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INTRODUCTION
POULTICES
A poultice is made of a soft, moist substance that is mixed to the consistency of a paste, and then spread on or between layers of cloth. The cloth is then placed on a body surface. Poultices act by increasing blood flow, relaxing tense muscles, soothing inflamed tissues, or drawing toxins from an infected area. Thus, they can be used to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with abscesses; boils; bruises; carbuncles; fibrocystic disease; fractures of bones; enlarged glands in the neck, breast or prostate; leg ulcers; nerve or muscle pain, sprains; sunburn; tumors; and ulcerated eyelids and other ulcers. They are also used to break up congestion, draw out pus from infected wounds, and remove embedded particles and foreign articles from the skin such as splinters.
In times past, poultices were a favorite household remedy, often involving the use of bread or mashed potatoes as a carrying mixture for herbal infusions or oil. Like compresses, hot poultices can be used for swellings, sprains, or to draw pus or splinters, but cold pastes or poultices can also be useful, as in the case of comfrey root applied to varicose ulcers.
Powdered herbs can also be used to make poultices. The powder is mixed with a little hot water to form a paste and then spread directly onto the affected area or onto a gauze. If applying poultices directly to the skin, the skin should first be greased with a little vegetable oil to prevent sticking. When using a hot poultice, it should be renewed when it cools.
Some poultice examples are as follows:
- Selfheal relieves sprains and fractures.
- St. John's Wort relieves muscle or nerve pain.
- Slippery Elm powder, mixed with Calendula, draws out boils and infected wounds (as does tinctures of these herbs plus a Myrrh Tincture).
COMPRESSES AND WRAPS
Poultices have a similar action as compresses, but involve applying the whole herb, rather than a liquid extract, directly to an affected area. Applying a compress to a stiff joint or strained muscle is a treatment familiar to all of us, and a very basic, ancient one. Wraps and compresses, often enhanced with essential oils or herbs, have played a time-honored role as remedies, not just for muscle and joint pain, but also for infections, such as bronchitis and colds. Tis treatment is also a form of hydrotherapy (water therapy), which was popular in the 19th-century spa culture. Today, compresses are applied either warm or cold or are alternated; wraps are always applied cold. Cold wraps and compresses work by signaling the body to warm itself, boosting circulation and inducing sweating. Using a wrap or compress may seem time-consuming in today's fast-paced world, but often just taking a break may in itself be beneficial to your health.
Depending on your signs and symptoms, you might use a hot compress, a cold wrap or both. A heated compress dilates blood vessels, brings more blood to the skin's surface in the area applied, is relaxing and relieves aching from inflammation. On the other hand, a wrap or cold compress constricts tissues, feels stimulating and reduces swelling, which is why it is initially used to treat sprains and strains. Further, an airtight cold wrap is primarily used for boosting the immune system by removing toxins and increasing circulation.
PROCEDURE
The word poultice (pole - tis) is derived from the Latin pultes, the plural of puls, meaning a porridge or pottage. A poultice, then, is a thick paste usually of chopped, ground or crushed fresh (or dried but re-moistened) plant material sometimes with bran or flour added for thickening and stability, that is applied directly to the skin. If a cloth is placed over or under it, or both, it is called a compress. If a cloth is soaked in the infused herb and wrung out, it is known as a fomentation. A poultice becomes a plaster when using finely ground herbs or adding ingredients such as cornmeal or wheat flour to assist their cohesiveness. Generally plasters are placed in layers or thin material to protect the skin. Plasters tend to be stronger in nature and should be monitored to avoid skin reactions to strong herbs such as garlic or mustard. It is advisable to massage oil over the skin prior to placement of a plaster. Both poultices and plasters are great for their action of drawing out toxins.
POULTICE
An herbal poultice may be made with dried or fresh herbs. The two types of poultices are prepared in slightly different ways. (For information on choosing the best herbal poultice for your condition, as well as cautions regarding the use of specific herbs, see Types of Poultices.
WRAPS AND COMPRESSES
Wraps and compresses can be soaked in herbal teas or dilutions of essential oils, and some may contain whole herbs. They can be applied to arthritic joints, sprained muscles and problem tendons and ligaments to relieve joint and muscle pain, as well as a sore throat, colds, bronchitis, congested chest, cramped abdomen and for boosting immunity and circulation. Hot or cold compresses and wraps should be kept in place for 30 to 45 minutes or until their temperatures have been completely warmed by the body's heat.
The active compounds of essential oils and herbs used with a wrap or compress will be absorbed through the skin and picked up by the bloodstream. Your symptoms determine which herbs or essential oils to include. For joint pain, Cayenne, Turmeric Essential Oil or Turmeric Herb, Nettles and Rosemary Essential Oil can help; Lavender Oil provides an anti-inflammatory effect. Muscle pulls and aches might call for St. John's Wort or Arnica. Onions and thyme may ease congestion and coughs; Ginger Root can soothe sore throats.
