witchcraft!