How to Make A Herbal Poultice
Although the term “poultice” sounds a little odd, I can assure you it has a very different meaning than the similar sounding, “poltergeist”, which always leaves me feeling a little spooked. A poultice is actually a herbal healing method that has been used for thousands of years.
So, what is a poultice exactly? A poultice is a medical preparation made from fresh or dried herbs, veggies, clays, bran or oat meal and applied directly to the skin. Typically, used to treat scrapes, muscle pains, insect bites, rashes or infected wounds, poultices work best when applied hot or warm to the body and should be replenished every few minutes to maintain the moist heat.
Safety - although poultices are applied externally, it’s important to avoid using using herbs that should not be taken internally. If you are expecting, you’ll want to avoid using herbs that are contraindicated in pregnancy.
Types of Poultices
Emollient: Emollients are mucilage herbs that are used externally to soften and relaxed the skin, especially when inflammation is at play. Oat and flaxseed meal fall into this category, along with marshmallow root, slippery elm, calendula and comfrey to name a few.
Medicated: Medicated poultices are made using herbs containing a particular action to aid healing, like an astringent, vulneraries or disinfectants. Astringent herbs contain tannins that work to contract soft tissue to stop or reduce blood, mucus and other discharges. Some great astringent herbs include witch hazel, red raspberry, lady’s mantel, and yarrow. Disinfectants contain chemicals that work to inhibit bacteria. A few of my favourites include, tea tree oil, eucalyptus and thyme.
Clay: Made from volcanic ash, bentonite clay is rich in minerals including; silica, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and calcium. There are many studies looking into the benefits of this clay, ranging from its ability to remove toxins and heavy metals from the body, it’s support for gut health and ability to fight off skin infections like staph and calm inflamation. Personally, I find clay beneficial in a poultice to help protect and sooth skin when used on rashes, bug bites, poison ivy or other skin irritations.
How to Make A Poultice
If using fresh herbs, you’ll want to tear them into tiny pieces and then crush them in a mortar and pestle
Mix your herbs with enough boiling water to form a thick paste
Apply to poultice to affected area, wrap with a piece of cheese cloth to keep in place and retain heat
You want the poultice to provide heat, so reapply as needed for up to an hour
Poultices are so versatile and require really only the plants you want to use, and some water. You could also experiment with using clay, depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
With summer upon us, I thought it would be fitting to share a simple recipe to help relieve bug bites, that are pretty much a given this time of year.
Bug Bite Relief
What you’ll need:
Dried plantain leaf
Bentonite clay
Boiling water
Mix until a thick paste is formed. When mixing, use a plastic spoon, as metal can reduce the effectiveness of the clay.
The amount you use will vary depending on the size of the area you are applying it to. Start with a small amount of clay and adjust based on your desired thickness.
Apply your clay poultice to the affected area, allow it to dry and then wipe it off.
Another form of a poultice is a compress, which is a cotton sock or cloth soaked in a herbal oil, tincture or decoction and applied directly to the skin. A compress is a great way to help reduce skin inflammation and promote healing.
Whatever herbal preparation is right for you, I hope you give this age old healing method a try. It’s so versatile, safe and affective for the whole family.
As always, its important to do your own research before using herbs to make sure you’re selecting plants that are right and safe for you.