A Little Lore - Use of wraps and compresses was popularized, in part. by the European priest and healer Sebastian Kneipp in the 1800s. After curing himself of tuberculosis by bathing in the cold Danube, he developed other water applications for health.
FOMENTATIONS
Take a piece of clean sheeting, gauze, muslin, linen, or cotton and soak in vinegar, Witch Hazel Extract, alcohol or a herbal infusion or decoction, or in a combination of these. Wring it out and place on the affected area of the body, replacing as necessary.
PREPARING A DRIED HERB POULTICE
If you are using dried herbs, use a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs to a powder. A coffee grinder can be used for tough roots that are hard to break up with a pestle and mortar. Place the herbs in a clean glass or ceramic (not metal) bowl, and add enough pure distilled or bottled warm water to make a thick paste that can be easily applied. Add the water a teaspoon or so at a time until the mixture is thick, like porridge, but not stiff. Make a quantity sufficient to cover the affected area. The ratio of ground herbs to water will vary according to the herb being used.
Arrange a clean piece of gauze, muslin, linen, or white cotton sheeting on a clean, flat surface. The material should be large enough to cover the affected area completely. Spread the herbal paste over the cloth. Cleanse the affected area to be treated with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Gently rub a little oil on the area to prevent sticking and place the poultice over the area, applying the poultice to the skin, spreading thickly. The poultice application and herb should be as hot as can be tolerated. Wrap a towel or plastic wrap around the poultice to prevent the soiling of clothes and sheets or you can bandage into place with gauze, cheesecloth, bandage materials or cotton strips. Use a pin or other fastener to secure the poultice in place. It the area is an open wound, do not put the poultice directly into a wound (except St. John's Wort) since it may aggravate the wound and infect it. Leave for up to 3 hours and reapply, if necessary. A heating pad or water bottle can be used to keep a poultice warm.
PREPARING A FRESH HERB POULTICE
Take a handful or two of the herb, about 1 - 2 cups depending on the size of the area to be treated, and add to the blender or food processor with just enough pure water to allow the herb to puree roughly. Use the pulse button, and only in 1 second intervals, as if making pesto. Alternately, crush, chop or pound the herb into a paste. Heat the poultice, if desired to increase circulation and for drawing pus and toxins. Leave cool for sunburn and skin irritations, to decrease inflammation or for use on eyelids. If the paste is too thin, add a little bran or flour to stabilize.
If using fresh herbs for your poultice, place 2 ounces of the whole herb - about 1/2 cup - and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes. Do not drain.
Arrange a clean piece of gauze, muslin, linen, or white cotton sheeting on a clean, flat surface. The material should be large enough to cover the affected area completely. Pour the herbal solution over the cloth. Cleanse the affected area to be treated with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Gently rub a little oil on the area to prevent sticking and place the poultice over the area, applying the poultice to the skin, spreading thickly. The poultice application and herb should be as hot as can be tolerated. Wrap a towel or plastic wrap around the poultice to prevent the soiling of clothes and sheets or you can bandage into place with gauze, cheesecloth, bandage materials or cotton strips. Use a pin or other fastener to secure the poultice in place. It the area is an open wound, do not put the poultice directly into a wound (except St. John's Wort) since it may aggravate the wound and infect it. Leave for up to 3 hours and reapply, if necessary. A heating pad or water bottle can be used to keep a poultice warm.
A simpler method, rather than soaking bread or potato in an herbal infusion, for example, is to sweat the herb in a saucepan with very little water, strain it, spread the mixture onto a gauze, and apply to an affected area. The poultice can be held in place with a loose bandage.
TREATMENT DURATION
Herbal poultices should be kept in place for 1 to 24 hours, as needed. During this period, you may experience a throbbing pain or increased heat as the poultice draws out infection and neutralizes toxins. When the pain subsides or the poultice dries, it is a sign that the poultice has accomplished its task and should be removed. Apply fresh poultices as needed until the desired level of healing has been reached. Wash the skin thoroughly after each poultice is removed. Do not re-use or compost poultices or the herbs used to make them since they contain infectious material.
CAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS
Poultices, compresses, wraps and fomentations may seem to be old-fashioned and time-honored, but never doubt that they are powerful medicines, with the same properties, cautions and contraindications as herbal capsules, tinctures and prescription medicines.
- Never re-use a poultice or poultice material.
- Never compost a poultice or its material.
- Never use a poultice without consulting your health professional.
- Never put an irritating ingredient, such as mustard, capsicum, cinnamon or Arnica directly onto the skin; make a compress instead.
