Poultice 101: How to Make a Herbal Poultice
When it comes to using herbs for healing, we often think of teas or tinctures that make use of various roots, bark, stems, flowers, leaves, or seeds. But we tend to forget about the many benefits of a herbal poultice. A poultice is a simple herbal remedy that’s been used for various conditions since ancient times. Just like you might slather on cream with active ingredients to relieve pain, applying a poultice chock-o-block full of anti-inflammatory herbs brings the plants healing powers directly to the area of concern. Homemade poultices are so useful and surprisingly easy to make.
What is a poultice?
Simply put, a poultice is an easy way to apply herbal matter directly to your skin. The herbs are mixed with water, oil, or clay and applied like a paste. The poultice is then secured with a piece of cotton cloth or gauze. Often, a waterproof cloth or layer of plastic wrap is applied over the poultice to protect clothing, left on for several hours at a time, and changed a few times a day. If the herb is very potent, like garlic, ginger, or mustard, the skin can be protected by a thin cloth before the herbal paste is applied. The herbal remedy could also be placed in a cloth bag and applied to the skin. This can be done using fresh or dried herbs and other beneficial ingredients.
A poultice is very useful because the affected part of the body is in constant contact with all the beneficial parts of the plant for an extended period of time. Some herbs are good for fighting infection and reducing inflammation, while others draw out poison and relieve aches and pains. Poultices are typically used to help burns, boils, infections, inflammation, bruises, and sore muscles. Some poultices can even be used externally to treat internal problems. Cold poultices can be used to bring quick relief in the case of sunburn or an insect bite.
How to make your own poultice
Before you apply a poultice, do a quick patch test to rule out any skin sensitivities. Place a small amount of the herb or oil you plan on using on the inside of your wrist or on a non-irritated part of the skin, and leave it there for a few minutes. If you notice redness, itching, or any other reaction, remove the substance and wash the area with mild soap and water. If nothing happens, you can move forward with the full poultice on the affected area.
There are many ways to create a homemade poultice, depending on your needs. A poultice uses the whole herb or plant mixed with oil, clay, charcoal, salt, or even just water. The herb is prepared and made into a thick paste using your chosen ingredient. Traditionally, the fresh or dried herb is ground down using a mortar and pestle and mixed with a liquid to form a paste. I love doing this the old-school way using a granite mortar and pestle, but a blender or small food processor can also be used to smash the herb (but where’s the authentic I-feel-like-a-green-witch fun in that?)
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Once you’ve made your thick paste, it can be applied directly to the affected area of the body or wrapped between two layers of clean cloth before application (depending on the potency of the herb). Cheesecloth or thin, organic cotton fabric are excellent for this as they still allow the herbs to do their magic without direct skin contact. However, it is also important not to use a cloth that will absorb too much of the liquid.
Here is a quick summary of how to make your own poultice:
Ingredients
2 to 3 tablespoons (or more as needed) of your chosen fresh or dried herbs, healing clays, oils, or activated charcoal, like this one from Erbology.
Enough hot water to form a thick paste
Some organic cheesecloth or cotton cloth for covering
A waterproof covering to keep the poultice on
Method
Crush your herb and make a thick paste using the herb, clay, oil, charcoal, salt, and water. If you choose an oil, you will not need to use as much water, if any at all. The paste can also be thickened using flour.
Apply the paste directly to the skin or spread it between two layers of cloth and apply that to the area. Secure in place with some more cloth, gauze, plastic, or waterproof fabric.
Apply a heating pad to the area if you wish to warm the poultice up.
Leave the poultice on for 30 minutes to 3 hours as needed and repeat as necessary.
Four Favorite Poultice Recipes
These are four of our favorite poultice recipes for various ailments and conditions.
1. Sore chest or cough: mustard seed poultice
Begin by grinding your mustard seeds down, or use a quality mustard seed powder. Mix your mustard with just enough flour and warm water to create a thick paste. Mustard seed is very potent, so it is recommended to spread the paste between two layers of fabric and apply it to the chest or back that way.
2. Bruise and skin swelling: frankincense and myrrh poultice
Give the bruise or swollen area 24 hours from the time of injury before applying the poultice. Mix the organic essential oils of frankincense and myrrh with either an organic olive or sesame oil and some flour or honey to thicken the mixture. Apply the paste to the area and cover it with some plastic wrap. Place a heating pad on top of the poultice for around 30 minutes.
3. Menstrual cramps: castor oil poultice
Begin by mixing organic castor oil with moxa essential oil (moxa comes from the mugwort herb). Turn the mixture into a paste by adding flour or honey. Apply the paste to an organic cotton cloth and place the cloth on the lower abdomen. Add a heating pad, put your feet up, eat that dark chocolate and relax for around 25 minutes.
4. Arthritis-related aches, joint pain, carpal tunnel: ginger or turmeric poultice
Ginger and turmeric are powerful antioxidant herbs that can effectively penetrate the skin when applied as a poultice. These two herbal remedies can be used to treat the deeper layers of inflammation in the aching parts of the body. Mix ginger powder or turmeric powder with a small amount of warm water until it makes a paste. Apply the paste to a cheesecloth and cover the affected area. Place a heating pad on top of the poultice for about 20 minutes. If you choose turmeric, remember that your skin could temporarily be stained a tad yellow.
Turmeric and Ginger feature in blogs of their own, so be sure to give them a read.
In Summary
Poultices are one of our favorite (and safest) ways to benefit from all the magical properties of herbs. They can be applied directly to the skin and treat a variety of conditions. Poultices provide all the benefits of herbs but are not as concentrated as tinctures or oils.
Please keep in mind that because herbal poultices are topical remedies, you should avoid placing them on or near an open wound or eczema to prevent any negative reactions.