How to Make Herbal Compresses

How to Make Herbal Compresses



Herbal compresses are simple to make and have a number of beneficial properties. Warm compresses can be applied to treat arthritis, muscle pain, acne and more while cold compresses help to soothe wounds, eczema, psoriasis or other skin inflammations. With just a few simple tips you can learn to make an herbal compress using any healing herb.







Things You'll Need:





Herbs of your choice




Clean, cotton cloth




Surgical bandage









1


Make a strong tea using your choice of healing herbs. If you are placing the compress on open wounds or irritated skin, it is extremely important that you allow the water to cool to room temperature. Recent injuries, such as muscle tears or black eyes should also be treated with cold tea.





2


Fold a piece of cotton cloth so that it is four layers thick. The size of your cloth will depend on the area to be treated. Make sure that the cloth is clean and that it does not shed fibers, particularly if placing your herbal compress on open or irritated skin.





3


Soak the cloth in your herbal tea and gently wring out any excess water. While you want to cloth to be as damp as possible, you want to remove enough liquid that it does not drip and make a mess.





4


Place the damp cloth on the affected area and then secure with surgical tape. Always use medical tape, as other forms can cling to the skin, damaging delicate tissues upon removal. Wrap the area with a surgical bandage to hold in moisture and heat if using a hot compress and allow the compress to set for at least 30 minutes. The length of time the compress is applied will depend on the treatment and the herb.


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