Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute

medicine

11/24/25 Grid-Down Medicine: The Prepper’s Guide to Stocking Life-Saving Supplies

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When the grid goes down, access to hospitals, pharmacies, and emergency services may be severely limited. Preparing now with the right medical supplies and knowledge can mean the difference between resilience and vulnerability. Stocking up is not just about having bandages—it’s about building a comprehensive medical kit and the know-how to use it.
 
Essential Medical References
Knowledge is as critical as supplies. Consider adding these trusted resources to your preparedness library:
Merck Manuals – A cornerstone of medical reference for conditions, treatments, and procedures.
Nurses’ PDRs (Physician’s Desk Reference) – Valuable for understanding medications, dosages, and side effects.
From The Shepherd’s Purse – A guide to herbal remedies and natural healing.
Where There Is No Doctor and Where There Is No Dentist – Practical manuals for medical care in austere environments.
Ragnar Benson’s medical survival books – Focused on unconventional but practical survival medicine.
Doom and Bloom (doomandbloom.net) – A website dedicated to medical preparedness, offering guides, kits, and training.
These references ensure you’re not just stocked with supplies, but also equipped with the knowledge to use them effectively.
 
Three Guidelines for Stocking Medical Supplies
1. Stock up as much as you can – In a grid-down scenario, scarcity is the rule. More is always better.
2. Rotate your supplies based on expiration date – Medications and sterile items degrade over time. Keep your stock fresh by rotating.
3. Use gauze and duct tape – Gauze has an indefinite shelf life, and duct tape is versatile for securing dressings, splints, and makeshift repairs.
 
Fish Antibiotics: A Prepper’s Secret
In a world without pharmacies, fish antibiotics have become a popular option among preparedness-minded individuals. While these are intended for aquarium use, many preppers stock them due to their similarity to human antibiotics. No prescription required. Sources include:
These outlets provide options for stocking up now, before supply chains falter.
 
Final Thoughts
Medical preparedness is not optional—it’s essential. By combining supplies, knowledge, and practical guidelines, you can safeguard your family’s health in uncertain times. Whether you’re building a small kit or a full medical cache, start today. Disclaimer-This article is for informational purposes only and does not amount to medical advice. I am no doctor. The information is for a worst case, grid down scenario (or what I call the future).
 
Subscribe, stick around, and join the growing APSI family. Come on out and train in the wild. I look forward to hearing your story around my campfire. Stay prepared, stay informed, and stay resilient.
 
For first aid supplies and survival kits, training and more articles, check out survivalschoolmichigan.com

Wintergreen: A Survivalist’s Ally

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Wintergreen is an evergreen plant native to North America and the Eastern Woodlands. Renowned for its potent medicinal properties, this plant’s leaves and oil contain methyl salicylate—a compound with remarkable pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Historically, Wintergreen has been used to address a wide array of ailments, including muscle pain, headaches, nerve pain, sciatica, arthritis, joint pain, menstrual cramps, colds, and flus. Beyond its pain-relieving abilities, Wintergreen boasts antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties, making it an invaluable resource in the wild.
At Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute, I’ve introduced many students to the delights of Wintergreen tea—a soothing, minty infusion that offers both flavor and medicinal benefits. Typically, students enjoy two or three cups, and I often brew this tea when dealing with headaches during camp. The plant’s dark green, waxy leaves and vibrant red berries make it easy to identify. While the berries are minty and edible, it’s said that consuming just one is equivalent to taking a single aspirin. Interestingly, the strongest medicinal properties are derived from Wintergreen leaves harvested between late winter and early fall, when they take on a purplish hue.
In one experiment, I combined an infusion of Wintergreen tea with a poultice of the same plant to treat my aching knee. Used in tandem, the tea and poultice proved highly effective at alleviating my pain—a testament to the plant’s dual functionality.
Preparing Wintergreen Tea:
  1. Gather a small handful of Wintergreen leaves (5–10 should suffice).
  2. Place the leaves on a hard surface, such as a skillet, clean log, or flat rock, and gently crush them using the back of your hatchet or knife. Alternatively, chop the leaves finely.
  3. Simmer the leaves in a cup of water to create the tea.
For brewing in the wild, I often use an improvised setup, such as an empty energy drink can suspended over a fire on a tripod stand. For an enhanced infusion, try adding White Pine needles and honey to your Wintergreen tea. This combination offers a powerful winter medicine, blending the vitamin C from pine needles (an immune booster) with antimicrobial, expectorant, and pain-relieving properties. The honey adds its soothing touch to the throat—perfect for colds and sore throats.
 

Wheeping Forsythia: Medicine of the Yellow Flower

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Wheeping Forsythia

Weeping Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) is a hallmark of spring, and one of the first bloomers to catch my eye each season. I typically spot this plant alongside Snowdrops early in the year. It has been valued in traditional medicine since ancient times for its numerous health benefits. The yellow blossoms can be eaten raw, though they are bitter. However, the flowers make a pleasantly flavored tea. Below are some of the plant’s medicinal uses:

• Anti-inflammatory properties: Weeping Forsythia contains compounds such as phillyrin and forsythoside, which help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

• Respiratory health: It can reduce inflammation in the air passages of the lungs (bronchiolitis).

