Compresses, Packs, and Poultices

Excerpts from the entry on Compresses, Packs, and Poultices in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Compresses, packs, and poultices are useful forms of externally applied therapy for reducing pain and inflammation. Although they seem similar, the preparation varies for each. Compresses are prepared using cotton material (gauze, washcloths, towels) soaked in water or herbal mixtures. Depending on the condition being treated, these compresses may be applied either hot or cold. Packs are prepared by saturating cloth, usually flannel, with mineral oil or castor oil, or spreading the cloth with a mixture of mustard, flour, and water (the mustard plasters of bygone days). Poultices are paste-like mixtures that variously consist of herbs, clays, or powders. Dr. Emily Kane, ND, says that, “a poultice is the therapeutic application of a soft moist mass to the skin (usually fresh herbs, sometimes minerals or food pulp) for the purpose of drawing out toxins, encouraging local circulation, and relieving pain,” adding that “Traditional Chinese medicine provides many combination herbal poultices for a wide variety of applications.”

Also in this entry:

• The History of Compresses, Packs, and Poultices
• How Compresses, Packs, and Poultices Work
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Therapy
• Advantages of Compresses, Packs, and Poultices
• How To Use Compresses, Packs, and Poultices
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.