The everyday individual has more than likely never had to make a poultice. There are many individuals who wouldn’t even be able to define what a poultice is, let alone list the ingredients! If you find yourself belonging to one of the above categories, you’re not alone. Concocting your own poultice is a practice that was more common decades ago, and is falling a bit by the wayside these days. However, with the resurgence of DIY remedies and people opting for more natural remedies to cure their ailments, the term has been making its rounds once more.
To Begin: What is a Poultice?
For centuries, poultices have been used by various populations to treat skin irritations, aches, and other pains. Native American tribes, for instance, might be the most well-known groups to employ the healing powers of poultices. They are simple to make, yet exceptionally potent. In essence, a poultice is a warm, moist mash of ingredients that can either be applied directly to the skin, layered on top of a cloth and then placed on the skin, or filled into some type of sock and then gently placed on the skin.
Depending on what you are treating, the ingredients in the poultice will change. Bee stings, for instance, can be soothed by mixing together mustard seeds with water to create a pasty consistency. You can then apply the mustard paste right to the area. Other poultices might look like the beginning of a soup recipe, incorporating such ingredients as garlic, ginger, leafy greens, and various oils. If the ingredients in your poultice are particularly potent, such as garlic, it would be better to put these in a sock or on top of a cloth to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Poultices for your Acne
Those who have suffered from acne for a while know that there are two common types: the pimples that seem to randomly pop up after you’ve had a few days of a junk food binge, or if you’ve forgotten to wash your face properly. The other type is cystic acne, the acne burrowed deep in your skin that creates a red and inflamed appearance, especially on your cheeks and chin. The good news is that when the right ingredients are harnessed and mixed together, you can create a powerful poultice to target the symptoms.
Among the most popular include a cabbage poultice, in which you quite simply apply warmed cabbage leaves to the inflamed area for instant relief. If you prefer to get creative in the kitchen and whip up a real mash, combine honey with lime juice and spread it over the area in question.
Any poultice recipe that includes baking soda will also work to relieve your symptoms, reduce redness, and target the painful inflammation of your cystic acne.
