Top 3 survival plants to know in the U.P.

Hiking a lot in the Summer and just generally being outside can come with some challenges- especially for those of us who work outside in the field. Luckily for those small problems we may encounter nature offers us a solution in the form of various plants to help us get through the situation. Here are three of my favorite, commonly found UP "survival plants", what they do and where to find them.

1. Jewelweed

I'll never forget my first time needing to use jewelweed. At the time I was hiking through a forest with a lot of standing water in order to survey the area, and a lot of standing water means there are mosquitos and poison ivy. Now the poison ivy wasn't bothering me but the mosquitos were just unbearable. However, nature is pretty cool because in those areas of standing water, roadside ditches etc. the solution is found: jewelweed. Jewelweed has a chemical compound that stops itching- mostly for poison ivy but I found relief from bug bites as well. It's easy to use, just break open the stem and put the clear slimy insides on your itch and it seems to work well- so well for me in fact that the bug bites didn't bother me since then. While looking up information for this blog I came across actual products that use jewelweed to prevent poison ivy rashes like sprays and balms. 

A self-seeding annual, jewelweed usually reaches a height of two to five feet. It features delicate, watery stems and oval-shaped leaves with serrated edges that are arranged alternately. Seedlings emerge in early spring and grow to full size by August. Blooming starts in mid-summer and lasts until the plant is killed by frost. The fruit is an elongated capsule that splits open easily when ripe. For more information on jewelweed click this link. 

2. Yarrow

On the survival show Alone, Nicole Apelian, a practicing herbalist, had an injury that could have taken her out of the game early, but she knew what to do. She had cut her finger and in a survival situation that could turn really bad-especially when you are alone surviving in the wild. She put her knowledge to the test and made a poultice of yarrow which stopped the bleeding and helped the healing process to where it was no longer an issue. 

Traditionally, yarrow has been used for its many healing properties. Yarrow is known for clotting wounds, repelling pests, and attracting beneficial insects. It helps with dental pain, inflammation, and wound healing due to its clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. Yarrow-infused oil or salve can be applied to bruises and swelling, while a poultice made from yarrow leaves can aid in recovery when applied to affected areas. Here is a link to Nicole's website for more information on yarrow. It is very easy to find here in the UP it can be found almost anywhere if you look in the right places, I have some that grows along the roadsides by my house but if you don't have it and want it in your garden a UP native plant seller has it (link here). 

The yarrow plant in the Twin Cities region has slender, intricately divided leaves that can be up to 6 inches long. It blooms from June to September, growing to heights of one to three feet. The flowers cluster at the top of the stem, with small white ray flowers. Avoid using flowers with pink or yellow hues for medicinal purposes. For more information click this link. 

3. Cattails

We see this a lot in the Upper Peninsula, and I'm sure almost everyone can point it out and know where it is found. But, did you know cattails possess anesthetic properties, with the gel creating a remarkable numbing effect when applied directly to the affected area. Boils, blisters, and sores can greatly benefit from this application. The healing attributes of cattail gel include being astringent, a coagulant that stops blood flow, offering pain relief, and acting as an antiseptic. Essentially, cattail numbing gel functions in two ways: firstly, the excretions from the leaf base cleanse the wound, and secondly, it addresses pain, providing immediate relief. This article tells how to harvest it and use it for home remedy uses (link here), as well as many YouTube videos. 

Besides the medicinal uses, a lot of people eat cattails. Much of the cattail can be eaten in fact, including the roots called corms, pollen and root starch. You can find a lot of recipes online and ideas on how to collect and prepare the cattail. There is also a look alike you shouldn't get yourself involved in. For more information on all the things mentioned check out this link. 

*Please do your research before trying these out for yourself. It is very important to correctly identify plants and prepare/use them correctly. I highly recommend YouTube videos by trusted sources.