From Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People:
In modern medical thinking, we generally view fever as a bad thing. Medications, especially the ever-popular OTC meds - are used to lower fever. Fevers are unpleasant. In our culture, we believe that pain and discomfort
should be avoided. Of course, without pain and discomfort, there is no growth. Perhaps that is not an obvious analogy to fever. But in natural medicine, we think of fever in two ways. Yes, fever can be dangerous for infants and young children, the very elderly and those whose health is severely compromised. For healthy, strong people though, fever is not always a bad thing. Fever is an immune response in which the body fights infection by raising the body temperature to make the body less hospitable to the invading organism. Fever is merely a part of the immune response. Fever also triggers sweating, which helps flush toxins from the system. So, sometimes we need the fever. Simply taking aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen will reduce the body temperature, ease aches and pain and help with discomfort - it helps us feel better, but does not help us fight off the infection. Moreover, many OTC meds (especially Tylenol) damage the liver. An old pharmacist once told me, "You can either drink or you can take Tylenol; you can't do both... and I'd rather have a scotch." Why is it then, that nearly every OTC "cold medicine" contains Tylenol? No one seems to be able to
answer that question... kind of like why doctors hand out antibiotics like candy for viruses that they will not affect. Speaking of which, why can OTC "cold medicines" be labeled as cold medicine when they do nothing to cure cold or flu? They merely ease symptoms of congestion, cough, fever, etc. Meanwhile, it is illegal to label herbs that actually have anti-viral properties and actually help the body fight the cold as such. Perhaps we should follow the money?
Several herbs are useful for lowering a fever when that is appropriate. Aspirin, for instance, is merely an isolated, synthetic form of the same substance found in Willow and several other herbs - salicin. For thousands of years, people used these plants to lower fevers, soothe aches and pains and thin the blood. Recently, "woke myths" have been popular that Europeans learned about Willow from
Native Americans. Maybe some did, but these herbs were known and used for this purpose by the ancient Greek herbalists, the monastic Medicine of the Middle Ages, German folk medicine, the Victorian English, etc. "There is nothing new under the sun." As written in the introduction to a modern translation of Dioscorides'
de Materia Medica (written around 60 AD), Painkillers have always dominated healing texts. Dioscorides wrote of the willow — itea, probably salix species — ‘a decoction of them is an excellent fomentation for ye gout’. In due course this knowledge
led German scientists to aspirin." ... those clever Germans again!
Of course, Fr. Kneipp would recommend cold
water to lower dangerous fevers. In such conditions, he would have the patient wrap in a wet sheet or put on a wet shirt to allow natural transpiration to help carry heat from the body. The same is still done today with dangerously high fevers that must be lowered quicky - cold water baths and showers or swabbing with rubbing alcohol is still considered appropriate emergency medical care.
Fr. Künzle recommended several herbs to lower fever:
Fevers are treated with Meadowsweet infusions (Spiraea ulmaria), or, even better by the white flowers of Hedge Bindweed (Convolvolus sepium), a well-known weed. The best remedy for fever is the heart leaved Globe Daisy (Globularia cordifolia) – drink a lot of tea of this herb.
The dead nettle (Lamium) resembles a nettle so much that only experts can tell the two apart, before it begins to blossom. As soon as it blooms, every child can distinguish it; they have flowers around the stem with overhanging roofs; there are white, yellow, red, spotted dead nettles. The white and yellow ones are considered to be the best. The children pluck the blossoms off and suck the honey. God has given this plant the power to cool, to kill fever, heat and inflammation; it relieves diarrhea in humans and in cattle. Old men suffering from great pains because they cannot urinate find relief after drinking a few cups of this herb.
Several of these herbs, like Willow, contain salicin. As for Williow, any variety may be used, as may the Poplars.
