Re:comfrey poultice

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I just made my first poultice to assist my sister with a strained lower back.

I used three comfrey leaves, put them in water (boiled then turned off) for

about 1 minute until soft, then put them in the food processor to munch them

up. I then placed the plant material directly on her back and covered it with

a warm damp cloth. I don't know if I did it right because I can't find any

good information on how to do it and what I did find was vague. Are you

supposed to heat the comfrey? Does heating destroy alkaloids? How many leaves

should I use? How often should I change the poultice? Should I have chopped

them up or left them whole? Should the plant make contact with the skin? How

many comfrey plants are needed to insure an ongoing supply as needed? Advice

from those of you who have had success with this would be appreciated!

[Guest guest]

There is a file in the HOW TO files in the archives..

also,

A poultice is similar to a compress, but instead of a liquid-soaked fabric, the whole herb is applied to the affected are. Boil the fresh herb or root and then strain and squeeze out any excess water. Place the herb on a thin layer of gauze and then fold the gauze over just enough to hold the herb in. It is best to use organic cotton cloth to avoid skin sensativity. Often factories apply a film or treatment to fabrics for protection. Apply the poultice to the affected area. Replace every 3 to 4 hours, as needed. The herb you use depends on what you want to accomplish. Some herbs have excellent drawing properties and some have great healing properties. For instance, rosemary and chamomile are a great combination for healing and a mild antiseptic. Make sure to check with your herbalist prior to using poultices. cweeks@... wrote:

Hi,I just made my first poultice to assist my sister with a strained lower back. I used three comfrey leaves, put them in water (boiled then turned off) for about 1 minute until soft, then put them in the food processor to munch them up. I then placed the plant material directly on her back and covered it with a warm damp cloth. I don't know if I did it right because I can't find any good information on how to do it and what I did find was vague. Are you supposed to heat the comfrey? Does heating destroy alkaloids? How many leaves should I use? How often should I change the poultice? Should I have chopped them up or left them whole? Should the plant make contact with the skin? How many comfrey plants are needed to insure an ongoing supply as needed? Advice from those of you who have had success with this would be

appreciated!

Suzi

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Here's a simple way: Chop up the comfrey leaves and stuff them in a

clean white cotton sock. Throw the sock in the bottom of a bowl and

pour boiling water on top. Smack it onto the treatment site. While

that's cooling start a second sock. When the first gets cool, do the

hot water on the other one and switch. You can alterate back and

forth like that. If it sounds like too much work then just use one

sock with a hot water bottle over the top and place a towel for

insulation over the top. If you don't have a hot water bottle,

CAUTIOUSLY use a ziplock baggie but be very careful as sometimes they

bust open and you don't want to parboil your patient. Be present with

the person so you can adjust things if it's too hot. There's lots of

room for individualization on poultices. Have fun.

Thanks about the tidbit on fabric treatments Suzanne. Never heard

that before.

[Guest guest]

Yes, reuseing poultices is a go preceded by a no, at combat

speed it sounds like this, " NO GO " . However, this switching back

and forth is considered a single application. If you're running two

socks(I much prefer the ziplock bag hotwater bottle and a single

sock) that's just a way to keep things warm while your applying

them. When you are done with the treatment (I find I can keep

someone entertained with this for 20-30 minutes) then compost the

herbs. If you go to do another treatment, such as the next day,

then use new herb and fresh socks.

I much like a sock poultice. It is delightfully simple and

feeds a certain childlike glee that comes from doing kitchen

wizardry. No lab coat or college degree needed.

Used this one with comfrey leaves on an eldery man who had a

loose bone chip in his foot that wouldn't heal up. As it floated

(some injury knocked it loose) it would cause the foot to swell up

and parts would turn black and blue and stay that way for weeks at a

time. The foot support and antiinflammatory OTC meds the doctor

prescribed gave some relief but not enough. Amazingly, one

application of the comfrey was enough to kick start the healing. I

think I gave him some tincture of the root for him to take

internally for a few days too. He's been fine since.

Have fun with it!