Summertime Herbal Allies: Your Green First Aid Kit

As the sun climbs high and the days stretch long and we approach summer solstice, we find ourselves drawn outdoors—to the wild or cultivated spaces in nature: our backyards, our gardens, our woods, our waters. Yes, you biophilic nature lovers, we're looking at you! I, for one, am never caught outside during summer, though, without my herbal first aid kit for all those emergencies that arise, big and small, and especially with kids around.

With all the joys of summer come the inevitable thorns in the bramble patch: the scrapes, stings, and sunburns; the relentless poison ivy, the bites, the heat rashes, the bloody knee, and the itchies and scratchies. Fortunately, these outside spaces that offer so much joy also offer a bounty of antidotes to support our irritated skin and acutely soothe our first aid woes. Dwelling amidst the rich flora of the Appalachian mountains means that I am rarely too far from a tall blooming yarrow, some golden-glowing Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) plants, or a little comfrey, plantain, or calendula for use as needed. But I also carry preparations with me ready at a moment's notice for life's summertime troubles.

Here are some of our favorite herbal allies for summertime first aid. Don't be caught without them!

St. John's Wort Oil for After-Sun Protection

This midsummer bloomer practically glows when you crush the fresh buds and flowers between your fingers, staining them crimson. That color—alive in our fresh St. John’s Wort oil—is no accident. It signals the herb’s ability to soothe burned, frazzled, irritated tissue, whether from sun or stress. For tender skin, high nerves, and solar overload, there's nothing like St. J's oil to ease and form a protective barrier.

Lauded and known for its affinity with the sun, soothing St. John's wort blooms right around the summer solstice, capturing the season's vibrant energy and allaying doses of too much sun. Our St. John's Wort Oil is a soothing companion for skin that has had a bit much exposure, for tired post-workout muscles, and for nerves in need of extra care after a strenuous hike or swimming session. Apply it to areas of soreness or stiffness to promote healthy tissue and overall relaxation. It's a main ingredient in our Magic Massage Oil for a reason!

Poison Ivy Spray with Jewelweed and Plantain

Encounters with poison ivy--the plant teacher that demands respect and boundaries--certainly put a damper on summer adventures. Our Poison Ivy Spray combines jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and plantain (Plantago major/lanceolata), which remarkably often grown nearby poison ivy itself to cool and soothe areas of heat and redness. The botanical intelligence of the plant kingdom putting antidotes right next to alleged "enemy plants" is a wonder. Used both/either in advance or when the rash is active and inflamed, preparations of jewelweed and plantain are worth keeping on hand to calm the "itchies and scratchies" that come with outdoor explorations. 

This isn’t just for poison ivy rashes—it’s for any moment your skin says "no more." Spray it on bug bites, scrapes, and mysterious itches after time in tall grasses or woodlands.

Green Wonder Herbal Salve for Everything Else

This unscented, all-purpose salve is a staple in any herbal first aid kit. This is the salve I’ve carried in every backpack, basket, or purse for years. At farmer's markets or herbal conferences, I often have people approach me looking to stock up on their Green Wonder Salve with some miracle story about how they put it on a bee sting only to watch it disappear within minutes. I always say, "Don't thank us! Thank the plant(ain)!" And it's true (although you can thank us too, we don't mind!). Plantain is a true miracle worker when it comes to outdoor first aid, as it almost seems to press the "undo" button on any type of insect or pest sting/bite, decreasing any discomfort and drastically reducing swelling.

Crafted with comfrey (Symphytum spp.), plantain, and yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Green Wonder Salve is perfect for hitting those sore spots just under the skin, surface irritations chapped lips, dry skin, insect bites, and other skin issues of all types. I keep a jar in the car, several jars scattered around the house, and one in every bedroom as my kiddo likes to slather it on his various "owies" before bed every night. Plantain draws, yarrow stops bleeding and works against bacteria, and comfrey encourages deep tissue knitting. It’s a balm for nettle stings, cracked heels, and chicken-scratched toddlers.

Calendula Herbal Oil for All-Day Moisture

Gentle and versatile after a day in the sun or the water, freshly made Calendula Herbal Oil is our go-to for promoting happy and healthy skin, no matter what ailment of the day is troubling you, from heat rash to sun exposure. Calendula is a tender workhorse. Infused in oil, it supports skin integrity, lymph flow, and gentle renewal. Suitable for all ages, calendula (Calendula officinalis) supports skin and lymphatic circulation, promoting the health of the lymph system or the 'waters of the body,' making it ideal for addressing heat as an after-sun care or as a daily skin-soothing moisturizer.

Yarrow Tincture for Protection

Summer blooming wild, white yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is the ultimate desert-island-answer: if there was one plant to rule them all and do it all, it would be yarrow. Cooling, astringing yarrow is a time-honored herb for supporting skin health and offering cooling first aid especially in cases of bacterial/microbial threats or bleeding. 

There’s a reason yarrow has a reputation on ancient battlegrounds. I use it both topically and internally: a few drops on a cut to slow bleeding, or in tea to cool inflammation and calm heat. Yarrow is traditionally seen as a protective guardian herb, providing its ally with a layer of boundaried resilience against outside threats.

Yarrow tincture is a known stypic, stopping bleeding sometimes in a matter of moments, and is my number one go-to in my herbal toolkit, especially during the summer months, for addressing discomfort, excess heat, and bleeding.

Bug-a-Boo Herbal Insect Repellent

Let’s be honest: some summer memories come with a soundtrack of slaps and scratches. But aromatic herbs like catnip (Nepeta cateria) and yarrow provide an herbal shield. Bug-a-Boo Spray is our botanical forcefield—crafted from the most bug-deterring herbs we know of: fresh catnip, lemon balm, yarrow, and mugwort, infused into witch hazel and organic alcohol, with essential oils that might smell pleasant to you but definitely do not appeal to mosquitos or flies in the same way, thank goodness.

This is the spray I mist on bare ankles, hat brims, and shirt collars before twilight walks or creekside dinners. And yes, it actually works. As a botanical bonus: mugwort, yarrow, and catnip aren't just deterrents—they’re also generally uplifting herbs, so you’re protected on more than one level.

Embrace the Summer Season with the Plants by Your Side

Summer is a time of vitality and connection with nature--but don't let nature get in the way of that! By incorporating these herbal allies into your routine, you can navigate the season's adventures with greater ease and comfort. 

Here's to a vibrant summer of herbal allies all around.