Natural Care & Pain Relief for a Leg Wound

Leg wounds, when left unattended, can be home to a litany of infections, diseases, and parasites. What's more, the pain caused from a severe leg wound can be unbearable, especially while experienced in the wilderness far from aid. While natural treatments should not be used as a substitute for professional medical help, there are some natural remedies that can keep you going until help arrives.

Disinfectant

• Antibacterial and antimicrobial chemicals can be found all over nature. Most plant seeds and many plants are coated with disinfectants in order to protect them from various microbial predators. Some of these chemicals are poisonous even to humans, but some very common plants can be used to disinfect even large wounds.

Peat Moss

• Peat moss grows all over the world and has powerful antimicrobial policies. Grind a large amount of peat moss lightly for a few moments to release the chemical and to kill any aphids or other small insects infesting the area, and then apply to the leg wound as a poultice. As it dries, the moss should adhere to the wound like a band-aid. This will keep your wound bacteria-free and relatively well-protected from the elements until help can arrive.

Balsam Fir Oil

• The balsam fir, which grows all over North America, contains oil that is high in antibacterial chemicals and also dries as a sealant. This oil can be gathered in small amounts from blister pods located all over the tree bark or in larger amounts by boiling the bark itself (if you have cooking equipment like a portable stove or even a small pot) and skimming the oil from the top. Once it has cooled, apply a generous helping to the wound and then smooth over. The outside will remain sticky and could collect some debris, but the wound should remain clean and sealed. Because balsam fir oil has a mild anesthetic quality and because it acts as an airtight sealant, this treatment is especially useful on burns.

Plantains

• Plantains are grown throughout the Southern hemisphere and in parts of the Southern United States. The plantains themselves are used commonly as food, but their leaves can also be used as a painkiller. The plantain leaf can grow as large as 2 meters or more, so one leaf can go a long way. In order to activate the painkilling properties, chew or grind a generous portion. When the plant matter has reached a pulpy consistency, spread onto a clean portion of plantain leaf and wrap like a bandage around the wound. This method can be repeated every hour.

Birch, Willow, and Poplar

• If pain persists with any of these treatments, try chewing on the leaves of a birch, willow or poplar tree. The leaves of these trees contain salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin) and can be used to treat anything from headache to minor wounds and burns. This common treatment also acts as an anti-inflammatory for bruises.