How Can I Use It to Relieve Inflammation?
by Adrienne
Santos Longhurst
Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N.
May 17, 2019 – A poultice, also called a cataplasm,
is a paste made of herbs, plants, and other substances with healing properties.
The paste is spread on a warm, moist cloth and applied to the body to relieve
inflammation and promote healing. Some can be spread directly on the skin.
This popular
home remedy has been used for centuries to treat inflammation, insect bites,
and more.
When using a
poultice, you not only get the benefits of the ingredients used, but the method
itself. The warm poultice increases blood flow to the area, which is an
important part of healing.
Poultice for abscess
An abscess,
also called a boil, is a collection of pus that forms due to a bacterial infection. A poultice has been a popular home remedy for the
treatment for abscesses for centuries. The moist heat from a poultice can help
to draw out the infection and help the abscess shrink and drain naturally.
An Epsom salt poultice is a common choice for treating
abscesses in humans and animals. Epsom salt helps to dry out the pus and cause
the boil to drain.
Poultice for infection
A poultice can
treat infection by killing bacteria and drawing out the infection. The use of
poultices made of herbs, mud, or clay for infection is ancient.
Recently,
researchers discoveredTrusted Source that
a poultice made of OMT Blue Clay may help fight certain types of
disease-causing bacteria when applied to wounds. This included some
treatment-resistant bacteria.
Poultice for cyst
A cyst is a sac filled with fluid or a mix of solid substances and fluids.
They can grow anywhere on your body or under your skin and range in size,
depending on the type.
Applying a
warm poultice to a cyst can speed up healing by helping it drain.
Poultice for diabetic ulcer
There is
evidence of the effectiveness of poultices for diabetic ulcers dating back to the late 1800s. At the time, a
poultice containing linseed was used to soften calluses before cutting away the
diseased tissue and applying antiseptic.
More recently,
a 2016
animal study suggested
that a poultice made from the fern Blechnum orientale could be an effective
treatment for diabetic ulcers. More research is needed to understand its
effects in humans.
Poultice for arthritis
You may
remember a grandparent or great-grandparent smothering a homemade paste over
their knee for arthritis. Using herbs for arthritis is a practice that continues to this day.
A 2010 studyTrusted Source on 10 adults with osteoarthritis found that applying
a warm ginger compress to the kidney area improved pain and stiffness, as well
as overall well-being.
Ginger and a number of other plants have been shownTrusted Source to have
anti-arthritic, anti-rheumatic, and anti-inflammation properties. Applying a
poultice made of herbs for arthritis pain may help relieve inflammation and pain.
Which herbs
and other ingredients work best?
You have a few
options when it comes to ingredients for making poultices. Which will work best
depends on what you’re treating.
Herbs
The following
are herbs with medicinal properties that can be used to make poultices for a
variety of ailments, such as minor skin irritations or abrasions:
Other ingredients
Other popular
ingredients for a DIY poultice include:
- Epsom salt
- aloe vera
- activated charcoal
- baking soda
- milk
- bread
- coconut oil
Precautions for using a
poultice
An allergic reaction is possible when
applying any substance directly on your skin. Test a small area on your forearm
before applying the poultice to the affected area.
If you’re applying a poultice to an open wound, be sure to use a clean
cloth if making a compress. Do not apply any type of paste or cloth poultice to
a wound that appears to be seriously infected.
If you’re making a heated poultice, it should be warm — not hot
— to avoid burning your skin.
You may get relief from a homemade poultice for
things such as minor skin irritations or cuts, bruises, or mild pain from arthritis or a minor injury.
Herbal
poultice
Here’s how to make an herbal poultice that can be
used to relieve minor inflammation, abrasions, and more.
What you’ll need:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 ounce freshly chopped or grated ginger
- ¼ small raw sliced onion
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- cheesecloth or cotton bandage
How to do it:
- Add the coconut oil followed by the rest of the ingredients to a pan
on low heat and allow it to heat until it’s almost dry — but not burnt.
- Turn off stove and transfer ingredients to a bowl to cool so that
it’s warm to the touch.
- Lay the cloth flat and add the mixture to the center of the cloth.
- Fold the cloth over twice to create a pack or gather it and tie with
some string or a rubber band to create a handle — whatever you prefer as
long as the ingredients stay inside the cloth.
- Place on the affected area for 20 minutes.
Bread
poultice
Try a bread poultice on an abscess, cyst, or a
splinter. All you need is a slice of bread and 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk.
Here’s how to make it:
- Warm the milk in a small pan on low heat.
- Turn off the stove, remove the pan from heat, and let it cool so
it’s warm to the touch — not too hot.
- Place the slice of bread in the pan and let it soften.
- Stir the milk and bread to make a paste.
- Apply the paste to the skin and leave on for 15 minutes.
- Repeat two or three times a day.
Baking
soda poultice
A baking soda poultice requires nothing more than 2
or 3 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with just enough cold water to make a
paste. Apply the paste to minor skin irritations, such as razor burn or
mild sunburn, for a
cooling effect.
Activated
charcoal poultice
A poultice of activated charcoal may help with the
inflammation caused by a bug
bite or sting, or other minor skin irritation.
To make one:
- Combine a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with just enough
water to wet the powder to create a paste.
- Spread the paste on the affected area.
- Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Carefully wash off with a damp cloth.
- Repeat twice a day until healed.
When to
see a doctor
See a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve
after a week or if you have signs of a serious infection, such as cellulitis.
These include:
If you notice an area of redness on your
skin that’s expanding quickly or if you have a high fever, go to the nearest
emergency room.
Takeaway
Many of the ingredients needed to make a
poultice for inflammation are already in your kitchen or bathroom. Just mix
with them a bit of water or coconut oil to make a poultice and apply.
Sources
Bernhardt M. (2014). Treatment of chronic ulcers of the leg with frog flesh
poultice.
10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.384
Caflischa
M, et al. (2018). Antibacterial activity of reduced iron clay against
pathogenic bacteria associated with wound infections. DOI:
10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.07.018
Choudhary M,
et al. (2015). Medicinal plants with potential anti-arthritic activity. DOI:
10.5455/jice.20150313021918
Lai J C-Y,
et al. (2016). Treatment for diabetic ulcer wounds using a fern tannin
optimized hydrogel formulation with antibacterial and antioxidative properties.
DOI:
10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.032
Naves CCLM.
(2016). The diabetic foot: A historical overview and gaps in current treatment.
DOI:
10.1089/wound.2013.0518
Therkleson
T. (2010). Ginger compress therapy for adults with osteoarthritis. DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05355.x
No comments:
Post a Comment