What Are Poultices?
A poultice is a topical treatment made using a variety of ingredients. It can be used to treat different types of skin problems including boils and inflammation. The key to treating a problem with a poultice is by patting the paste into the infected area, and covering it with a clean cloth or bandage, making sure that it is absorbed by the skin.
Poultice for Boils
Boils are localized skin infections characterized by the presence of inflammation and the formation of pus. These can be painful and can even cause fever. Boils are often caused by a bacterial infection. These can, however, be treated with the help of a poultice.
Poultices that have been designed to help with bacterial infections include the following:
Potato Poultice
- Grate potato till it is a fine paste.
- Apply it to the affected area and cover with a clean cloth.
- Replace when dry or as needed.
Turmeric Poultice
- Make a paste of turmeric by mixing the powder with warm water.
- Apply the paste on the boil and cover with a clean cloth.
- Replace as necessary or after a few hours. This can also be left overnight.
Garlic and Tea Tree Poultice
- Garlic and Tea Tree have antimicrobial properties. A paste made from fresh crushed or grated garlic and some tea tree oil can help to treat the boil.
- Apply this paste onto the skin and cover with a clean cloth.
- Leave it on the skin for a few hours or overnight.
Poultice for Inflammation
Inflammations are common and can be caused by skin irritation or by the presence of an infection. Certain poultices can be used in treating inflammation, these include:
Charcoal Poultice
- Grind the charcoal down to a powder. Activated charcoal may also be purchased for the purpose.
- Mix 2 to 5 tablespoons of charcoal with enough warm water to create a thick, porridge-like paste. The amount of charcoal used is going to depend on the size of the area being treated.
- Apply the poultice thickly on the affected area.
- Cover the affected area with a clean cloth or with a bandage wide enough to cover the affected area and the keep the charcoal in.
- Leave it on the inflamed area for up to four hours, replace it as necessary.
Onion Poultice
- Grind up or grate some onion till it becomes a pulpy mass.
- Spread this on the inflamed area and cover it with a cloth or bandage.
- Leave it on the affected area for up to 4 hours or overnight, change as necessary.