Are you a weekend to-do list warrior? Maybe you hit the gym a little too hard and can barely move? If so, why not ease your aching muscles with an ancient herbal remedy – an herbal compress or poultice ball.

History

Poultice, from the Latin word puls or pultes meaning “porridge,” is a soft moist mixture of herbs, clays, salts or activated charcoal which is then heated or cooled and applied over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful area of the body. Herbal poultices have been used throughout history and are considered to be one of the earliest forms of medicine. Below you will find a recipe for a Bali-inspired herbal compress ball, designed to reduce inflammation and pain.

Herbal Compress Benefits

Depending on the ingredients used, poultices can have varied benefits from decreasing inflammation, increasing blood flow, drawing impurities from the skin, breaking up congestion, treating skin diseases such as psoriasis and relaxing tense muscle. Most commonly, poultices are used to treat inflammation and relieve pain. Below you will find a DIY fresh herb concoction that you can use to help relieve pain and inflammation the next time you over do it.

DIY Bali-inspired Herbal Compress Ball

Ingredients & Tools:

• 1/3 cup fresh ginger (grated)
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• 3-4 cloves*
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon coriander*
• 1/2 cup rice powder (grind rice in spice grinder if necessary)
• Yarn/thread
• Unbleached cloth or muslin
• Bowl for mixing

Steps:
1. Place spices and rice powder in a bowl and mix well.
2. Place herbal mixture into the center of your cloth, folding the edges up and over the herbs making a firm, round ball.
3. Tie the top close to the mixture with yarn or thread to create a handle. Keep herbal compress ball tight so that it won’t become loose when in use.
4. Using a steamer, boil water and drop in the poultice until steamed, about 30-to-45 minutes.
5. Prior to application,  check the temperature of herbal compress ball on the inner forearm. Once the temperature is to your liking, firmly place herbal compress ball on affected area for up to 30 minutes.
6. Use your Thai herbal compress up to four or five times each before making a new one.

Tips:

• Whole spices can be ground into a powder using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
• If rice powder not available, grind dried rice in clean spice or coffee grinder.
• Clean affected area with hydrogen peroxide and place poultice over area.
• Wrap towel around poultice to prevent soiling of clothes or sheets.

What other natural DIY remedies have you tried that you love? Or do you have a question about natural skincare or health that you would like us to answer? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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DISCLAIMER: Suggestions or natural remedies found on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Use with caution.