A poultice, also called a cataplasm, is a paste made of herbs, plants, and other substances with healing properties. The paste is spread on a warm, moist cloth and applied to the body to relieve inflammation and promote healing. Some can be spread directly on the skin.
This popular home remedy has been used for centuries to treat inflammation, insect bites, and more.
When using a poultice, you not only get the benefits of the ingredients used, but the method itself. The warm poultice increases blood flow to the area, which is an important part of healing.
Poultice for abscess
An abscess, also called a boil, is a collection of pus that forms due to a bacterial infection. A poultice has been a popular home remedy for the treatment for abscesses for centuries. The moist heat from a poultice can help to draw out the infection and help the abscess shrink and drain naturally.
An Epsom salt poultice is a common choice for treating abscesses in humans and animals. Epsom salt helps to dry out the pus and cause the boil to drain.
Poultice for infection
A poultice can treat infection by killing bacteria and drawing out the infection. The use of poultices made of herbs, mud, or clay for infection is ancient.
Recently, researchers
Poultice for cyst
A cyst is a sac filled with fluid or a mix of solid substances and fluids. They can grow anywhere on your body or under your skin and range in size, depending on the type.
Applying a warm poultice to a cyst can speed up healing by helping it drain.
Poultice for diabetic ulcer
There is evidence of the effectiveness of poultices for diabetic ulcers dating back to the late 1800s. At the time, a poultice containing linseed was used to soften calluses before cutting away the diseased tissue and applying antiseptic.
More recently, a 2016 animal study suggested that a poultice made from the fern Blechnum orientale could be an effective treatment for diabetic ulcers. More research is needed to understand its effects in humans.
Poultice for arthritis
You may remember a grandparent or great-grandparent smothering a homemade paste over their knee for arthritis. Using herbs for arthritis is a practice that continues to this day.
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Ginger and a number of other plants have been
You have a few options when it comes to ingredients for making poultices. Which will work best depends on what you’re treating.
Herbs
The following are herbs with medicinal properties that can be used to make poultices for a variety of ailments, such as minor skin irritations or abrasions:
Other ingredients
Other popular ingredients for a DIY poultice include:
- Epsom salt
- aloe vera
- activated charcoal
- baking soda
- milk
- bread
- coconut oil
An allergic reaction is possible when applying any substance directly on your skin. Test a small area on your forearm before applying the poultice to the affected area.
If you’re applying a poultice to an open wound, be sure to use a clean cloth if making a compress. Do not apply any type of paste or cloth poultice to a wound that appears to be seriously infected.
If you’re making a heated poultice, it should be warm — not hot — to avoid burning your skin.
You may get relief from a homemade poultice for things such as minor skin irritations or cuts, bruises, or mild pain from arthritis or a minor injury.
Herbal poultice
Here’s how to make an herbal poultice that can be used to relieve minor inflammation, abrasions, and more.
What you’ll need:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 ounce freshly chopped or grated ginger
- ¼ small raw sliced onion
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- cheesecloth or cotton bandage
How to do it:
- Add the coconut oil followed by the rest of the ingredients to a pan on low heat and allow it to heat until it’s almost dry — but not burnt.
- Turn off stove and transfer ingredients to a bowl to cool so that it’s warm to the touch.
- Lay the cloth flat and add the mixture to the center of the cloth.
- Fold the cloth over twice to create a pack or gather it and tie with some string or a rubber band to create a handle — whatever you prefer as long as the ingredients stay inside the cloth.
- Place on the affected area for 20 minutes.
Bread poultice
Try a bread poultice on an abscess, cyst, or a splinter. All you need is a slice of bread and 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk. Here’s how to make it:
- Warm the milk in a small pan on low heat.
- Turn off the stove, remove the pan from heat, and let it cool so it’s warm to the touch — not too hot.
- Place the slice of bread in the pan and let it soften.
- Stir the milk and bread to make a paste.
- Apply the paste to the skin and leave on for 15 minutes.
- Repeat two or three times a day.
Baking soda poultice
A baking soda poultice requires nothing more than 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with just enough cold water to make a paste. Apply the paste to minor skin irritations, such as razor burn or mild sunburn, for a cooling effect.
Activated charcoal poultice
A poultice of activated charcoal may help with the inflammation caused by a bug bite or sting, or other minor skin irritation.
To make one:
- Combine a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with just enough water to wet the powder to create a paste.
- Spread the paste on the affected area.
- Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Carefully wash off with a damp cloth.
- Repeat twice a day until healed.
See a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve after a week or if you have signs of a serious infection, such as cellulitis. These include:
If you notice an area of redness on your skin that’s expanding quickly or if you have a high fever, go to the nearest emergency room.
Many of the ingredients needed to make a poultice for inflammation are already in your kitchen or bathroom. Just mix with them a bit of water or coconut oil to make a poultice and apply.