The natural remedies are given by God in nature. They can be used for a wide variety of discomforts, ailments and disorders and do not burden the body with unwanted side effects like medicines do.
One of these simple remedies is charcoal. You could say charcoal is the black panacea. In my opinion, an indispensable part of the natural remedies that you must have at home. It can be used for many problems. And it can provide quick relief from complaints.
In a previous blog about charcoal you can use it for, among other things, stomach complaints. If you want to know more about this, read the blog here.
You can also use charcoal externally. One of the ways to use charcoal on the body is as a poultice.
What is a poultice?
A poultice is an application of plant based material to the skin to treat the skin or underlying tissues and organs. You adjust the composition of the compress to the condition you want to treat. Often a paste of gel is made from herbs or plants that is placed on the affected area on the skin. Depending on the situation, you can also 'pack' the material in, for example, a cloth, a paper towel, a cloth bag or a clean sock.
The moist composition of the compress allows it to come into good contact with the skin and do its job.
Sometimes compres or cover are also used.
In this post, we will take a closer look at the application of charcoal in a poultice.
Indications
Charcoal can adsorb many substances, especially chemicals, toxins and waste. That is why a charcoal poultice can hide relief in case of insect bites, inflammations and infections, among other things.
How to make a charcoal poulitice
1. To make a paste or gel from the charcoal, mix 1 part charcoal powder with 1 part
ground flaxseed. Gently stir in water until you have a thin paste.
2. Leave for 10-20 minutes to thicken. It should be a moist paste, not crumbly, nor
runny or dripping.
3. Spread the charcoal paste on the middle part of a paper towel or thin cloth. Fold
the edges over the pasta.
4. Place the poultice on the part of the body you want to treat. Cover the poultice
with a piece of cling film to prevent it from drying out. Secure the poultice with
tape or a bandage. Keep the poultice in place for several hours or overnight.
5. Discard the charcoal poultice you removed. Wash the skin. If necessary, you can
repeat the treatment with a new poultice.
Practical tips
Spilled charcoal powder is messy, so, handle the charcoal with care.
You can use another thickening agent instead of flaxseed. For example chia seeds, cornflour from psylium husks. Optionally, you can also make a charcoal poultice with just charcoal powder and water. This is a bit trickier to use, because it dries out and falls apart faster. In that case, the poultice can be replaced or remoistened.
If you have made more paste than you need for one poultice, you can store the extra paste in the fridge for 24 hours.
Dry charcoal will not adsorb waste toxins from the body. A poultice only works if it is moist and in direct contact with the skin. If the charcoal mixture is too dry, you can add extra water or replace the poultice with a new and moist one.
Disclaimer
The information on this website is educational and general in nature. The blogs on this website are not a substitute for medical diagnosis, counsel, or treatment from a qualified health professional.
Severe conditions require medical attention, as do mild conditions that do not respond to the charcoal application described above.
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