TYPES OF POULTICES, COMPRESSES & WRAPS
POULTICES
By making your poultice with the appropriate herbs or other substances, you will help ensure that the treatment is effective. Herbs commonly used in poultices are listed below, along with the conditions for which they are appropriate. Note that when the mixture used to make the poultice contains an irritant, such as mustard, it should not come into direct contact with the skin, but should be placed between pieces of cloth.
The simplest poultice are those made with cold used tea bags for styes or eye irritations or infections. The astringent properties of the tea promoted soothing and healing. You can also use a paste of crushed Dandelion and / or Yellow Dock leaves for bee and wasp stings or other insect bites. Meat tenderizer was made into a paste with a little water and applied to mosquito bites. Some herbalists recommend mixing vinegar, alcohol or Witch Hazel into the herb slurry; about an ounce to a cup of slurry. You may use the plant material left over from an infusion, such as cold tea - it still has healing properties, but most poultices are made from the fresh unprocessed plant or the re-constituted (with a little water, vinegar or Witch Hazel) dried herb. Simple poultices can be made from a single herb or substance such as Dandelion, used tea leaves or bran. Combination poultices can include various herbs with other elements added, such as flour or bran for thickening and vinegar or Witch Hazel for astringency.
Sage and Vinegar Poultice: Bruise whole fresh sage leaves by flattening them with a rolling pin, but do not break or tear them. Put the leaves into a pan and barely cover with vinegar. Simmer gently for five minutes over a very low heat. The vinegar should not boil, but it should steam so that the sage leaves soften and blanch. After five minutes, remove the leaves and lay them on a cloth. Work quickly, but carefully, as the leaves will be very hot. Fold the cloth into a package which will just cover the affected area. Apply as hot as can be tolerated and cover with towels to retain the heat. Leave on for an hour or so until the swelling has subsided. Sage and Vinegar poultices are traditional for treating bruises or sprains. Vinegar brings bruises to the surface, cooling and reducing swelling. When used together, they are unsurpasses for easing sprains.
Vinegar and Brown Paper Poultice: Put five or six sheets of strong brown paper into a pan and cover with sage vinegar. Place a lid on the pan and steam over a very low heat for a few minutes. The time will depend on the type of paper used. It should soften and absorb some of the vinegar without breaking or disintegrating. Remove the paper and wrap it in overlapping layers around the affected part. Apply as hot as possible and build up several layers. Cover with plastic wrap and bandage in place. Leave for four hours and reapply twice a day until the swelling and bruising have subsided.
This is an effective remedy enshrined in the children's rhyme "Jack and Jill" (Jack "went to bed to mend his head with vinegar and brown paper"). It is very supportive and strengthening for bruises and swellings. Vinegar can also be diluted with warm water and used as a fomentation for sprains and bruises. Diluted with cold or ice water, it makes a good compress for hot, swollen joints or hot tension headaches.
Clay Poultice: 4 ounces to one pound (depending on the area to be covered) of pure, Green, Healing Clay and distilled water. Mix the clay with enough water to make a thick paste. Spread with a spoon onto the center of a piece of cloth, as a diaper, an area that corresponds to the affected area of the skin. Apply the clay directly to the area, pressing it into the flesh so that it adheres. Cover with a dry cloth and leave on until the clay pulls away of its own accord. This indicates that the therapy is completed.
Comfrey and/or Plantain Poultice: Fresh comfrey and/or plantain leaves (I like to use both) and Distilled water. Blend the leaves and water together in a blender or bruise the leaves together with a mortar and pestle until a mucilage (a gooey substance) is formed. Place on a gauze pad and apply to the affected area. Wrap with a bandage to hold in place. A little olive oil applied to the area first will prevent the poultice from adhering to the wound and prevent any skin irritation that may arise from sensitivities to the plant. Both can be used on deep cuts, scrapes, stings, and burns, as well as to draw out such foreign objects as splinters or glass. Faithful application will eventually see the skin regenerate. (This recipe came in very handy with four very active, adventurous sons while they were growing up).
Chaparral, Dandelion, and Yellow Dock: Can be used to treat skin disorders such as acne, eczema, itchy or dry skin, psoriasis, and rashes. You can use one herb, or combine two or three. The greatest benefit will be obtained from using all three. Use chaparral only if you grow it yourself or purchase it from a reputable organic grower.
Elderberry: Can relieve pain associated with hemorrhoids.
Fenugreek, Flaxseed, and Slippery Elm: Can be combined to treat inflammation. Slippery elm can also be used alone for the inflamed gangrenous sores often associated with diabetes, and for leg ulcers. The use of a slippery elm poultice upon the appearance of sores and ulcers can help prevent gangrene.
Slippery Elm and Lobelia: Can be used to treat abscesses, blood poisoning and rheumatism.
Goldenseal: Is good for inflammations of all kinds.
Lobelia and Charcoal: Charcoal is available in health food stores. These are combined and used to treat insect bites, bee stings, and almost all wounds.
