Poultices, Compresses and Fomentations

A poultice is a moist, thick paste made from plant material, fresh or dried, applied directly to the skin.  

A plaster is an herbal paste enclosed in clean cloth and then applied to the skin.  

A compress (fomentation) is a cloth soaked in an herbal infusion, wrung out and applied to the skin. 

Making a Dried Herb Poultice

 

Poultices are made from chopped & pounded fresh plants or from dried herb that has been reconstituted with steam, water, vinegar or witch hazel. Good Egg Emporium offers Mountain Rose Organic Herbs that have been dried, cut & sifted or powdered. If you are using dried herbs you have picked and dried yourself, you can grind them with an herb grinder or powder them with a mortar & pestle before using.

 

Layer ½ cup of dry herbs in a steamer over boiling water, reduce heat and cover until they warm & wilt. If using powdered herbs, add hot or cold distilled water teaspoon by teaspoon to make a thick paste. You want the result to be spreadable, neither too watery or too stiff. Make enough to thickly cover the affected area.

 

Wash the area to be treated with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Apply the poultice paste mixture to the skin. You can leave it open to the air, or cover with a clean material such as cheesecloth, using a safety pin or fastener to keep it in place if necessary. You may heat the poultice with a hot water bottle to increase circulation or for drawing pus or toxins. Use cool poultices for sunburn or irritated skin conditions, to decrease inflammations. For use on the eyes, use a teabag or thin layer of cloth underneath. Leave the poultice on for 1 to 24 hours until dry. Re-apply as needed.

Making a Plaster

 

Plasters are usually used when an herb is potentially irritating to the skin. A classic example is the mustard plaster. It is advisable to use herbs that have been powdered or ground immediately before using them in a plaster. This allows the volatile enzymes and oils to seep through the cloth. Use cool water to make a slurry of the herb. Take a piece of clean cheesecloth, muslin, linen, or cotton and lay it on a table or other clean surface. The material should be large enough to cover the affected area completely. Pour the herbal slurry over the cloth. Then place another cloth over the herb material, enclosing it. Wash the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, and place the compress over the area. Wrap a towel around the plaster to prevent the soiling of clothes or sheets. Compresses should be kept on only until just after a burning/tingling sensation begins, a result of the enzymatic action signaling that the oils are sinking in. This takes usually no longer than 15 minutes. Re-apply as needed.

 

Making  a Compress (aka Fomentation)

 

Make an herbal infusion (an herb tea) or decoction (boiled herb reduction) and place in a ceramic bowl. Take a piece of clean terrycloth, muslin or linen and submerge. Wring it out and place on the affected area of the body, replacing as necessary. May be used hot or cool as appropriate. Especially good if you’re dealing with large areas or an open or healing wound.

 

What to Expect When a Poultice Has Been Applied

 

During this period, you may experience a throbbing pain or increased heat as the poultice draws out infection and 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.

 

Cautions and Contraindications

 

Poultices, compresses and fomentations may be 'old-fashioned' and time-honoured, but never doubt that they are powerful medicines, with the same properties, cautions and contraindications as herbal capsules, tinctures and prescription medicines. Herbal poultices work because of the ability of the skin to absorb the medicinal benefits of the substance almost immediately. They should be treated with common sense and respect.

 

• Before using, do your homework & research any herb thoroughly for any contraindications
• Never put an irritating ingredient, such as mustard, capsicum, cinnamon or Arnica directly onto the skin; make a plaster or a compress instead.
• Always dab a patch of an herb first on your skin to test for any unknown allergic reactions.
• Do not put poultice material directly into an open wound, make a plaster or compress instead.
• Do not re-use or compost poultices or the herbs used to make them since they may contain infectious material.
• Never use a poultice plaster or compress on a child without consulting your health professional.