Poultices & Compresses

An herbal poultice is a paste made of crushed herbs and water that is typically spread onto a cloth (but not always) and then applied externally to the skin. They are a powerful way to address pain, inflammation, colds, and skin conditions. The simplicity of poultices make them a great way to incorporate herbs into your herbal toolbox. Poultices are designed to:

• ease inflammation,
• move blood to the skin surface to promote the body’s innate healing capacity,
• be therapeutic for infection,
• support cold and flu symptoms,
• relieve pain of wounds or arthritis,
• relieve itch from skin irritations like insect bites,
• ease swelling, and
• promote relaxation.

Warm poultices are often used to stimulate blood circulation and improve lymph flow and are recommended for chronic pain and clearing mucus. Cold poultices are recommended for acute conditions like insect bites, stings, or sore throat.

Preparing and applying a traditional poultice

• Chop or crush enough fresh or dried herbs to cover the affected area.
• Mix with just enough water to create a paste.
• Spread the poultice onto a clean linen cloth, cheesecloth, or cotton flannel cloth and then place on the affected area, ensuring it covers the skin fully. Alternatively, spread the herbs onto the affected area of the body and cover with a cloth.
• Remove after 20-30 minutes and rinse the area gently with lukewarm water. Pat dry. Check for any signs of allergy before repeating.
• Use 1-2 times a day for acute conditions, use several times a week for chronic conditions.

Spit Poultice

Spit poultices are a super simple, easy way to create immediate relief. They are great for relieving the itch of insect bites and burn of stings, and they help draw out the toxins and venom. They are also awesome to help draw out splinters. Plantain is my go-to herb for this purpose – try it next time you get bitten while you’re in the garden! Just harvest a plantain leaf, chew it up enough to make a paste (sorry, it doesn’t taste great), and cover your insect bite with it for 20-30 minutes.

Compress

A compress is a bit different than a poultice, but it’s used in a similar way. A compress is a cloth soaked in a strong herbal infusion or decoction. They are not only less messy, they are also easier to prepare. Simply soak a cloth in the herbal infusion or decoction of your choice, and place over the desired area. Compresses can be used in much the same way as poultices. Warm compresses are used to draw blood circulation to the area and ease muscle tension, while cold compresses are indicated for pain with inflammation and heat (headaches, burns, bruises).

One of my favorite ways to use a compress is for eye irritations. Simply soak a cloth in a cooled chamomile flower infusion, and place over the eye for 20 minutes.

Safety Considerations

• Perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for contact dermatitis reactions. Common topical allergies are from the Asteraceae (daisy) family.
• Avoid using poultices on broke skin or open wounds.

Herbs for Poultices & Compresses

• Ease inflammation: turmeric, ginger, chamomile, calendula
• Promote blood circulation: ginger, yarrow, arnica, cayenne
• Promote healing: comfrey, turmeric, marshmallow, rose, violet
• Relieve pain: arnica, willow bark, peppermint, ginger, burdock root, rosemary, meadowsweet, mullein
• Antimicrobial (for infection): garlic, goldenseal, violet, onion, chickweed
• Relieve itch: plantain, jewelweed, dandelion leaf
• Promote relaxation: lavender, chamomile
• Support cold & flu: thyme, eucalyptus

References

Justis, A. (2018, January 30). Herbal Compresses and Fomentations: What They Are & How To Use Them. Herbal Academy. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/herbal-compresses-and-fomentations/

Noveille, A. (2015, April 24). How To Make A Poultice With Dried & Fresh Herbs. Herbal Academy. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/how-to-make-a-poultice-with-herbs/