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Page 55
| (10 drops of essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil) as many essential oils can irritate sensitive skins. Always buy good-quality, organically grown essential oils as many cheaper ones are chemically adulterated or contain pollutants. |
| Compresses |
| Compresses are often used to accelerate the healing of wounds or muscle injuries. They are basically cloth pads soaked in herbal extracts and usually applied hot to painful limbs, swellings, or strains. Use a clean piece of cotton, flannel, linen, or surgical gauze soaked in a hot strained infusion, decoction, or tincture (diluted with hot water) and apply to the affected area. When the compress cools, repeat, using fresh, hot mixture. |
| Occasionally a cold compress may be used, as with some types of headaches when a cool pad soaked in lavender infusion can be helpful. |
| Poultices |
| Poultices have a very similar action to compresses but involve directly applying the whole herb to an affected area rather than using a liquid extract. Poultices are usually applied hot for swellings or sprains, or to draw pus or splinters. As with hot compresses, renew the hot poultice as it cools or place a hot water bottle on top to keep it hot. |
| To make a poultice, simply bruise fresh herbsmix in a food processor for a few seconds or sweat them in a panthen spread the mixture onto gauze and apply to the affected area. Dried herbs or powders need to first be mixed with hot water to form a paste; then squeeze out any surplus liquid and spread the residue on gauze or apply directly to the area affected. Alternatively, mix the herb powders with mashed potato and use that as a poultice. |
| If putting poultices directly to the skin, apply a little vegetable oil first to prevent it from sticking too much. |
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