Poultices have long been used in traditional medicine and I've learned over the years to be fan, we've avoided some costly procedures and heavy duty meds using poultices. Direct contact of a poultice on an affected area (infection, bites, burns) ushers in almost immediate healing and relief by quick absorption into the skin. A poultice also draws out infection and increases circulation, it almost seems too easy - this simple remedy.
Most traditional poultices are made with fresh or dried herbs, not always an option for many of us but these days we're fortunate to have essential oils readily available and we can be prepared year round. Poultices have proven so successful for us in times of trauma, I wanted to share my variation with you!
Twice in the last 2 years I've been approached by a family member with MRSA - a serious staph infection with a notorious reputation for being antibiotic resistant. How did I know it was such? All I had to do was open a book, open Google and read, the signs were unmistakable in the later stages. I viewed photos too but I'll warn you, they're not pretty.
My dear one presented me with an angry, raised (1/2"), 1" in diameter open wound with a large hole in the middle filled with white pus. If you see an infection like this - do - not - touch - it - or - squeeze - it. The infection started out at pimple size and kept growing. Truth be told, looking at it was intimidating because this kind of infection can be life threatening if not tended to quickly or, if a person has a compromised immune system, thankfully, I had a healthy human on my hands.
I knew I needed potent anti-microbial essential oils, a salve base to protect the skin and a drawing agent. I knew I wanted to make a poultice because I've had great results every time I used one - including healing the end of my own thumb that was lopped off in a horse mishap - it became infected and the hospital wanted to reopen the surgical site for a do over? I said no, give me a week to see if I can heal this myself, and I did with a poultice protocol and, diligence!
It took me exactly 5 minutes to whip up the remedy that would end up eradicating this particular staph infection, I was relieved I had everything in house!
One word about bentonite clay, ok two - get some. BC contains up to 50 trace minerals, it's derived from ancient sea beds that have evaporated, mineral rich and a natural detoxifier. You can also use in a facial mask and even take internally - BC binds to toxins we come in contact with everyday and exits them out of our system.
1 oz Oregano Blemish Salve with Oregano and Frankincense essential oils
1 T Bentonite Clay
6 drops (additional) Oregano essential oil - to kill bacteria
10 drops Melaleuca essential oil - roughs up biofilm - allowing Oregano in for the kill
Cotton Swabs
Empty contents of Oregano Blemish Peel Salve into a small bowl
Add 1 tablespoon Sodium (detoxifying) Bentonite Clay
Add 6 drops additional Oregano essential oil
Add 10 drops Melaleuca essential oil
Blend with spoon or spatula
Store the Poultice you just made in the empty salve jar, replace lid, LABEL clearly with the date made and store in a cool, dark place.
How much did I use?
Make that judgement depending on size of wound/infection - you'll want to cover it liberally.
How did I apply? Very carefully...
Staph infections are contagious! Do not touch the wound/infection. I used a cotton swab to gently apply the poultice directly on the area of concern and I still washed my hands after disposing of the swab.
Did I cover it up?
Yes, I used an ex-large bandaid with a large pad, bowing it just a little so it didn't lay completely flat over the infection.
How often did I apply?
I changed the poultice and the bandage morning and night for 4 days. Every time I changed the bandage I saw improvement.
After day 5 things looked good, the site had stopped oozing so no bandage at night, allowing the healing site to breathe but I insisted on a clean, lightweight t-shirt for a little protection.
Day 5 thru 10 I only applied the poultice in the morning. After 10 days I felt confident we'd won the battle!
Time needed may vary of course but your attention is critical, you must watch the wound closely, things can go south in a matter of hours. I don't want to scare you from tending an infection yourself but should prolonged fever present itself or red streaks begin to shoot from the site of infection, see your health care provider immediately.
HOWEVER, given those words of caution, staph infections can be resistant to antibiotics and putting yourself through the long run of multiple antibiotics will have harmful side effects of their own that are best avoided if you can possibly help it. In the day of antibiotic resistance, it's important to learn all you can about treating infection naturally, have what you need on hand and finally, trust yourself to know what to do.