Sixty-two varieties of Salix have been found useful in Herbal Medicine: Salix acutifolia - Sharp-Leaf Willow, Salix aegyptiaca, Salix alaxensis - Feltleaf Wiillow, Salix alba - White WillowSalix alb, a caerulea - Cricket Bat Willow, Salix alba vitellina - Golden Willow, Salix 'Americana', Salix amygdaloides - Peach Leaved Willow, Salix appendiculata, Salix arenaria, Salix atrocinerea - Rusty Sallow, Salix aurita - Eared Sallow, Salix babylonica - Weeping Willow, Salix bakko, Salix bebbiana - Beak Willow, Salix 'Bowles hybrid', Salix brachycarpa, Salix caprea - Goat Willow, Salix cinerea - Grey Willow, Salix commutate, Salix daphnoides - Violet Willow, Salix decipiens, Salix eriocephala - Missouri Willow, Salix exigua - Coyote Willow, Salix fluviatilis - River Willow, Salix 'Forbiana', Salix fragilis - Crack Willow, Salix gilgiana, Salix gooddingii - Goodding's Willow, Salix gracilistyla - Rosegold Pussy Willow, Salix hastata - HalberdLeaved Willow, Salix hookeriana - Dune Willow, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix japonica, Salix koriyanagi, Salix lanata - Woolly Willow, Salix lasiandra - Yellow Willow, Salix lasiolepis - Pacific Willow, Salix lucida - Shining Willow, Salix matsudana, Salix miyabeana, Salix nigra - Black Willow, Salix nipponica, Salix pentandra - Bay Willow, Salix petiolaris - Slender Willow, Salix piperi - Dune Willow, Salix pulchra - Tealeaf Willow, Salix purpurea - Purple Osier, Salix purpurea lambertiana - Purple Osier, Salix repens - Creeping Willow, Salix scouleriana - Scouler's Willow, Salix schwerinii, Salix sitchensis - Sitka Willow, Salix sungkianica, Salix taxifolia - Yew-Leaf Willow, Salix triandra - Almond-Leaved Willow, Salix viminalis – Osier, Salix wallichiana, Salix x mollisima hippophaeifolia, Salix x mollisima undulata, Salix x rubra, Salix x smithiana
Twenty-three varieties of Populus have been found useful in Herbal Medicine; they go by various names: Populus alba - White Poplar, Populus angustifolia - Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Populus 'Balsam Spire', Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar, Populus ciliata - Himalayan Poplar, Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides monilifera - Plains Cottonwood, Populus deltoides wislizenii - Rio Grande Cottonwood, Populus euphratica, Populus fremontii – Cottonwood, Populus grandidentata - Canadian Aspen, Populus heterophylla - Swamp Cottonwood, Populus maximowiczii – Doronoki, Populus nigra - Black Poplar, Populus pseudosimonii, Populus sieboldii - Japanese Aspen, Populus simonii, Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar, Populus tremuloides - American Aspen, Populus trichocarpa - Western Balsam Poplar, Populus x canadensis - Canadian Poplar, Populus x canescens - Grey Poplar, Populus x jackii - Balm Of Gilead
Birch contains a similar compound, methyl salicylate, and may be used similarly to the Willows and Poplars.
Sixteen varieties of Birch are used medicinally: Betula alleghaniensis – Yellow Birch, Betula alnoides, Betula ermanii - Gold Birch, Betula glandulosa - Scrub Birch, Betula kenaica - Kenai Birch, Betula lenta - Cherry Birch, Betula nana - Dwarf Birch, Betula nigra - River Birch, Betula occidentalis - Water Birch, Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch, Betula pendula - Silver Birch, Betula platyphylla - White Birch, Betula populifolia - Grey Birch, Betula pubescens - White Birch, Betula schmidtii, Betula utilis - Indian Paper
All of these
trees, which can be found in most any
yard, park or patch of woods, may be used to lower fevers and ease aches and pains. The bark and tips of twigs may be simply made into a tea or added to bathwater.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) also contains salicin. The flowering heads of the herb are used fresh or dried. Meadowsweet is said to have been one of the sacred herbs of the ancient Druids, very likely due to its ability to ease pain and lower fvers.
More common in America is Violet (Viola). All 40 or so varieties of Violet contain salicin. Violet is far too common and numerous to list. You can find violets on roadsides and the edges of woods in most every region that is not too arid for them to grow. The variety of Violet known as Johnny Jump Up is particularly showy and can be grown in ornamental landscaping or window boxes. All violets are edible and most are delicious. Some are strongly laxative though, so it would be best to identify those that grow in your region.
Viburnum, Guelder Rose/Cramp Bar and Blackhaw may also contain salicosides, which along with their antispasmodic (cramp reducing) qualities, make them useful for lowering and easing the discomfort of fever.
Helping resolve a fever
In common language, when a fever resolves the fever is said to "break". I am sure most of us have experienced this. Usually, the fever spikes, you feel horrible, confused, intensely achy and chilled. The natural inclination is to get in bed, under blankets and take a nap. Soon, you begin sweating heavily, the body temperature lowers and you feel warm, exhausted, but much better.
Just as our instincts tell us to cover up with blankets to help the body resolve a fever, many home remedies have traditionally been used for the same purpose. These may be as simple as taking a hot bath, with the upper torso out of the water, sitting by a fire and drinking a hot cup of tea, or the many plasters our ancestors would use - mustard, poultry fat, warming and aromatic herbs, brown paper, etc. placed on the chest to help warm the body, break up congestion and resolve a fever. Some heating herbs, like ginger may also be added to hot bathwater. These strategies are especially effective to help resolve medium grade, lingering fevers.
