My Dad grew up on a farm in Northern Wisconsin. He learned a lot about making do with what you had around you in the event of emergencies. Mom grew up in a small suburb south of Chicago. She was interested in herbal medicine and remedies before they became popular. She learned a lot from her Mother who made all sorts of herbal tinctures and remedies from plants she grew in her large garden. After she married, Mom had a small garden in the back of the 2-flat we lived in.
So both Dad and Mom knew about Wooly Lamb's Ear, a plant that can be used as an antibacterial band-aid. It's also edible.
Wooly Lamb's Ears have greenish-gray leaves that are soft and feel furry or wooly. This is because they have a layer of hairs that makes them really soft. The shape of the leaf looks like a lamb's ear too.
Wooly Lamb's Ear was used by the military for centuries to dress the wounds of soldiers on the battlefield. The soft leaves are good at absorbing blood. They are also antibacterial and antiseptic which helps to protect the wound.
Dad said his Mother grew wooly lamb's ears in her garden on the farm and used it mainly as a first aid treatment for cuts and wounds. My Grandmother on Mom's side made a Wooly Lamb's Ear tea to treat any fevers her 5 kids came down with. She would also crush the leaves and put them on any insect sting or bite.
In researching this post, I found that preppers and people living off the grid have also used the soft leaves as toilet paper, cotton balls and during a woman's monthly cycle. It's also a good plant to be able to recognize if you go on extended camping and survival trips.
You can buy Wolly Lamb's Ear seeds from a lot of online herbal stores. Just plant them 1/4" deep in seed starter mix and keep them in a shaded area. It's important to keep the starter mix moist. Once you have seedlings, put them in a spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of sun a day.
This is one of those interesting and offbeat plants that most people haven't heard of.
Photo: Fotolia
Some sources I looked at:
http://theprepperproject.com/grow-antibacterial-bandages/
http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-grow-lambs-ears-stachys-byzantina.html
If you follow me @nubchai I'll happily follow you back :)