Mountain Biking is a wonderfully hazardous activity undertaken primarily by those who border on lunacy. Being mildly crazy myself, I enthusiastically took to the challenge of riding, and managed to acquire 20 stitches in my knee on the second day out. The wound was rather deep, and I failed to refrain from riding long enough for it to heal in totality, reopening the cut. This misstep took me on an excursion to the Tucson Herb Store, where I was directed towards Yarrow. I brought home a baggie of dried plant material and started doing my research. This plant grows in temperate regions – the particular bit I bought was harvested in Colorado – and has been used in both European herbalism and Native cultures for the healing of wounds. An alternative name is “Soldier’s Woundwort,”and it is a member of the aster family. Used as a poultice, the plant is supposed to speed the healing process and prevent infection. It is homeostatic (stops bleeding) and has anti-microbial properties. Traditionally it was masticated and used as a spit poultice, but the option also exists to add a little water and mash it up without using your mouth. I’m going to give it a shot and compare it to the effects of Neosporin. Herbal medicine pitted against modern pharmaceuticals: which will win?
Tags: Biking, Medicinal Herbs, Yarrow