Donum ∞ Dei

🩹 Medicinal Plants for Wounds

For small, superficial wounds herbal practice has a long tradition: tannins draw the tissue together, allantoin encourages new cell growth, and some plants are mildly antiseptic besides. Anything beyond that needs proper care: deep, heavily bleeding or dirty wounds, bites and anything that becomes inflamed belong with a doctor.

40 plants from our database are traditionally associated with Wounds – each with a profile, active compounds, safety notes and sources. Poisonous and legally controlled species are deliberately left out of this list; they remain reachable through the search and the plant index.

These plants are traditionally used for the listed conditions. Not medical advice — consult a doctor or pharmacist for persistent symptoms.

Yellow-orange ray flower of arnica on a mountain meadow
Arnica
Arnica montana

Arnica tincture (1:10 in 70 % ethanol), diluted 1:3 to 1:10 with water, applied as a moist compress to bruises, contusions, sprains and blunt injur…

Photo of Bistorta officinalis
Bistorta officinalis
Bistorta officinalis

Compresses with rhizome decoction or extract were used in folk medicine for wounds, burns, skin infections, and inflammatory skin conditions.

Photo of Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris

Folk-medicine wound compress for minor bleeding cuts and abrasions, nosebleeds (tampon), hemorrhoidal bleeding and superficial skin injuries — hemo…

Photo of Sempervivum tectorum
Sempervivum tectorum
Sempervivum tectorum

Fresh leaf juice or halved succulent leaves are applied directly to minor wounds, burns, insect stings, and sunburn.

Photo of Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense

In folk medicine, capsaicin-rich Habanero or Scotch Bonnet fruits are used similarly to cayenne (C.

Photo of Lythrum salicaria
Lythrum salicaria
Lythrum salicaria

Compresses soaked in a strong tea from the flowering herb were applied externally to wounds, ulcers, eczema, and skin infections (impetigo).

Photo of Calendula officinalis
Calendula officinalis
Calendula officinalis

Traditional moist compress to support the treatment of minor skin inflammation (e.g.

Fan- to kidney-shaped leaves of gotu kola (Centella asiatica)
Gotu kola
Centella asiatica

Traditional external use to support wound healing and for minor skin inflammation.

Photo of Hamamelis virginiana
Hamamelis virginiana
Hamamelis virginiana

Traditional witch hazel leaf compress (EMA-recognised) for minor skin inflammations, bruises and small wounds — astringent action via tannins.

Photo of Pinus sylvestris
Pinus sylvestris
Pinus sylvestris

Resin compresses from pine resin (Resina Pini) are used in folk medicine for wounds, furuncles, and skin infections.

Photo of Sanguisorba officinalis
Sanguisorba officinalis
Sanguisorba officinalis

Compresses with cooled great burnet root decoction for burns, wounds, boils, and inflamed skin areas.

Photo of Symphoricarpos albus
Symphoricarpos albus
Symphoricarpos albus

Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest (Salish, Okanagan, Stl'atl'imx, Nlaka'pamux) historically used crushed berries and bark decoctions exte…

Photo of Veronica officinalis
Veronica officinalis
Veronica officinalis

Cooled infusion as a moist compress for skin irritations, eczema, minor wounds and abrasions.

White flower umbel of yarrow
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium

Moist compress for small superficial skin wounds.

Close-up of the pink flowers of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Herb Robert
Geranium robertianum

Compress with the astringent infusion as supportive care for minor, slow-healing wounds and bruises; an antibacterial effect of extracts has been d…

Botanical plate of myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897, showing a leafed branch, flowers and fruit.
Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha

Traditional topical use for minor wounds and small boils (skin sores).

Photo of Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea

External salve or cream with expressed juice for superficial wounds, abrasions and mild skin inflammation — EMA traditional use.

Green summer shoots of field horsetail
Field Horsetail
Equisetum arvense

External bath for superficial, poorly healing wounds.