One of the most pleasant herbal remedies that I use both to resolve a fever and to take the chill off a cold winter morning in the woods is a tea made of common, warming kitchen spices. Per cup, use about 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon each of ground Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Ginger and a few whole or ground Cloves. You can add honey and lemon,
milk or cream. For a fever, it would be best to drink this tea hot, by a fire or in bed, under blankets. For simply bracing yourself against cold and damp weather, gulping down a cup and taking some in a thermos is nice. You will be amazed just how warming this tea is to the entire body. These spices are also useful for viruses, diarrhea, arthritis, etc., and are strongly anti-inflammatory. Some may find such a tea even more effective with a shot of liquor, but alcohol thins the blood and can make one more susceptible to frost bite on a cold day, even though it feels warming.
Many other herbs, known as diaphoretics, are also used to help resolve fever mainly by inducing sweating.
Fr. Künzle recommended several diaphoretic herbs including Pimpinella or Burnet Saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga),
Wood Avens (Geum) and Lady's Mantle (Alchymilla vulgaris):
The lady's mantle, well boiled and drunk warm, relieves headache, heals cold in the head, eye infections, and often headaches, toothaches (gargle your mouth!) It also heals fever, burns, suppuration and ulcers, which is why it cannot be more than enough recommended to women. Every woman after giving birth should diligently drink quite a lot of this herb for 8 to 10 days. Some children would still have their mother and many a beaten widower his wife if they had known this gift of God.
Furthermore, the herb, boiled and drunk a lot, takes fever and burns in case of broken ribs, knocks from wood, stone, iron, after severe falls. A great many people die from internal injuries; this herb quickly removes fever and burn, and speeds healing; but in this case drink a lot, 1 to 2 liter a day, depending on thirst. (Add sugar!) Externally applied and crushed, lady’s mantle heals wounds, stabs, cuts. Children who always have weak muscles despite eating well will become strong with continued use of this tea. The lady's mantle, drunk as tea, cures the diarrhea
Maria Treben recommended Butterbur, Chamomile and Swedish Bitters:
Butterbur (Petasites officinalis) The fever reducing roots, which had gained a great reputation during the time of the plague, are gathered before the time of flowering. The tea promotes perspiration and is used for fever, shortness of breath, gout and epilepsy. 1 to 2 cups are sipped during the day. The large, fresh leaves are applied not only for sprains, dislocations and sore feet, but also for every kind of burn, malignant ulcer and wound.
Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) The tea is of help in flatulence, diarrhoea, eruptions, stomach troubles and gastritis, in menstrual disorders, cessation of menstrual flow and in all abdominal disorders, insomnia, inflammation of the testicles, fever, wounds and toothache. Camomile produces perspiration, is soothing and antispasmodic. It is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory especially in cases of inflammation of the mucous membranes. Externally Camomile is used as a compress and a wash for inflamed eyes, conjunctivitis, moist and itching skin eruptions, wounds, and as a gargle for toothache. Anyone who starts feeling aggravated should drink a cup of Camomile tea and soon the wonderfully soothing and sedative effect is felt. Very much recommended is a warm Camomile pillow applied to aching parts. Camomile baths and washings are most beneficial to the whole nervous system. After severe illnesses or for states of exhaustion, its soothing and quieting effect is soon felt.
Swedish Bitters If someone has a fever, be it hot or cold and is very weak he is given one tablespoon full of the drops and the patient, if he is not too overloaded with other medications, will in a short time come to, the pulse will start to beat again and the fever no matter how high it was, will pass and the patient will soon be better.
Butterbur is rarely recommended currently as it may be toxic.
Several diaphoretic herbs have been used traditionally, to help break a fever.
False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina racemosa) tea used to promote sweating and urination.
Sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida and nudicaulis) Leaf tea or
root tea or tincture promotes sweating.
Poke (Phytolacca americana) As I have explained earlier in this book, Poke is mildly toxic. Usually, it is recommended that the leaves be boiled in 3 changes of water and then fried in grease before eating, and that the berries not be consumed. I think this is over-blown, but you will have to make your own decisions. Most often, people who eat the berries vomit and
experience no serious poisoning, and people who eat large amounts of raw leaves merely experience severe diarrhea. I eat the leaves raw with no ill effects, but I have been eating Poke for years and may have built up a tolerance for it. Herbalists use Poke root tincture in small amounts to cleanse the lymphatic system and to induce sweating. Herbalist, Michael Moore said that a half ounce of strong root tincture could be fatal... but, a half ounce is a very large amount! Last year, when I had COVID-19, Poke root and Wintergreen were the herbs I used for fever, to help with lung congestion and to help cleanse lymph... I simply dug up an older root and bit off a small chunk at a time. I would stop at the first sign of nausea. All I can say is that before I began using Poke, I was extremely sick. With each dose I felt better.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a primary diaphoretic herb, used as a hot tea. Cold Yarrow Tea has the opposite effect of hot Yarrow - it is an "energetic" herb. Yarrow tincture may be added to
hot water.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) ta is useful for fevers and is also a mild sedative, helping to alleviate the discomfort of fevers.
