Natural anti-bacterial

[bushcraftbob]

Does any one know of any resources in the bush that i can use when washing my hands to help remove bacteria??? I ran out of alcohol hand gel at the wkd while skinning a few bunnies and was trying to think of natural alternatives?

cheers folk

 

[maddave]

Horse chestnut leaves soap up ok

 

[wattsy]

as does soapwort

 

[bikething]

Isn't Sphagnum moss mildly antiseptic? (and available all year round )

 

[maddave]

Isn't Sphagnum moss mildly antiseptic? (and available all year round )

Correct !!

 

[launditch1]

What about dock leaves or is that just for nettle stings??

 

[poddle]

What about dock leaves or is that just for nettle stings??

Never known em work yet, still stings no matter how much you Dock you put on. Might cool it a bit, that's about all though.

 

[SouthernCross]

The kino from Australian Bloodwood trees makes an effective antibacterial paste that can be used to remove bacteria before rinsing

It's the high tannin content that does the trick.

Do you have any local tress that produce a high tannin exudate that could be used?



Kind regards
Mick

 

[VirusKiller]

Yarrow has both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarrow#Cultivation_and_uses

 

[silvergirl]

Woundwort is the one I'd have reached for first http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachys
Unless there is a lot of sphagnum around.

And docks do work for nettle stings, but not the leaves you have to get down into the base of the stem where all the slimy sap sits.

 

[wattsy]

or you can chew them up like plantain then slap the mess on the stings/cut. works like a dream

 

[Nagual]

Not sure if my memory is playing up, but I'm sure Lime leaves can be used to make a soapy like substance..


Cheers,

 

[bushcraftbob]

cheers for the suggestions all - I know that the wood of a sweet chestnut tree is high in tannin - woud the leaves from the sweet chestnut soap up like horse chestnut? Would the pulp from the leaves then contain any tannins if it did?

Doh didnt think of the Moss there was loads around at the wkd aswell!!!

 

[Celt_Ginger]

Meadowsweet.

 

[FerlasDave]

Never known em work yet, still stings no matter how much you Dock you put on. Might cool it a bit, that's about all though.

With dock, you have to squeeze the juice out of the younger greener leaves to make a real difference.

 

[rik_uk3]

This thread has made me wonder how I've survived 45 years of this camping malarkey without alcohol gel and never gone down sick or got the Jipuri Jitters etc

 

[phill_ue]

[sarcasm] This thread has made me wonder how I've survived 45 years of this camping malarkey without alcohol gel and never gone down sick or got the Jipuri Jitters etc [/sarcasm]

You forgot to enclose your post in sarcasm tags. I've done it for you in the quote, no need to thank me!

 

[Barn Owl]

With dock, you have to squeeze the juice out of the younger greener leaves to make a real difference.

Yep,
The juice is the secret there.

As for the original query,I've used any greenery really above dog peeing height to take most of the crud off then just keep the hands away from the mouth until washed.

 

[listenclear]

Cool thread. I love this kind of stuff

 

[featherstick]

Alcohol gel is great for lighting fires...