In 2018 we still had a Yahoo group, which enabled us to do "list articles" in which we posed a question and created an article with the answers. We tried doing it with Facebook, but the community we had on the Yahoo list was so different. Over the years we knew each other and understood that it was a sharing of information between friends. I'm not sure how to build that anywhere else. Here's one great list of options to take along during evacuation or
List Article
Question: Which herbs would you take along in a disaster/evacuation situation?
Note: This discussion happened on both the Yahoo! List and our facebook page. There are many that repeat important herbs, and MANY that were removed due to repetition. We think this is a very important topic to think about.
The Essential Herbal Magazine Avoiding lots of heavy liquid, pastilles could be made up ahead and wouldn't require glass or liquid.
Marti Graham - Don't forget insect repellent, flooding and rain and the after effects can be just as damaging as the crisis.
Tina Sams - Of the 2 or 3 essential oil I'd take, rose geranium to deter insects would definitely be one of them. Otherwise, lavender and tea tree.
Jackie Tyler Jackson - We were evacuated in a tiny boat, 2 of us plus 2 big dogs. Lost our house & vehicle....but the elderberry came out with me!
Lena B - I took a blend with geranium in it and neat peppermint, helichrysum and lavender essential oil
Judy S - Comfrey, scullcap, willow, poppy, mullein &/or sage, henbane, goldenseal, olive oil, alcohol, bee's wax.
The Essential Herbal Magazine - Henbane is an interesting addition.
Judy S - Great external pain relief. Pain control would be a big need, as would anything to fight infection.
Sandy Michelsen Yarrow, St. Johnswort, Lemon Balm plantain and comfrey.....and probably more when I think about it...:-)
Linda C - I'd also go with the tinctures I use regularly for sleep, stress, infection, immunity, and salves and infused oils, like calendula and st. johnswort.for any topical issues. Certain essential oils too, like tea tree and lavender. This post got me thinking of creating an emergency box of remedies from my harvest to grab and go-instead of trying to select at the moment, such as in fire evacuation.
Linda H - Excellent question...gave me pause for thought. It was hard to choose just a few! Cayenne Pepper (to stop bleeding), Garlic (antibiotic), Arnica (anti-inflammatory/analgesic - for external), Turmeric (anti-inflammatory - for internal), Comfrey (bone fracture healing), and Slippery Elm (for stomach issues).
Adriane B - St.Johns Wort (dried herb and oil) herb for internal use to boost immune system and limit retro viruses during virus attacks, also for depression, oil for nerve pain & skin healing. Tea tree as general disinfectant and wound healing. Lavender EO for skin healing of burns, sleep help, and skin analgesic. Goldenseal as a general herbal antibiotic for internal and external infections. Yarrow for my flu formula or when a diaphoretic is needed, also to use to stop bleeding. Elderberry to boost immune system and elderberry leaf for fungal infections. Comfrey for bone healing and wound healing. Chamomile for infected skin healing and calming stomach.
Jenn F - Tumeric tincture as an anti inflammatory. A "calm" tincture...( Chamomile & valarian & Tulsi blend works for me). Elderberry for fighting colds & flus. That's a start....
Jamie E - Yarrow, comfrey, plantain, lemon balm, dandelion root, lavender, chamomile, plantain, orange peel, basil, thyme, cloves.
Mary H - Skullcap and lemon balm to keep myself calm and grounded , tummy blend of mint, catnip, licorice, ginger , and fennel, echinacea.
Brenda C - I think I would take most of mine in tincture form. Definitely my goldenrod tincture, chamomile tincture. I have several teas made up for calming the nerves so they would have to go along.
Cristina B- Thyme, echinacea, chamomile, oregano, linden, yarrow, st Jon's wort, calendula, lavender, mint, basil. Actually, I think I'll take my whole spices and tea cabinets?
Lisa T - Elderberry products, comfrey, nettles , lavender and raspberry tips. My vinegar and mushrooms as well.
Joanna C - Along with basic herbal first aid, gentle nervine tinctures are necessary. And Rescue Remedy for sure.
Magdalena - Cannibis - why not go out in style...
Denelle P - I would take my box of tinctures as well as a book or two.
Julie G I would pack all 2000 oils!! And my medic bag;)
Mary H What's in your medic bag?
Julie G Surgical kit, OB delivery kit, air way kit, IV's, sutures. Gauze, ace bandages. Basic field kit.
Anne L - Oregano, lavender, thyme and lemon.
Stefanie K - Oregano oil, Thieves, Osha, Rescue Remedy.
Wendy A - Chamomile, plantain, calendula, peppermint, ginger, and Lavender
Kerri H - St. John's wort, lavender, chamomile, comfrey
Lisa P - cayenne, lobelia, echinacea, comfrey, charcoal, green powder, and about a dozen mixes/tinctures
Jennifer W - Black cumin/nigella, hawthorn, rose petals, peppermint
Sharon B - holy basil, oregano, rescue remedy flower essence
Karen B - Cannabis products.
Ivette V - Tinctures of lemon balm & ginger.
Tameka C - GOLDENSEAL, ECHINACEA, CILANTRO
My elderberry syrup and fire cider are always handy and easy to grab and go but I think I would be sure to bring some fresh oats for stress, with motherwort and tulsi for anxiety and perhaps hawthorne for the heart. I would grab all tinctures since they are small easy to carry and don't require potable water in order to take them. Susanna Reppert, Mechanicsburg, PA
I have a blend of herbs that I drink daily, as a tea, (for my specific health issues & familial predisposition), that includes St John's wort, Tulsi, Hawthorne, passionflower, motherwort, meadowsweet, chickweed, nettle, and horsetail, all blended in a 2 gallon bag. Besides that necessity, I'd take some form of elderberry, raw honey, a topical salve with yarrow, plantain, beeswax, honey, & coconut oil. From the spice cabinet, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, ACV, clove, rosemary, sage, cayenne, and thyme, as well as firecider. I typically keep all of this stuff where it's used, but also in a first aid satchel, in the linen closet, also stocked with bandages & other usual first aid paraphernalia. Carla
I would take my dried Tulsi for tea for stress, and my elderberry syrup - Mary Ellen Wilcox
I would grab Activated Charcoal Tablets, Slippery Elm Bark tablets, & if I didn't have any Fire Cider
left I'd grab the bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce & a jar of our home preserved horseradish root.
I'd probably also be grabbing flower essences & other calming aides for our senior dog. Living on the Canadian border, our most challenging "natural disasters" usually happen in the winter.
Sue Ryn Burns
Note: I didn’t copy all of the responses from facebook because
fortunately, Becky Bailey posted this: I can't help myself,
I'm a stats junkie... Top 4 most mentioned so far have been comfrey,
lavender, plantain, and oregano, followed by chamomile, and yarrow.
