The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook_ A Home Manual - James Green [155]
The constituents of Mustard applied as a poultice or bath produce a lively stimulation and arouse the nervous system. This acts to disperse any pain that is due to congestion. Employ the wonderfully deep-penetrating, rubefacient, decongesting, and pain-relieving benefits of this herbal poultice, but be very attentive to the proper dilution of the Mustard with the diluent, and closely monitor the reaction of the individual’s skin.
Cayenne Poultice
As a milder substitute for the deeper-penetrating Mustard poultice, the Cayenne red pepper or Capsicum poultice will serve well, and it will not cause blistering. Cayenne can be used as a poultice by mixing the powder with bread and moistened with a little hot milk, or mix the Cayenne powder with some form of powdered grain and moisten with hot milk or hot water.
White Cabbage Poultice
This (vegetable) herb is good as a poultice for drawing out pus and other gloomy body exudates. Merely take the inner leaves of a common White Cabbage, wash them well, and dry them (the large middle rib is best removed and discarded for easier processing of the leaves). Bruise the leaves using a rolling pin or some other like instrument to soften them and place them on the affected area. Hold the leaves in place by wrapping a loose bandage or small towel around them. Leave the Cabbage poultice on for 1/2 to 1 hour, then replace it with a fresh one. You can add some powdered Myrrh gum or powdered Echinacea to this if there is any infection.
Applying raw Cabbage leaves as a poultice affords a slightly stimulating poultice, which is best used in conditions where one is treating a sluggish, ill-conditioned, offensive skin ulcer.
In addition to bentonite, other types and colors of clay make excellent poultices as well.
Root Poultice
These emollient poultices can be prepared from any of the tender culinary roots (and tubers) like Carrot, Turnip, Potato, or Burdock. Simply boil the tender roots, remove the skin, and mash them into a soft pulp. These make a mild, nutritive, emollient poultice. Like the Cabbage poultice, when needed, a raw version of these root poultices renders increased stimulating action. Peel and shred the fresh raw roots, mash them into pulp, and apply them to the skin.
Clay Poultice
Clay poultices are made using bentonite clay, water, and appropriate herbal tinctures. Pharmaceutical grade bentonite can be purchased in health food stores and pharmacies.
1. Dilute an herbal tincture with about half as much water (2 parts tincture to 1 part water). Use this mixture to add to the clay.
2. Slowly add the liquid to the clay, stirring until you have made a paste. (Start out with the proportions of about a tablespoon of clay to each tablespoon of liquid.)
3. At this point you can add a few drops of Lavender or Tea Tree essential oil (5 to 10 drops) and stir them in.
4. Apply this herbal clay paste to the body.
5. Apply it thick (at least 1/4 inch). This helps keep the poultice warm and moist. Clay poultices that dry out too quickly are not as effectual. You want them to remain wet (when they are most active) as long as possible.
To prepare a bentonite clay poultice for the mouth, teeth, and gums for reducing the inflammation and agony of an abscessed tooth, or to help reach down and disperse the stagnating energy of swollen throat glands, you simply prepare a medicated clay roll as follows:
1. Add enough water to some pharmaceutical-grade bentonite clay to make it into a malleable peanut butter consistency.
2. Using an appropriate amount of sterile gauze, roll the clay into a joint (a controversial cigarette-like contrivance) about the size of the pain rider’s small finger.
3. Rid the clay roll of any air bubbles and squeeze its ends closed to seal them.
4. Pack the cylindrical poultice between the gum and cheek and leave it there for 1/2 to 1 hour, 2 times a day.
5. Rest, holding the poultice in place.
6. The effect of the