Photo of Fraxinus excelsior
Fraxinus excelsior
Fraxinus excelsior

Fresh or steamed ash leaves were applied as moist compresses in folk medicine to poorly healing wounds, ulcers, and skin complaints.

Photo of Galium odoratum
Galium odoratum
Galium odoratum

Cooled infusion or freshly crushed herb as a moist compress for small wounds, skin irritation, and minor burns.

Photo of Matricaria chamomilla
Matricaria chamomilla
Matricaria chamomilla

Blue chamomile essential oil (rich in chamazulene and alpha-bisabolol oxides) — anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing externally; Kommission E positi…

Photo of Argentina anserina
Argentina anserina
Potentilla anserina

Bruised or powdered herb was applied as a compress for ulcers and wounds.

Photo of Rubus fruticosus
Rubus fruticosus
Rubus fruticosus

External use for chronic skin conditions and poorly healing wounds.

Photo of Bellis perennis
Bellis perennis
Bellis perennis

Classic home-remedy salve for bruises and minor wounds — the gentler sister of arnica, traditionally also used for children.

Photo of Carpinus betulus
Carpinus betulus
Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam bark was used in folk medicine as a decoction for compresses and wound washes for poorly healing wounds and skin irritations.

Photo of Sweet chestnut
Sweet chestnut
Castanea sativa

Bark extract for circulatory and skin problems: the bark contains high levels of hydrolyzable tannins (ellagitannins: castalagin, vescalagin) with…

Photo of Chicory
Chicory
Cichorium intybus

Loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints (bloating, flatulence, mild digestive weakness) and as adjuvant in disturbances of bile flow - bitter the…

Photo of Turmeric
Turmeric
Curcuma longa

Turmeric paste applied externally — folk remedy for skin inflammations, eczema and minor wounds in Ayurveda and Asian folk medicine.

Photo of Poinsettia
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima

In Aztec folk medicine (Nahuatl: Cuetlaxochitl), the milky latex was applied to burns and inflammatory skin irritations.

Photo of Ficus elastica
Ficus elastica
Ficus elastica

In Southeast Asia, the milky sap of the rubber plant is traditionally applied externally to skin wounds and inflammatory skin conditions.

Photo of Galium aparine
Galium aparine
Galium aparine

Fresh plant juice or a poultice of the bruised herb was traditionally applied to wounds, minor burns, and skin inflammations.

Photo of Geum urbanum
Geum urbanum
Geum urbanum

Compresses soaked in root decoction for haemorrhoids, eczema and poorly healing wounds.

Photo of Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum

Traditional external use as red oil for minor skin inflammations (sunburn) and minor wounds.

Photo of Laurus nobilis
Laurus nobilis
Laurus nobilis

Bay laurel oil (expressed from fruits and leaves) for external massage in rheumatic complaints, bruises, and sprains.

Photo of Picea abies
Picea abies
Picea abies

Spruce resin salve: the resin (pitch) is dissolved in fat or oil and used as a wound salve, furuncle poultice, or rubefacient for back and joint pain.

Photo of Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago lanceolata

Folk medicine first-aid remedy: ribwort plantain grows on almost every roadside and provides an instant natural plaster.

Photo of Coleus barbatus
Coleus barbatus
Plectranthus barbatus

In African folk medicine, fresh leaves are crushed and applied as a poultice to wounds, ulcers, and skin infections.

Photo of Pulmonaria officinalis
Pulmonaria officinalis
Pulmonaria officinalis

Fresh crushed lungwort leaves were applied as compresses in folk medicine to slow-healing wounds, ulcers, and eczema.

Photo of Salvia officinalis
Salvia officinalis
Salvia officinalis

Traditional folk-medicinal use as astringent and antimicrobial compress for poorly healing wounds, mild skin inflammations, insect bites and weepin…

Photo of Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolum majus

Crushed fresh leaves applied as a poultice on minor wounds, skin blemishes, and insect stings.

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