4 medical remedies you should know how to make in the field
SUMMARY
Every day, troops of all ages head off into the field and sustain all types of injuries, from simple bruises and scratches to fractures and open abrasions. You can train to fight the enemy, but the terrain will always change, bringing unique advantages and challenges with it.
That said, some of the most common types of injuries we sustain can be temporarily fixed using a little ingenuity and knowledge of your surroundings. The solution to your painful aliment could be right under your feet.
Splinting a bone fracture
Troops fall over and take hits while they're out in the field. In some cases, bones get bruised or even fractured. Once this happens, it's important to seek medical attention quickly as surgery may be needed. But, first things first, you're going to have to splint the injured limb.
Creating a rudimentary splint in the field requires finding some sturdy pieces of wood (or any hard, flat object), placing them alongside the fractured extremity, and tying it down to prevent bends and movement — both above and below the joint. It doesn't have to be red-carpet quality; we just want to prevent further injury.
It's also great on lattes.
Nature's tastiest medicine
Since cinnamon is a common, delicious condiment here in the States that tastes terrific on a roll with a sugary glaze, we don't realize the many health benefits it provides.
Cinnamon bark comes from a tree called the Cinnamomum verum. The spice is known to alleviate an upset stomach, diarrhea, and gas from eating too many MREs. It's also been used to treat infections caused by various bacteria, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and even stimulate your appetite.
A sting reliever
When you're in the field, there are plenty of wasps, bees, and scorpions hiding about who would love to sting the sh*t out of you if provoked. Although it sucks to get stung, there's a plant that can quickly soothe the pain — the plantain.
This small plant can be identified by its rubbery texture and the parallel veins that run along the leaves. In order to use the plant as a venom neutralizer, crush the leaves into a paste and apply it to the affected area for quick relief.
Hemorrhage control
This tip can be applied to bleeds, from the most minor cuts to the freakin' major gashes. Having an open-skin abrasion isn't the best thing while you're out in the field. Mother Nature is filled with nasty, infectious bacteria and animals that can sniff out blood in the air.
In the event that you cut yourself open, apply pressure to the wound. Then, instead of worrying about getting stitches, consider applying a layer of super glue to close the wound.
It works pretty freakin' well in a pinch.
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