Awhile ago, I promised to occasionally describe elements of our family’s natural medicine kit. Well, here is another one, with a guest post from my Beloved!
People’s paste was often reached for by my parents as a natural antibacterial ointment. Many, many scrapes and bike injuries were quickly covered with the green goo. In every instance, infection was avoided and the wound was allowed to heal without synthetic antibiotics and petroleum-based products.
People’s paste is a mixture of equal parts myrrh powder, slippery elm bark powder, and goldenseal powder. The powders are thoroughly mixed, and brought to a paste form by stirring in raw honey. The paste is spread over cuts and punctures and let to dry to form a “scab” (the slippery elm bark can create its own “bandage”). Apply a band-aid or gauze over the injury, if desired, to prevent the dried the dried paste from falling off, or from getting wet & turning back into goo!
The dried people’s paste on your wound should be carefully reconstituted and dabbed off with a small amount of warm water and replaced with a clean application of paste at least once a day. Because people’s paste is so effective at drawing infection out of a wound, it’s important to remove the old “contaminated” paste regularly.
All of the components of people’s paste contain potent antimicrobial properties, while the raw honey also aids in tissue repair.
People’s paste may be made as needed, or a larger batch may be stored for future emergencies. People’s paste may become hard if stored for any length of time. This can be remedied by either mixing in more raw honey, or filtered water.
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What a wonderfully simple but effective recipe!
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This is a great idea! I just cut my finger while wasing a kitchen knife, and it got infected and painful, as all I used on it was peroxide. Would have been great to have this on hand. I will definitely make up a large batch, as I have 2 boys and one on the way! Thanks, Calvin!
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I haven't been here for such a long while. Huge, huge congratulations and blessings for your new baby!!!
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[...] Salve People’s Paste Mama’s Passion Bath [...]
Wow, this will be added to my arsenal.
I like that I now have your recipe now for this and the calendula salve.
I am about out of mine that my friend made and was looking for an easy recipe to try myself.
I have only made a few items such as elderberry syrup and echinacea tincture.
Thanks for sharing.
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cool! thanks! how do you typically store it and what is the typically shelf life?
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Michele Reply:
October 28th, 2010 at 11:15 am
I keep mine in the fridge. I’ve had a small container in there for about a year, and it’s still good!
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Hi,
thanks so much for this wonderful resource….would love to have more such in my kitty…..would definitely try this one !
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[...] an ice pack and People’s Paste to the [...]
I obviously came across this post late, but am excited to see the recipe as it looks like a great thing to have on hand! Quick question though: where do you usually buy your goldenseal powder and myrrh powder? I know that slippery elm bark powder is pretty common, but I’ve never seen the other two.
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Michele Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@Jessica T., I got mine from Mountain Rose Herbs: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index.php?AID=111894&BID=8040. I added some good coconut oil to my order, too, while I was at it.
Blessings,
Michele
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I have another late-comer’s question…do you usually mix the honey right away and store that, or mix the powders and add the honey as you need it? Thanks so much…
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I meant mix IN the honey right away…sorry that wasn’t clear!
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Michele Reply:
January 18th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
@Jessica T., We mix it all together at the same time (honey + herbs). Then we store it ready-to-use.
Blessings,
Michele
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Jessica T. Reply:
January 18th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@Michele, That makes sense…thus the possible need to reconstitute before applying. Thanks for clarifying!
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[...] are like. Try out the Calendula Salve (for chapped, scraped skin or mild burns and rashes), or People’s Paste (for cuts and punctures), or Mama’s Passion Bath Salts (for a soothing, cramp-reducing [...]
Do you use goldenseal ROOT powder or goldenseal LEAF powder? Thanks so much!
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Michele Reply:
April 27th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@Jessica T., Goldenseal Leaf.
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YAY! That’s much cheaper than the root powder!
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly…
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I wonder if this would work on fire ant stings?
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Michele Reply:
May 28th, 2011 at 7:32 am
@sara, Yes, I just used it for a fire ant sting on my daughter a few days ago, along with the homeopathic apis. She said it really helped!
Blessings,
Michele
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I should have read all the comments before making this up. I made it and it worked great! But I stored it in the cupboard and it molded
Will have to make up some more and store it in the fridge!
By the way — what is the Myrrh powder for? I wasn’t able to get any from our local store so just used slipper elm and goldenseal — it seemed to work fine!
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Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I believe you helped me save my chicken’s life.
I am linking back to this page in my post today.
Happy New Year!
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This is awesome! I’ve used this for healing an open wounds and it sealed it all up. Goldenseal Leaf I think it more affordable to. Does it work the same way as the root? When I ordered everything to make this is got to be quite bit more then just buying it already made up. But this one lady uses Goldenseal Root Powder though instead… http://www.naturesown.ecrater.com
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I had surgery on the top of my foot and have an ugly, thick scar. Will an application of people paste help?
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