Looking at the top 5 medicinal herbs for your bug-out bag is a reminder that nature has its good sides too. Yes, it’s not always sending forth floods, hurricanes, and wildfires! Let’s see the trees to optimize for health as you hike across the vast plains of Atlanta.

Shortlisting the Top 5 Medicinal Herbs for your Bug-out Bag

When I started prepping and even before then, I was heavily reliant on synthetic medicines to deal with everyday pains, aches & all the inconveniences in-between. I was such a regular at the medicine store, popping a pill for every sprained ankle and allergy. 

As you may already suspect, this hit me hard. Conventional drugs always come with side-effects that are difficult to discern. So, while these little pops were clearing up my discomforts from time to time, I was becoming very unhealthy in overall consideration. 

I soon found out about the remarkable effectiveness of natural herbs, and I must say that I was awed to know that they didn’t come with side-effects. Here’s a toast to me, making you aware of these herbs & trees.

Willow Tree

Pain management is a necessity of wilderness (or any kind of) survival. From the migraines to backaches, plowing through the trees and going after games definitely comes with its share of bruises and bumps. I’m sure Aspirins are ever-present in most prepper’s boxes. I can relate. What most don’t know is that the Willow tree has renowned pain-healing abilities that are traceable to the earliest Greek civilization. 

But here’s good news. Aspirin is merely a modification of alcoholic salicin, the synthetic form of salicin glucoside, a powerful painkiller found in willow tree bark. Whereas natural salicin is antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and an analgesic, its synthetic version is known for its harmful side effects, such as internal bleeding. 

Using natural salicin directly from the willow tree eliminates the possibility of hemorrhaging or any other unwanted effects. In fact, there are estimations that you may lose up to 2 teaspoonfuls of blood when you take synthetic Aspirin. 

Common diseases cured using willow include arthritis, fever, inflammation, migraines, fidgetiness, pain management, injuries, and ulcerations. You can see that this herb works for a lot, but if you’d prefer its synthetic counterpart, then you can —by all pleasure— buy them over the counter.

You can use willow through many ways, whether by direct chewing off the tree (although I think that can be difficult except you’re a beaver); sucking on the bark to absorb the salicin through its skin; chewing or crushing to make a paste for wounds, and also steeping in hot water to make tea.

Garlic Oil

Garlic oil has a long, inexhaustible list of its health benefits, but we’ll focus on its antibiotic capabilities here. Antibiotics are a must-have to survive the wild, and there are honestly few that work better than garlic. I understand that you may detest its pungent smell, so you can make do with echinacea instead.

Garlic contains thiamine, which cures infections affecting the ears, nose & throat. It also contains germanium, which is a powerful booster of immune function. Not to forget that even the plant’s detested pungent smell is an enzyme called allicin that destroys fungus! 

Also, garlic is a great blood purifier, detoxifier & boasts antiviral qualities, all of which help stabilize heart pressure and keep you ticking.

Garlic oil can be ingested or used topically without issues, although I’d suggest applying some olive oil on your skin first before using the latter method.

In short, garlic is an antibiotic, antiviral & antifungal agent that helps eliminate parasites (obviously), expel worms, enhance cardiovascular health and dispel bugs & mosquitoes. Looking at the plenty of diseases curable by garlic and how easy it is to keep the herb makes it a necessity in your bug-out bag.

Either that or echinacea anyway.

Cayenne Pepper

Does this herb come with a severe kick to the tongue? You bet it does, but it does have a lot of medicinal uses too. Cayenne pepper has, for long, been known for its role in weight-loss when following a thermogenesis process, and it was only recently that it became prominent for its role in pain relief.

The plant has several other benefits, including the crucial ability to increase the heart’s function without causing an increase in blood pressure. It helps the heart pump and circulate blood more and has also effectively stopped heart attacks.

Speaking of common diseases, cayenne is a quick cure for colds, congestions, bronchitis, sore throat & stomach ulcer. But all these still fall beneath its most valuable purpose, which is its effectiveness in stopping both internal & external bleeding. 

Easy to grow, dry, and store, it is obvious that cayenne pepper should be in your bug-out bag. Its versatility should be more than enough to convince you, no?

Feverfew

As the name indicates, this herb’s basic use is to tackle fever, but it also helps relieve chronic headaches, sinus pressure & inflamed joints. 

The main ingredient in feverfew is parthenolide, a compound that’s proven to inhibit the release of certain chemicals within the body that may lead to inflammation, some of which are histamines & serotonin. A female survivalist can also use it to ease those pesky premenstrual migraines.

Feverfew can be used by chewing it, except you want to buy its capsule form over the counter, which is what I’d advise great caution for.

Valerian Roots

Valerian roots smell horrible, like the stench that comes from pulling off a pair of shoes in the car after a tasking session of exercise, but I daresay holding your breath for this herb is worth it.

This root serves as nature’s valium, as it can calm the body by triggering the cerebrospinal system, whose sedative effects in return numbs pain & anxiety. Remember that anxiety is quick to fill your mind when in survival mode; you have to stay calm despite that.

Concluding The Top 5 Medicinal Herbs for Your Bug-out Bag

The above-mentioned top 5 medicinal herbs for your bug-out bag are highly recommended. They make great substitutes for synthetic medicines and literally cost nothing unless you’re buying their processed form — which is unadvisable. Your best bet is to plant these herbs or pluck from the woods once in a while. Let’s hear from you; what else do you think we could have added?