Lobelia and Slippery Elm: Combined to treat abscesses, blood poisoning, and rheumatism.
Mullein: Is used for inflamed hemorrhoids, lung disorders, mumps, tonsillitis, and sore throat. To make the poultice, mix 4 parts mullein with 1 part hot apple cider vinegar and 1 part water.
Mustard: This is beneficial for inflammation, lung congestion, and swelling, and can help relax tense muscles. Because mustard is an irritant, place the mixture between 2 pieces of cloth, rather than placing it in direct contact with the skin.
Onion: 3 large fresh, organic onions and distilled water. Slice onions thinly and sauté them in a small amount of distilled water until transparent. Fold half into a diaper so that the finished pack is approximately 8x8 inches. To make this poultice, place the finely chopped onion between 2 pieces of cloth, rather than placing it in direct contact with the skin. Apply to the chest as hot as can be tolerated and immediately cover with a towel to hold in the heat. Begin preparing another poultice with the other half of the onions. When the first one is cool, immediately replace it with the second. After treatment, gently dry the chest and tuck the patient into bed to rest.
This is used in cases of deep lung congestion and bronchial inflammation. It will bring penetrating relief from the annoying itch when it hurts too much to cough. It can also be applied over the ear and lymph nodes to treat ear aches, only make the poultice smaller. Is good for treating ear infections, and for boils and sores that have difficulty healing.
Pau d' Arco, Ragweed, and Wood Sage (American Germander): Can be combined and used to treat tumors and external cancers.
Poke Root: Is good for an inflamed or sore breast.
Sage: Like Poke Root, can help relieve breast inflammation and soreness.
COMPRESSES
Warm Throat Compress: For coughs and sore throats: Make a ginger tea by bringing 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to a very low for 5 minutes. Soak a soft cloth in the tea (make sure it is not too hot for your skin), wring it out and wrap it around your neck. Cover with a dry towel to keep in the heat. Leave the compress on until it cools. You can repeat this many times in succession, several times a day.
Warm Onion Ear Compress: An old home remedy for earaches: Chop a handful of onions and heat them until just warm. Place them in a cheesecloth square, tie the cloth in a knot, lie down on the unaffected side and lay the cloth on the affected ear. Tie a scarf around your head to secure. Leave the compress on until it cools, or place a hot-water bottle over the compress.
Swollen & Inflamed Joints & Arthritis: Make a compress or poultice of St. John's Wort or Devil's Claw Root, or rub the infused oil into the area and cover with a fomentation wrung out of the infusion.
Skin Irritations, Dry or Aging Skin, Eczema: Using alone or in combination, make a compress or poultice of Chickweed, Calendula, Dandelion and/or Yellow Dock.
Flaky, Irritated Eyes, Styes & Eye Infections: Apply cold used tea bags directly over the closed eyelids, replacing as necessary. Dip the bags in Witch Hazel if desired.
Sprains & Bruises: Use Arnica flowers, but do not apply directly to the skin as it can be irritating. Use as a compress or fomentation.
Inflamed Hemorrhoids, Lung or Bronchial Disorders, Chest Congestion, Mumps, Tonsillitis, & Sore Throat: Use a warm compress of a cup of Mullein with an ounce of hot apple cider vinegar and ounce of pure water.
Chest, Lung or Bronchial Congestion: Use the old time-honored hot mustard plaster. Use commercial dried Mustard. Because Mustard is an irritant and can burn the skin, use a compress rather than a poultice by placing the mixture between 2 pieces of cloth, rather than placing it directly on the skin.
WRAPS
Total Body Wrap: This cold wrap, a treatment promoted by Father Sebastian Kneipp, may at first glance seem to be odd or even damply distasteful - until you try it. It has been found to be very effective for stopping a cold or flu in its tracks if it is done when you feel the first symptoms. It spurs immune responses, lessens lymph congestion and is actually very soothing. First, place a plastic sheet over your bed to protect it. Next, take a hot bath. Rinse with cold water, but don't dry off. wrap yourself in a sheet that has been soaked in cold water and then wrung out (to enhance the healing effects, first add a few drops of Lavender or Rose Essential Oil). Then wrap yourself in a blanket, too. Lie down and cover yourself with at least 1 more blanket. Rest for 30 to 45 minutes. You will feel a relaxing warmth spread over your body. Rinse off.
Cold Chest Wrap: This wrap can ease bronchitis and asthma symptoms. Soak a large, soft cloth in cooled Thyme tea, wring it out and place it over your chest. Cover first with a dry cotton cloth and then a dry woolen blanket. Rest for 45 minutes. Your body heat and the Thyme vapors will open up bronchial tubes and ease breathing.
BASIC POULTICE PRODUCTS
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MoonDragon's Health Therapy: Hydrotherapy
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