Nature provides lots of medicinal plants that have been used for survival for years.
However, many of these plants are seen as controversial due to the public’s opinion of them and negative side effects they create.
Many of these medicinal plants are also illegal to possess, making them difficult to take advantage of.
However, despite these aversions, I will say this – when SHTF many people (maybe even you) are going to throw the laws, rules and oppositions aside in order to help save their lives.
We live in an imperfect world; and, with next week’s election results coming up, part of me thinks we can use all the help we can get when it comes to survival.
Controversial Medicinal Plants Used For Survival
1 – Willow Trees
Unbeknownst to many preppers, willow trees contain salicylic acid. This acid is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, and is a component used in making Aspirin.
To get the salicylic acid, strip bark off the branches, and then steep the bark in boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain the bark out of the water, and drink the water once it’s cool.
Or, if you’ve got a wound on your arm, you can follow this cool prepper tip instead:
Certain willows have more salicylic acid than others; in an emergency, go for the European Willow, Pussy Willow, and Crack Willow.
2 – Marijuana
Whether you love it or hate it, marijuana has been proven to have a variety of medicinal purposes. This plant contains THC, which increases appetite, lowers nausea, decreases pain, reduces inflammation and helps with muscle control issues.
In recent studies, marijuana has also been shown to help kill and/or slow the growth of cancer cells.
3 – Poppy Seeds
Poppy seeds contain morphine; therefore, they provide excellent pain relief for headaches and muscle pain, and can even speed up the healing process.
Poppy seeds can also speed up your metabolism, strengthen your immune system, and can help keep your vision strong in your later years.
If that weren’t enough, poppy seeds have also been shown to help:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Heart Health
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Nerve Functioning
- Bone Health
- Blood Pressure
4 – Coca
The coca plant is the source of the illegal drug cocaine; however, despite its bad reputation this plant has a surprising amount of medicinal uses.
For example, chewing coca leaves helps relieve hunger and fatigue, while coca tea can help with altitude sickness.
Coca extract can also be used to help treat asthma and colds, and can be used to stimulate stomach function.
5 – Iboga
Picture courtesy of walkingtimes.com
The iboga plant is controversial due to its hallucinogenic and psychedelic properties when taken in large doses; however, its bark can help treat depression and substance abuse disorders when taken in small doses.
6 – Peyote
Peyote is a small cactus that is illegal to possess, but can help with some serious medicinal ailments.
For example, peyote has been used to treat fevers, rheumatism and paralysis. You can even apply it to the skin to help treat fractures, snakebite and other wounds.
7 – Psilocybin Mushrooms
These “magic mushrooms” are frowned upon due to their hallucinogenic nature; however, studies have shows that users reported greater feelings of well-being and improved behavior.
Studies have also shown that these mushrooms can do much more in the right setting – such as treating addictions, PTSD and mental traumas.
Whether you agree with these medical “treatments” or not, it’s important to be aware of both the positive and negative effects of these controversial medicinal plants.
However, whether you choose to use these ideas or not, I think there’s one thing we can all agree on – if you’re in a survival situation, you need to make sure that you have a constant, dependable way to be able to help treat ailments quickly and effectively.
You may not be able to choose your bug out location in an emergency, and you may not have these medicinal plants (or others like them) around you; however, there is ONE thing you have control over when it comes to fulfilling your medicinal needs: having a first-aid kit.
Unlike most of these plants, you can immediately use the healing properties of a first-aid kit to treat your physical wounds – without the nasty side effects.
Luckily, we’ve got a vast array of first-aid kits in our online survival store. Each of these life-saving kits contains tons of medical equipment that allow you to treat your physical ailments and keep moving on to safety.
Plus, with a vast array of sizes and equipment, you can choose a first-aid kit that matches you and your family’s specific needs.
Check them out below and grab a first-aid kit that will help you and your family prepare for an upcoming emergency.
WATERTIGHT FIRST AID KIT 1.0
66-PIECE PREMIUM FIRST AID KIT
2 SHELF FIRST AID CABINET
130-PIECE ROLL-UP EMERGENCY FIRST-AID KIT
EMT FIRST AID KIT WITH 409 PIECES