Not every useful plant is foraged primarily to eat. Some are
best known for tea, others for direct application to the skin.
This section covers a few from this topic's plant list,
alongside the necessary caution that comes with any topical
or internal herbal use.

Yarrow flowers and leaves, introduced in section 10.1, make
a traditional tea, often used for mild digestive complaints.
As with any herbal tea you haven't tried before, start with
a small amount and follow the testing principles from
sections 7.3 and 7.4.

Lady's mantle leaves, also from section 10.1, are traditionally
used in tea, often associated with women's health uses
historically. As with any plant used for a specific traditional
purpose, treat strong claims with appropriate scepticism
and check more than one source.

Linden flowers, gathered in early summer as covered in 10.1,
make a gentle, fragrant tea traditionally associated with
calm and relaxation. Dry the flowers fully before storing
to avoid mould.

A poultice is a soft mass of plant material applied directly
to skin, sometimes wrapped with cloth. Comfrey is one of the
classic poultice plants — mashed or lightly heated leaves
applied to bruises, sprains, and minor closed-skin injuries.

This is for closed skin only. Never apply a poultice to
an open, actively bleeding wound — plant material can introduce
infection risk into broken skin. For anything beyond a minor
bruise or strain, seek proper medical care.

The resinous, balsamic-smelling buds of black poplar, introduced
in 10.1, are traditionally infused into oil or alcohol over
several weeks to make a topical salve, sometimes called a
balm of Gilead preparation. Used traditionally for minor skin
irritation and muscle soreness. We'll cover the infusion
process itself in section 11.5.