The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition

shock and fainting

Use lobelia leaf tincture; a few drops on the tongue will help in any shock

situation, from grief to a car accident. It also helps to revive patients

suffering blackouts. The tincture only needs to be rubbed onto the lips in

situations in which swallowing or access is limited. Dr. Bach Rescue

Remedy will also work well in this situation.

sleeplessness with extremely shocked or exhausted

nerves

To ensure good sleep, use valerian root tincture or capsules (an average

adult dose) three hours before bedtime and then more just prior to

retiring. More can be taken if waking in the night is a problem but a two-

hour interval should have elapsed since the bedtime dose. This treatment

can be used for a week or more but real nerve building is also required;

for this, use skullcap leaf, chamomile f ower, lime tree (Tilia) f ower, and

lobelia leaf long-term.

snakebites

Lavender has a long history of use against the venom produced by the

European adder; however, lavender essential oil and echinacea root

tincture applied externally together are more effective. Echinacea root

should also be administered by mouth as a tincture in frequent doses.

Echinacea root for bites by rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, and

the Florida coral snake has also been used for centuries in Canada and the

United States. Additionally, just a few drops of lobelia leaf tincture

applied both topically and internally will help keep the body from going

into anaphylactic shock. Do not suck the bite— any injury in the mouth

would become contaminated; f lled teeth can also harbor the venom and

may cause the jaw to swell to an enormous size. You can buy antivenom

treatments at pharmacies and camping stores. The shape of the snake’s

eyes can give a rough indication of its type: round-eyed snakes are

nonpoisonous, but snakes with elongated eyes are poisonous.

unconsciousness

Apply a few drops of lobelia leaf tincture and Dr. Bach Rescue Remedy to

the lips and wrists. If the patient does not regain consciousness within

three minutes, call for an ambulance.

wasp stings

For wasp stings, which are alkaline, it is best to neutralize the sting with

Home Guide to Herbs - davies