What are wraps, compresses and overlays?
Wraps and poultices are two different terms for one and the same treatment method: the complete wrapping of the body or a part of it, usually with a healing substance (curd, medicinal herbs, etc.). Commonly used wraps are for example:
- Neck wrap
- Shoulder wrap
- Chest wrap
- Pulse wrap
- Foot wrap
- Knee wrap
- Calf wrap
In contrast to a poultice (envelope), a compress is applied to only one part of the body. A small overlay is also called a compress. For example, the warm chest compress is popular. A cold compress or overlay can be pleasantly cooling for bruises and insect bites. A warm compress on the eye can do good for a stye.
Pillows and sachets with various active ingredients, such as grain pillows (cherry stone pillows), hay flower pillows or lavender sachets are also counted among the overlays. You can make them yourself or buy them ready-made, for example in a pharmacy.
How do compresses (poultices) and overlays work?
On the other hand, added healing substances (ginger, curd, thyme, essential oils, etc.) can influence the effect of wraps and compresses.
With moist wraps and compresses, active substances from medicinal herbs, curd, etc. can penetrate more quickly and deeply through the skin into the body than with dry applications.
Effect of warm wraps and compresses
Warm wraps and compresses (moist or dry) provide the body with warmth. The vessels are widened so that the blood can flow better. This means that warm wraps and compresses increase the blood flow to the part of the body being treated.
But also internal organs can be better supplied with blood. This is because every part of the skin is connected to a specific organ via nerve plexuses and the spinal cord. If the nerve tracts in the skin register a stimulus, this signal is transmitted to the corresponding organ via peripheral nerves and the spinal cord.
Thus, in the presence of heat, the organ vessels also dilate. The organ in question is better supplied with oxygen and nutrients, and waste products are removed more quickly. In this way, the performance of the organ increases.
Last but not least, warm compresses and overlays have a draining effect. They stimulate sweat production and thus promote the elimination of metabolic waste products such as urea and uric acid. However, the same also applies to water and common salt. Therefore, you should drink plenty of fluids after a warm compress, preferably water, fruit spritzers or herbal tea.
Effect of cold wraps and compresses
Cold draws heat from the body and causes constriction of the blood vessels. This reduces blood circulation. Thus, cold compresses and compresses can have a decongestant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and (as a calf compress) fever-reducing effect.
Effect of different healing substances
The effect of wraps and compresses naturally also depends on any active ingredients used. These include herbal agents, for example ginger, thyme, sage, lavender, hay flowers and horseradish. Foods such as curd, mustard, honey and lemon are also good for wraps and compresses. Here are some healing substances and their effects in detail:
- Vinegar poultices/applications: Used cold, vinegar poultices and overlays inhibit inflammation and cramps. Cold vinegar calf compresses have an antipyretic effect.
- Lard poultice/cover: Warm lard poultices have an antispasmodic and relaxing effect. They are used especially as chest and throat compresses for coughs and hoarseness.
- Beeswax poultice/cover: The beeswax keeps the poultice warm for a long time and thus increases the heat supply (e.g. as a chest poultice or cover for coughs).
- Mustard poultice: The mustard oil produced when the mustard seeds are ground has a strong skin-irritating, circulation-increasing, germ- and inflammation-inhibiting effect.
- Horseradish poultice: The above-mentioned mustard oil is also formed when horseradish is ground.
- Honey compresses: Warm neck or chest compresses with honey have an anti-inflammatory effect (e.g. in the case of bronchitis). Honey also has a disinfecting effect (e.g. honey compress for skin inflammation).
- Lemon poultice/cover: Warm lemon poultices around the throat can relieve sore throats. This is because lemon contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents.
- Ginger poultice/cover: Warming compresses and wraps with ginger have a mild skin-irritating effect and increase the heat supply (not only superficially, but to the depth of the body).
- Flaxseed compress/ overlay: A warm flaxseed compress relieves tension and eases pain.
How are compresses (poultices) and overlays made?
You can get compresses and ready-made compress sets at the pharmacy. You can also use your own material, for example handkerchiefs, linen napkins, towels, kitchen towels as well as woolen scarves or knee socks. Safety pins or sticking plasters are suitable for fixing.
It is important that you use natural fabrics such as cotton, linen or wool for wraps and pads. This is because synthetic fabrics do not allow air or moisture to pass through. In the case of warm wraps, this can quickly lead to heat accumulation, as the heat cannot escape.
Wraps and compresses: This is how it works
Three layers of cloth are usually needed for a poultice:
- Inner cloth: It carries the active substance (e.g. curd) and is placed directly on the skin. A thin cotton or linen cloth that is slightly larger than the part of the body to be wrapped is suitable.
- Intermediate cloth: it helps to keep the moisture and the wrapping temperature. It is best to use a cotton cloth for this purpose.
The inner cloth is smeared with the respective healing essence or, in the case of moist wraps (such as calf wraps), dipped in warm or cold water and wrung out. Then the inner cloth is wrapped around the affected part of the body and fixed with the intermediate cloth and, if necessary, an outer cloth.