• Antibacterial properties: The plant inhibits the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.

• Antiviral benefits: Prepare a tea using the flowers and consume it when dealing with colds, the flu, or other viral infections. Gargling the warm tea can also soothe a sore throat. Additionally, it boosts the immune system, aids in tonsillitis relief, and reduces fever.

• Allergy relief: In spring, I use this plant along with Purple Dead Nettle to alleviate allergies.

• Heart health: The plant contains oleanolic acid, which supports heart muscle function and helps regulate blood pressure.

• Pain relief: Weeping Forsythia’s analgesic properties are effective for relieving pain and headaches.

• Topical applications: Prepare a fomentation or wash with the plant for antiseptic use. The tea can be used to clean wounds, cuts, burns, rashes, and other skin problems.

• Support for internal organs: The plant is beneficial for liver health and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Methods to Prepare Weeping Forsythia for Medicinal Uses:

  1. Tea: Use a tablespoon of fresh or dried yellow flowers and steep them in hot water for 10–15 minutes. This tea helps with fever, sore throat, and inflammation.
  2. Tincture: Fill a mason jar with dried fruits and leaves, then cover them with vodka or brandy. Seal the jar and let it sit for 4–6 weeks, flipping it upside down once a week. Afterward, strain and store the liquid. This tincture offers potent medicinal benefits, boosting your immune system and aiding in fighting infections.
  3. Infused oil: Place dried flowers in a jar and cover them with almond, olive, or coconut oil. Let the jar sit for 4–6 weeks, then strain and store the oil. This infused oil can be used for topical applications, including burns, wounds, and sunburns.
  4. Syrup: First, prepare a tea using the flowers as described above. Strain out the flowers and mix the tea with honey. Store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to one month. This syrup is effective for treating coughs, colds, the flu, other viruses and lung ailments.

The Healing Walk of the Forest: Discover the Power of Phytoncides and Forest Bathing

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Have you ever spent time in a forest and later noticed how at peace you felt? Did you notice how well you slept that night? Did you feel better physically? The trees and green plants of the forest emit invisible biochemicals called phytoncides that create a shield of protection around them to ward off harmful microbes, insects, bacteria, and fungal infections. When you are in a forest, you inhale these phytoncides and benefit from their medicinal qualities, such as a reduction in stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and a boost to your immune system. These phytoncides cause your body to increase white blood cells which fight off viruses and other microbes. The phytoncides are also beneficial in that they have anticancer properties, improve your respiratory and cardiovascular health, and even elevate your mood. The air of the forest can relax you and helps to calm nervous energy. It helps with insomnia. A two hour walk in the forest can produce enough white blood cell activity and a health boost that can last for days. In Japan they practice Shinrin-yoku, which according to my research translates as “forest bathing.” Could the Japanese, who have the highest life expectancy globally, be on to something? These phytoncides are part of what gives essential oils there powerful medicinal properties. There are thousands of phytoncides, but the most common forest-related compounds are listed as follows: camphene, pinene, limonene, myrcene, and sabinene. Forest bathing, hiking and camping are great ways to get a dose of these healing phytoncides, which aid in our physical and mental well-being. Depressed? Stressed? Feeling tired or worn out? Time to get out into the wild for a recharge! Getting outside, getting sunlight and breathing in that fresh medicinal air is an exceptional way to promote your health.

 

Unleashing the Power of Yucca: Nature’s Secret Weapon for Survival and Sustainability

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Yucca (Adam’s Needle, Yucca filamentosa) is a plant that can be found from the South up to the eastern United States, as well as in northern regions like Michigan and Canada. The root contains saponin, which can be used to make soap for washing the body, hair, and clothing. The stalk produces edible white flowers that can be eaten raw or cooked and are said to taste like a bitter artichoke. The flowering stem can be cooked and eaten much like asparagus, but it should be harvested before it grows taller than asparagus. The leaves can serve as paintbrushes. When processed, they yield inner fibers that can be turned into cordage for binding, ropemaking, basket weaving, and even clothing. The dried stalk can be used for a hand drill or as a spindle for a bow drill. To make friction fires, cut the stalk near the base and hang it to dry.

Yucca is known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to treat conditions such as arthritis and joint pain. The root can be beaten into a salve or poultice and applied to sores, skin diseases, and sprains. It also has sedative effects that can aid sleep and antiviral qualities. The root has been used to treat gonorrhea and rheumatism. The saponins in the plant are toxic to fish; Native Americans once used large quantities of them in bodies of water to stupefy and kill fish, causing them to float to the surface. Adam’s Needle is a bushcrafter’s best friend in the wild!

 

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