Natural Compresses and Poultices: Safe and Simple Folk Medicine Treatments for 70 Common Conditions

Description

A step-by-step naturopathic guide to using the hands-on natural healing method of compresses and poultices * Explains how to use compresses and poultices for 70 common ailments and chronic conditions, such as migraine, asthma, acne, sinusitis, earache, arthritis, sprains, hives, shingles, anxiety, insomnia, mastitis, muscle pains, bronchitis, and more * Details what type of compress or poultice to use for each ailment, whether to use it hot or cold, where on the body to apply it, and for how long * Explores the physiological reasons these simple remedies are so effective and how they work not only for acute ailments and illness but also for chronic conditions Valued by herbalists, midwives, and mothers throughout history, compresses and poultices are gentle yet highly effective natural remedies you can safely use at home. Easily made from materials you already have in your kitchen, such as ice cubes, herbs, cabbage leaves, lemon slices, clay, or beeswax, these simple preparations can quickly ease pain and inflammation, relieve congestion and edema, lower fever, drain abscesses, activate circulation, calm muscle spasms, and trigger the body's natural self-healing abilities. In this step-by-step naturopathic guide to compresses and poultices, Christopher Vasey, N.D., shows how to use these time-tested folk remedies to treat 70 common ailments and conditions, including headache, asthma, acne, sinusitis, earache, arthritis, sprains, hives, shingles, anxiety, insomnia, mastitis, constipation, diarrhea, muscle pains, bronchitis, and more. He explains that a compress is a cloth soaked in hot or cold infused water and applied to a specific part of the body. A poultice works similarly, but instead of a liquid extract, the healing material is made into a paste and applied directly to the body. He details what type of compress or poultice to use for each ailment, whether to use it hot or cold, where on the body to apply it, and for how long. Vasey also explores the physiological reasons these simple remedies can be so effective, such as how some treatments trigger healing through the nerves, others cause the skin to absorb or expel substances, and others have beneficial effects on the body's internal chemistry. He reveals how compresses and poultices not only can alleviate acute symptoms, but are equally effective for dealing with chronic conditions. Offering an indispensable complement to your home first aid kit, this book provides you with a hands-on way to bring relief and healing to yourself and your loved ones.

Christopher Vasey, N.D., is a naturopath specializing in detoxification and rejuvenation. He is the author of several books, including The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health, Liver Detox, and Natural Remedies for Inflammation. He lives near Montreux, Switzerland.

"Ancient Chinese physicians believed that a competent healer had no need to cut into the body; herbal poultices, acupuncture, water treatments, and herbal brews were the mark of the advanced practitioner. In this book, we are given a glimpse of modern cures that do not involve violence to the physical form. With simple and easy-to-follow directions, Dr. Vasey shows us how to use the skin, our largest organ of elimination, to effect a cure. This book includes many commonsense precautions and a well-crafted collection of compresses and applications for common injuries and conditions, many of which involve foods we already have in the kitchen like potatoes, onions, and lemons. I highly recommend this book!" * Ellen Evert Hopman, author of Secret Medicines from Your Garden and A Druid's Herbal of Sacred * "Vasey gives a concise overview of the skin and associated biological processes, which is helpful for those without an education in natural health or a background in biology. An ideal family go-to guide." * Nexus Magazine, June/July 2019 *