hi my class are studying mary seacole who used herbal remedies on soldiers in the crimean war.
As a fun activity leading into instruction writing I wanted them to make some natural remedies e.g. plaster and bandage based slves and herby things we can crush up with a pestle and mortar.
The kids wont be using them just learning about them and the techniques used.
Does anyone have any easy ideas?
thanks
mel
Ooh this is my kinda stuff. Let me look through my notes at what would be suitable should the kids decide to practice at home and will post back later
[edit] Okay so i'm sorted 😀
My personal favourite is Plantain, not the bananas. 
It's found in narrow leaf and wide leaf forms, only pick it from at least 25 metres from the road. It is completely safe to eat and some people add it to their salads as it's so nutritious. So to use just pick the leaves, give it a quick chew and slap it on a cut, scratch, burn, blisters etc. It'll heal it up in no time, might need to wrap a bandage around it of sorts to keep it in place, preferably waterproof so you can soak up the goodness, not the bandage.
Next is lavender, preferably the fresh flowers, although at this time of the year, most of them are dying off unless some planted or bloomed late. Admittedly, the dried and dying flowers are still good too. You can rub the flowers on cuts and things as it has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and last but certainly not least - anti-depressant properties. However, people completely undervalue of how much of a painkiller it is, you can rub it across your temples to relieve a headache or on another area.
Soldiers would of had all sorts of feet fungal infections so thyme is the next one, using a mortar and pestle, grind up some fresh thyme leaves so they make a paste, you can apply them to your feet, especially for athletes foot.
Anyway, while double check the properties of thyme, I found this amazing website, feel free to take a look, just check if the herbs are poisonous before advocating them to kids 😛
Olive leaves have been used since Roman times - amazing properties - see
Elderberries make an excellent cold and flu remedy - boosting immune function. Dried berries could be carried around to add to food when needed and it can be made into a syrop (cordial) or jam too.