Horseradish Benefits

horseradish benefits

Horseradish whose scientific name is armoracia rusticana is one of  aromatic herbs in the world of medicinal herbs and plants. It contains oils that kill bacteria and its infections and lower fever by increasing perspiration as the volatile oils are eliminated.

Horseradish is mainly used to treat lung infections and works by permeating the entire lung when the volatile oils are being eliminated. As it permeates through the lung it eliminates the bacteria and cleansing the lung in the process.

Horseradish  also has diuretic properties and eliminating excess fluids from the body thereby improving digestion and other body systems.

Traditionally horseradish poultices have been used to cover areas of infection and its drawing properties can clear infections such as pleurisy. To make the poultice for external application add the shredded horseradish herb to a mixture of flour and water to make a paste that is applied to an infected area.

Horseradish can also be taken internally as a tincture. To get maximum benefit one need to take 20 drops twice daily after eating. To treat a cold, mix the shredded herb with honey and hot water.

We should not forget that horseradish is also used for culinary purposes. For instance you can include fresh horseradish leaves to salads or for those who take fish, to smoked fish.

Flaxseed Poultice or Linseed Poultice

Flaxseed or linseed can be purchased from a health food store or supermarket. Flaxseed or linseed is often used for cooking, for constipation, to make gels, and it has a medicated quality that makes it useful in therapeutics. As is the case with all poultices Flaxseed poultice is used to relieve pain and congestion, to reduce inflammation, to diminish tissue swelling and tension and to promote absorption or hasten formation of a head in abscesses.

How to Make a Flaxseed or Linseed  Poultice?

Clay Poultices Benefits

Clay poultices or dressings are very effective in treating skin rashes and other skin diseases. This is achieved by applying clay directly to the skin surface.

How To Make A Clay Poultice Or Dressing

Take a good grade of fine clay, make a paste with water, and apply directly to the skin surface in cases of skin rashes, eczema, and other skin diseases. Cover with several layers of cotton cloth or gauze. Keep the poultice moist for 6-10 hours by frequent applications of water. Rinse thoroughly, dry, and allow an hour or two to elapse before reapplying the moist dressing. Clay holds water well and has a therapeutic benefit in moist inflammatory skin diseases. For more information on benefits of clay poultices and mud purchase Dr Agatha Thrash book, 'Home Remedies' below

 

How To Make Your Own Poultices

Below is a video demonstration on how one can prepare a poultice at home. Poultices are used to treat all sorts of infections by placing the poultices over the infected part of the body. The most famous use of the word poultice is found in the Bible when book of Isaiah 38:21 where Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil and he will recover." Poultices are simple but very effective remedies for chest infections, cancerous tumours.

I won't be surprised if some of you are wondering as to what the word poultice means. A poultice is made by smashing medicinal herbs and plants and adding warm water and natural oils if present to make a paste. The paste is then applied directly to the skin and covered with a piece of cloth. Where a herb is very potent, it is advisable to put a layer of cloth between the skin and the paste. Some of the potent herbs that are have a burning sensation on the skin are garlic, ginger, onion and mustard. The cloth is usually covered with a plastic to hold the moisture Though personally I would prefer to have the paste applied directly to the skin and persevere with the pain, the effectiveness of the poultice is not seriously compromised by the cloth. The poultice can be changed every 4 hours or as soon as the paste dries up.

Marshmallow Remedies

Marshmallow althea officinalis has been valued for thousand of years for its healing and soothing action both internally and externally. Its roots and leaves can also be eaten as vegetables. Its root is used as a demulcent, expectorant, diuretic and wound herb. The leaves can be used as expectorant, diuretic, demulcent while the flower can be used as expectorant.

Marshmallow Used As a Poultice


Make a paste from 1 teaspoon of powdered marshmallow root mixed with a little water and applied on boils, abscesses, ulcers and wounds.

Marshmallow leaf infusion


Taking marshmallow leaf infusion daily is effective  for treating bronchitis, asthma, catarrh or pleurisy.

Marshmallow Root maceration


Soaking marshmallow roots in cold water overnight hs been shown to be effective against acid reflux, gastric ulceration, cystitis and dry coughs.