As we spend more time outdoors with nicer weather, we will inevitably find ourselves in a situation where we need some kind of topical help on our skin because of a cut, scrape, burn, bee sting, or other type of wound. Using an herbal poultice can be a sensible option since there are many available to us when in the outdoors. A poultice is made using fresh or dried herbs and placing them on the area needing treatment. When using fresh leaves, they need to be crushed or bruised to break the cell walls and release the juice which will make it more effective in healing wounds. Dried herbs are powdered and mixed with water to form a paste and then applied to the skin.  

Poultices are often used for wound healing, pain relief, and to draw toxins, poisons, and venom out of wounds, bites, and stings.  

Dr. Christopher taught about many options especially for times when someone may be exposed to poison ivy, poison oak or stinging nettle. He said to look around and within a few feet there would be one of God’s erasers nearby. The plants to look for are mullein, plantain, hounds tongue, comfrey, burdock or yellow dock. Take one of the leaves and bruise it, then rub it around the area for immediate relief of the sting.  

Other plants that can be used as poultices are fresh plantain leaves for a bee sting or insect bite. Plantain is so versatile and can be used for healing cuts and wounds and to prevent infection or blood poisoning.  

Yarrow is also used as a poultice and when the leaves are crushed, they can be applied to a wound to stop bleeding and to help heal it. 

Echinacea leaves are healing and will help with pain. 

Calendula leaves and flowers are used on insect bites and bee stings and will help prevent infection and reduce pain and itching.  

Comfrey roots and leaves have been used to mend body parts and a great poultice to make using comfrey is Dr. Christopher’s Burn Paste. The recipe is shared below in the recipe section of this newsletter. There are many amazing cases of this burn paste healing severe burns but the one mostly told is when Dr. Christopher treated the boy who had been playing with gasoline. He and his friend had it on their hands when the match ignited the gasoline, and their hands were badly burned. The doctor they went to told them the only options were amputation or a series of skin grafts which would result in mummified claws and fingers that could never move. One of the boys went through that procedure but the other boy’s parents took him to Dr. Christopher, and they used the burn paste. In a week he went from 3rd degree burns to 1st degree burns. The original doctor was so surprised and said he would not need surgery after all. The boy's hands healed with no scarring, and he had full use of his hands.  

Poultices can also be made with powdered herbs. Slippery elm or marshmallow root are great options to mix with water and make into a paste. Other herbs can be mixed with them such as lobelia to help relax spasms and relieve pain or plantain to help draw out infection or venom from a bite. Flax seeds, bentonite clay, and charcoal also make nice poultices.  

Make sure to include some of these items in your first aid kit when you are out enjoying the outdoors. It’s always good to be prepared.