O.K. the SHTF and you have used your get out of Dodge card. You are at your survival site; now what did you leave behind in the mad rush.
You got water? Check
You got Shelter? yeap.
You got fuel? Covered
You got food? You betcha
You got extra clothing and boot? Affirmative
You got weapons and ammo for hunting and defense? Got it covered
You have the tools you need? Of course
You have all your Cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, antiseptic, cold, flu, anti-inflammatory meds and Pain relievers? Got my 90 supply right here.
Oh wait what if the world has got to shit and I can't get any more? That is the question that many of us can not or will not face up to. What you have to do in this case is have a little note book filled with natural remedies and folk medicine recipes. A lot of this stuff may be pure quackery but mankind lived for thousands of years on this stuff before big Pharma came along.
Does herbal and folk medicine work? Well our grand parents swore by it. There have been some studies that show some therapeutic befits of herbal and folk medicine but not enough to say for certain. There just isn't the interest in funding studies for the effectiveness of herbal and folk medicine. I mean do you think Bayer is going to fund a study on how effective Aspen bark tea is as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory medicine, and blood thinner. Not on your life, they are making a mint on Bayer Aspirin.
WAIT ONE SECOND HERE!!! I wonder Aspirin and Aspen sound a lot alike could it be. Yea it could. Aspirin is nothing more than the synthesized components of aspen tree bark
So for those of us who are interested in being prepared for anything or surviving the unthinkable maybe a book on herbal medicine and a few herb and plant seeds should go into the bug out bag. O.K. the book will probably have some weigh but the seeds will weigh almost nothing, and since they are packed in plastic bags can be stuffed in anywhere. Once we get to where we are going, a few containers, some sunlight, some good old fashioned dirt, a little water and we got our own pharmacy. As you get better and better at using this stuff people will come from far and near to avail themselves of your products and services, not to mention you will be a pillar of the newly formed community.
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[–] jamesed [S] ago
The same chemical compounds that make a natural aspirin are found in any number of species of trees and bushes, including willows. The main reason I talked about Aspen is that Aspen is the only tree that continues the photosynthesis process during the winter. Because photosynthesis continues in the bark during the winter the chemicals are much more concentrated during the winter months. Of course because photosynthesis is also making sugar the Aspen bark is the main target for rodents, deer, antelope, wild horses, desert bighorn sheep, looking for a high energy meal.
[–] 8241327? ago
This is such a wonderful response. Thanks. I didn't know that. I know my mother's horses will chew at willows the ease their pains, but not about the Aspens. Another reason to love such a beautiful tree. Aspens in autumn are so lovely.