Survival Medicine: Cattail Anesthetic Gel (SHTF, Bug Out, Grid Down Medicine)

Survival Medicine: Cattail Anesthetic Gel (SHTF, Bug Out, Grid Down Medicine)

Learn one of mother nature’s amazing pain killers- the cattail! Extremely common here in the northeast U.S. and widespread around the world, the cattail yields a surprising natural medicine. In-between the green leaves at the cattail base is a sticky clear gel that numbs the skin and mucus membranes on contact. Effects wear off fairly quickly in about 10-15 minutes, so you need to reapply often.

The medicine found in cattails would be extremely important to know in a bug out scenario, grid down scenario or survival situation when you have a limited amount of gear or first aid supplies with you.

27 Comments

  1. @sunflowr1 on October 25, 2024 at 4:13 pm

    U put in fridge

  2. @3Xplitiv3D373t3D on October 25, 2024 at 4:14 pm

    Wonder if it can be combined with redgingerlily to make americanized awapuhi

  3. @edwardpadilla7543 on October 25, 2024 at 4:16 pm

    You never said if it worked, how it tasted, any explaination on its reaction.

  4. @KatahadinKookingMamaHomestead on October 25, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    thanks for sharing one i did not know

  5. @sandysuchamisfit on October 25, 2024 at 4:20 pm

    Crunchy mom.

  6. @margarettabak9521 on October 25, 2024 at 4:22 pm

    I started harvesting and using this last year for burning muscular pain caused by fibromyalgia. I find when used externally the effects last for up to 3 hours (for me). I’ve harvested and bottled it. Last year I kept it at room temperature and it turned skunky after about 3 – 4 months. This year I’m refrigerating it to see if it will maintain it’s potency and not turn skunky.

  7. @memyselfandi9684 on October 25, 2024 at 4:25 pm

    Do you harvest py by using a spool to scoop out the gel, or cut the cattail strands a d store in a container? How do you know it’s not infected by the water it’s growing im??? Does it matter ?

  8. @valeriedubord5795 on October 25, 2024 at 4:27 pm

    Iwonder can you harvest the gel in the winter?

  9. @brendaleach7273 on October 25, 2024 at 4:28 pm

    the native americans would put in containers and save for later use

  10. @Thor_the_Doge on October 25, 2024 at 4:28 pm

    I heard of cattail jelly in the game CDDA (Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead, I recommend it for anyone interested in video games) and wanted to know if it was real, and fascinatingly enough, now I know it is. Very cool, too bad I’m not sure if cattail grow in my country, but it’s a fun fact to know nevertheless.

  11. @louisp.3332 on October 25, 2024 at 4:30 pm

    You really should’ve mentioned that this plant is edible as well, seeing as ya know, this is a survival channel 🙂

  12. @clarencelim212 on October 25, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    Can you use this to last a long time?

  13. @reneekennedy716 on October 25, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    thank you! Good info!

  14. @TheFloatingSheep on October 25, 2024 at 4:36 pm

    Just discovered that if you dry the leaves, then soak them in water and wring out the liquid, you get way more of the slime, and you can run the leaves back under the tap countless times and you just keep on getting more and more, a handful of leaves can easily fill a bottle with slime

    and as a bonus you get that tea-like smell in it from the leaves, there’s probably some benefit to the slime being infused with the nutrients of the leaves but, well, can’t verify that just yet.

  15. @3Xplitiv3D373t3D on October 25, 2024 at 4:40 pm

    Thank you for sharing.
    "Trade secrets are an assault on the evolution of humanity."

  16. @deedeehaugen4373 on October 25, 2024 at 4:42 pm

    This has me wondering if it can be dehydrated into a powder form.

  17. @downeasttactical1209 on October 25, 2024 at 4:49 pm

    i wonder if you could harvest and jar it.. theres probably gotta be a way to do it.. youve sparked my interest, im going to try to figure out a way to store it.. that would be a great resource in a shtf scenario!

  18. @LaineyBug2020 on October 25, 2024 at 4:51 pm

    Roadside harvesting not the best idea…

  19. @margaretmcdonald2813 on October 25, 2024 at 4:51 pm

    Make a tincure of it that will preserve it

  20. @krishenderson5499 on October 25, 2024 at 4:52 pm

    I wonder if you could freeze dry it and reconstitute it for use.

  21. @JanineMJoi on October 25, 2024 at 4:55 pm

    there’s GOT to be a way to preserve it with a food preservative

  22. @fleendarthemagnificent7372 on October 25, 2024 at 4:57 pm

    Here’s more NEED-TO-KNOW knowledge about cattails and utilizing their food and medicinal properties.
    These plants filter out pollutants and other damaging water contaminants. Therefore, DO NOT collect plants near roads, railroads, cities, big farms and other places where pesticides and other chemicals are used for manufacturing and city use.
    You ARE what you eat. Plants eat whatever comes their way and they store it. Septic systems are also another thing to consider. So if you’re going to enjoy cattails, make sure that you’re harvesting from the cleanest area possible. What they take in and filter out ends up in every part of the plant.

    I enjoy eating the early spring male pollen spikes dipped in melted and salted butter. They’re the best when still ensheathed within the calyx as this retains their moisture and cleanliness. Once they’ve sprouted outside the calyx, they’re still good, but not as good of quality.

  23. @cjhart8698 on October 25, 2024 at 4:59 pm

    Couldn’t you harvest the gel and put it in like ice cube trays and freeze it?

  24. @jabohabo3821 on October 25, 2024 at 5:03 pm

    You are literally the only person talking about this

  25. @jocelynburke2803 on October 25, 2024 at 5:04 pm

    haha walmart of the swamp. love it.

  26. @Ryker2608 on October 25, 2024 at 5:05 pm

    Say I had a laceration that needed to be stitched. Could this gel be used to numb the pain?

  27. @jabohabo3821 on October 25, 2024 at 5:10 pm

    Anti bacterial too

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