Mints (Mentha) teas are diaphoretic and soothing to the lungs, throat and sinuses. Mint also helps with headache and settles and upset stomach. This makes the mints a primary herb for colds.
Catnip (Nepta cataria) tea is useful for promoting sweating and lowering fevers.
Seneca Snakeroot (Polygala senega) root tea is used to induce sweating and is particularly good for lung congestion.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is one of the best diaphoretic herbs. It was widely used in early America to combat flu epidemics. It promotes sweating, helps clear congestion of the lungs and is immuno-stimulating.
Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) has been used historically for intermittent fevers, such as occur with malaria.
Stinking Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) tea has been used to induce sweating.
Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) tea of the whole plant is used for fevers - hence, the name.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) Root tea induces sweating. Handling the plant irritates the skin and may cause blistering.
Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata) is used to break fevers - said to cause profuse sweating.
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) traditionally used by European herbalists to promote sweating.
Goldenrod (Solidago odora) Native Americans used flower tea for fevers.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) used like regular ginger - see description above.
Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium) leaf tea used to induce sweating.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) root tea used to induce sweating. The milky latex from the plant can be very irritating and even cause blindness if it gets in the eyes. Some sources warn that the plant contains cardiac glycosides and may be toxic.
Bee Balm (Monarda) leaf and flower used for fevers and colds - very popular Native American remedy.
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium) was a popular folk remedy in early America. Some say it was named for an Indian Medicine Man, who introduced the herb. Others say it was named after a promoter of Native American themed medicine shows and may have been one of the much maligned "patent medicines". Either way, the various Eupatoriums known as Joe Pye Weed are said to have saved many from fevers during a typhoid epidemic, used to promote sweating and break fevers.
Burdock (Arctium) root tea may be used to induce sweating.
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root tea may be used to induce sweating.
Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) This is another old European herb used to induce sweating, to help resolve fevers.
Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) This oddly named herb has traditionally been used as a leaf tea to promote sweating, reduce inflammation and as an expectorant.
Perilla (Perilla frutescens) is another herb in the mint family. According to the Peterson Field Guide, it has been used as a diaphoretic in Asian herbalism.
Annise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) leaf tea used for colds and coughs, and to induce sweating in fevers.
American Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides) is basically a very strong mint. It can be used as the other mints, but the essential oil should never be taken internally - that is fatally toxic. Calamint (Satureja arkansana) may be used similarly.
Deer's Tongue (Trilisa odoratissima) a tea of the plant is used to induce sweating. This plant contains coumarins which may cause liver damage or hemorrhage.
Wormwood, White Sage, Mugwort, Sweet Annie, and probably Sagebrush, Russian Tarragon and Southernwood - the Artemisias have been used to treat colds and flus due to their antiviral properties, as well as their ability to promote sweating and break a fever.
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) root bark tea used to promote sweating.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) has strong anti-viral properties and has also traditionally been used as a tea, combined with other herbs, to induce sweating.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) can be hard to find. It grows in my region and is a relative to Sassafras, in the Laurel family. You find it with your nose - it smells like allspice. A tea may be made of the bark and stems to induce sweating.
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) leaf/needle and twig tea used to induce sweating and is also very good for colds and coughs.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) tea of berries/cones used to induce sweating - also good for coughs and colds.
American
Ash (Fraxinus americana) inner bark tea used to induce sweating.
Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa) tea used to promote sweating.
*Rattlesnake Fern (Botrychium virginianum) root tea used to induce sweating and as an expectorant.
*Crested Wood Fern (Dryopteris cristata) Root tea used to induce sweating and for chest congestion.
Many ferns contain carcinogens and caution is advised.
Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. His weekly articles may be read at
http://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/
His weekly podcast may be heard at: www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs
He offers free, weekly herb classes:
https://rumble.com/c/c-618325
This article is an excerpt from Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People by Judson Carroll
You can read about and purchase Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People here: southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html
Also available on Amazon: Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People: Carroll, Judson: 9798491252923: Amazon.com:
Books
His New Book is Christian Herbal Medicine, History and Practice
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
