Herbal Compress and Poultice Ideas
Herbal compresses and poultices are often used to treat skin irritations and other ailments that deal with topical issues. Many different herbs go into making a variety of compresses and poultices that also deal with boils, varicose veins, and even migraine headaches. In this article, you will learn more about some of the treatment options you have with this type of herbal approach and the kind of herbs that help you get there.
Compresses
Yarrow: The aerial parts of yarrow can create an infusion or diluted tincture that when soaked in a pad will soothe the symptoms of varicose veins.
Agrimony: The aerial parts of agrimony create a decoction that is used to treat boils.
Angelica: Angelica is known as one of the most important tonic herbs within the Chinese medicine culture. When a pad is soaked in a hot diluted tincture or decoction, one may apply the herbal remedy to painful joints affected by rheumatism and arthritis.
Cayenne: While the hot-flavored chili is known as a great cooking ingredient to spice up food, it is also known to treat rheumatic pains, sprains, and bruising when a pad is soaked in an infusion of cayenne.
Cinnamon: The twigs of the cinnamon plant create a decoction or diluted tincture that when soaked in a pad is known to relieve arthritic and rheumatic pain.
Cleavers: Cleavers is known as a popular herb used in folk medicine. When soaking a pad in an infusion of cleavers, you may treat burns, scrapes, ulcers, and other inflammations of the skin.
Hops: The same plant with a history of brewing during 11th century European times is also known to create a compress when a pad is soaked in an infusion or diluted tincture that is used to treat varicose veins.
Jasmine: With a sweet aroma, jasmine flowers are used to make a cool infusion or diluted tincture for compresses that are applied to the forehead to treat sunstroke or heatstroke, ease headaches, as well as lessen the symtpms of emotional distress.
Poultices
Agrimony: Using the leaves of agrimony is known to ease the symptoms of migraines.
Wild Strawberries: The fruit of the wild strawberry creates a poultice when crushed berries are applied to sunburned skin, as well as other inflammations that may arise.
Flax: The linseed that comes from the flax plant is known to make a poultice that treats boils, abscesses, and ulcers. This type of poultice is created when the seeds are crushed and directly applied to the above medical concerns. When applied on a local level, pleurisy pain is treated.
Pokeroot: The dried root of pokeroot creates a poultice that is used to treat inflamed joints, hemorrhoids, varicose ulcers, as well as mastitis.
Kava Kava: Hailing from the South Sea Islands, the kava kava plant was once known as an important part of religious ceremonies in the past. The crushed and soaked root or stump of the kava kava makes a poultice that is known to treat infections of the skin, as well as sores that ooze pus.
Plantain: The fresh leaves of the plantain make a suitable poultice that aids in treating bee stings and wounds that are slow to heal.