Healing Herbs Used Externally

These are just a few of the many healing herbs that can be applied topically in oils, salves, liniments, and creams. (Note: Oils, salves, and other external herbal preparations should not be applied to broken skin or open wounds unless your practitioner has advised otherwise.)

How to make a poultice

Arnica flowers: muscle and joint pain

Calendula flowers: rashes, insect bites, minor burns

Chamomile flowers: itching, eczema, inflammation

Chickweed leaves: eczema, psoriasis, dryness, itching

Comfrey leaves: minor cuts, scrapes, insect stings, muscle and joint pain

Eucalyptus leaves: insect bites, stings, wounds, and blisters; analgesic and anti-inflammatory for muscles and joints

Jewelweed leaves and stems: rash, minor cuts, poison ivy, nettle stings

Lavender flowers: itching, insect bites, minor burns, muscle aches

Mullein flowers and leaves: skin irritation, joint pain, hemorrhoids, earache, sore throat, chest congestion

Oregano leaves: insect bites, athlete’s foot

Plantain leaves: insect bites and stings, pain, poison ivy, itching, rashes, sores

Rosemary leaves and flowers: muscle and nerve pain, such as sciatica

St. John’s wort flowers: burns, insect bites, nerve pain

Thyme leaves: minor cuts and scrapes, muscle pain

Yarrow flowers: bruises, cuts, eczema, rashes, sprains, wounds, and areas with swelling and bleeding