Plant guides

6 plant(s) tagged “first-aid”, each covered the same way: what it is, its benefits, how to use it, and its precautions.

Aloe barbadensis miller

The succulent whose gel has been a household remedy for burns and skin irritation for thousands of years.

Digestion · First aid · Skin

Calendula officinalis

The cheerful orange pot marigold that has soothed scrapes, rashes and sore skin for centuries — best used on the outside.

Anti-inflammatory · First aid · Skin

Capsicum annuum

The fiery red pepper whose burn is also a painkiller — rubbed on as a cream, it quietens overactive nerves.

First aid · Joints · Kitchen spice

Syzygium aromaticum

Fiercely aromatic dried flower buds that warm mulled wine and gingerbread — and numb an aching tooth in a pinch.

Antioxidant · First aid · Kitchen spice

Melaleuca alternifolia

An Australian swamp shrub whose sharp, medicinal oil tackles spots and fungal skin — strictly on the outside, and never near cats.

Aromatherapy · First aid · Skin

Achillea millefolium

The feathery-leaved wound herb named after Achilles — a bitter tea for sluggish digestion, and one to avoid in pregnancy.

Digestion · First aid · Menstrual