Herbal Compresses using Healing Herbal Teas

Eyes

The following herbal compresses can help the eyes:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1/2 tablespoon of crushed fennel seeds, cover, steep for 15 minutes, and strain. Dunk a cotton pad into the tea and place it over the eyelid for 15 minutes. Helpful for eye inflammation.

• Add 1 teaspoon of dried horsetail in 1 cup of hot water, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Saturate a cotton pad in it, place over the eyelid for 10 minutes, redunk, and replace for another 10 minutes. In 30 minutes, you can repeat. Helpful for eye inflammation.

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary leaf, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Dunk 2 cotton pads into the tea and place over your closed eyes for 15 minutes. Helpful for eyestrain.

Toothaches

The following healing herbal teas can help relieve toothache pain until you can get to the dentist:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply the herbal compress on the outside area (your skin) of the affected tooth for 15-20 minutes.

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried cloves, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a wad of cotton in the tea and place directly over the aching tooth for 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

Sore Throats

The following can help relieve soreness:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers, cover, steep until it is cool enough to handle, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply over the throat. When the washcloth gets cold, reheat the tea, re-dip, and reapply.

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried eucalyptus leaves, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply over the throat for 15-20 minutes.

Skin Problems

The following healing herbal teas can help relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and promote healing:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried malva flowers and 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow flowers and leaves, cover, steep for 10-15 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply over the affected area for 20 minutes. Malva reduces swelling and draws out toxins and yarrow reduces swelling and acts as a pain reliever. Especially helpful for eczema.

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in the tea, wring it out, and place over the affected area for 15-20 minutes. This compress will help soothe inflamed skin, relieve pain, and promote wound healing. Especially helpful for eczema and psoriasis.

• Add 1 teaspoon of dried arnica flowers to 1/2 cup of hot water, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply over the affected area for 15 minutes. Arnica can help relieve pain, decrease swelling, and promote healing. Especially helpful for bruises, swelling due to trauma, skin abrasions, and insect bites.

Compresses with heat should not be applied to broken skin.

Joint Pain

The following herbal compresses can help relieve joint stiffness, pain, and inflammation:

• Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary leaf, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in it, wring it out, and apply over the affected area for 15-20 minutes. This is especially helpful for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Add 1 teaspoon of dried arnica flowers to 1/2 cup of hot water, cover, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Soak a washcloth in the tea, wring it out, and apply the compress over painful joints for 20 minutes.

Photo Credit

Image courtesy of Bjorn Fritsche at Wikipedia.

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