For an overlay (or compress), apply the active substance (e.g., finely chopped onions, warm, mashed potatoes) to a cotton or linen cloth of suitable size. Beat it a little (so that nothing falls out), put it on the affected part of the body and fix it, for example, with a gauze bandage.
Recipe examples
You can buy various wraps and compresses ready-made in the pharmacy or health food store (e.g. beeswax compress or wrap). However, you can also easily make many yourself. Some examples:
Onion compress
A warm onion compress has proven especially useful for sore throats and earaches. You can find out more about how to make and use it in the article on onion poultice.
Honey wrap / overlay
In the case of a honey compress, place the cloth soaked in the honey mixture on the chest or neck and fix it with a bandage or scarf.
Both the wrap (poultice) and the overlay can be left on well overnight.
Lemon poultice/cover
Mix the juice of half an organic lemon with 50 ml of lukewarm water. Soak a cotton or linen cloth with the lemon solution. Place the cloth on the neck or wrap it around the neck. If wrapping, wrap with a cotton cloth and then with a woolen scarf. In case of overlay, fix the soaked cloth with a bandage, scarf or towel, for example.
Ginger wrap
For a ginger wrap for the chest, pour two tablespoons of ginger powder over one cup of hot water. Let the mixture steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Then add some more hot water and stir well. Now soak the inner cloth well in the ginger paste and place it on a piece of baking paper. Wrap both around the chest of the sufferer with the ginger side up. Then cover as usual with intermediate and outer cloth and fix it.
Flaxseed compress
To make a flaxseed compress, swell about three tablespoons of coarsely ground flaxseed with 300 to 500 milliliters of water in a saucepan at low temperature until a thick paste forms.
Put the hot porridge on a gauze compress, fold it into a packet and wrap it with a tea towel. Put the compress on the affected part of the body, cover it with a cloth and fix it.
How are compresses (poultices) and overlays applied?
The affected person should preferably lie relaxed on the bed, with a protective pad underneath to prevent the bed from getting wet (in the case of moist wraps / compresses).
In case of warm wraps, it is important to check the temperature before applying and observe how the affected person reacts to the warmth. In case of discomfort, you should remove the wrap immediately.
You should not use ice-cold water for cold wraps, as this can quickly lead to frostbite. Rather use lukewarm water and observe how the affected person reacts to it. An exception are ice wraps / ice pads (ice bags), which are made of crushed ice and – wrapped in a cloth – are applied.
Exposure time
Warm wraps can have a much longer effect, an hour and more are possible.
In general, if the person feels the heat or cold as unpleasant, then immediately remove the wrap or overlay.
For whom and how often?
In this regard, there are various recommendations from experts for the various wraps and overlays. In general, for example:
- Onion wrap / overlay: suitable for adults and children from four years. For severe pain, you can apply three to four times a day.
- Honey poultice / compress: It is best to leave these poultices on overnight. They are especially good for young children.
- Lemon poultice / compress: Suitable for adults and children four years and older. Leave on for about an hour. You can repeat the procedure twice a day.
- Ginger poultice / compress: Suitable for adults and children four years and older (but use with caution on children because ginger is irritating to the skin). Leave on for about 10 to 30 minutes. Repeat two to three times daily.
- Flaxseed compress / pad: Suitable for adults and children. Leave on for about 30 minutes. Use once a day.
Remove compresses and overlays
Remove wraps or compresses carefully – sometimes the active substance sticks to the skin. Use lukewarm water to wash off the residue. Afterwards, you can apply a care lotion or care oil to the treated skin area to soothe the irritated skin (for example, after a poultice or overlay with the skin-irritating ginger).
After rest
Among other things, wraps and compresses are meant to relax. Therefore, you should take time for it – also for the after-rest: After removing the wrap or the overlay, stay lying down for about an hour to support the effect of the home remedy.
For which ailments do compresses and overlays help?
Wraps and compresses can help with a wide variety of ailments and diseases.
Cold compresses and overlays are mainly used for acute complaints such as bruises, insect bites and headaches.
Some example of common uses of wraps and pads are:
- Cold symptoms: Warm throat compresses / overlays (e.g., with potatoes) relieve sore throats. The cold Prießnitz neck compress helps with acute sore throat.
- Bronchitis and cough: Effective compresses / wraps for cough and bronchitis can be prepared, for example, with lard, onions, thyme, sage, beeswax or honey.
- Inflammatory, painful joint diseases: For example, rheumatism or gout can be helped by warm compresses / compresses with hay flowers, onion, mustard, potatoes or cabbage.
- Asthma: A warm mustard or thyme chest compress relieves the airways in asthmatic complaints.
- Migraines and headaches: they can often be relieved with a cold forehead compress, for example with eucalyptus or peppermint oil.
- Acute joint pain, bruises, muscle injuries: Cold compresses / overlays with curd, lemon, acetic clay or lemon as well as ice compresses reduce swelling and pain.
- Insect bites: Ice compresses as well as cold compresses or overlays (e.g. with acetic acid clay, onion, curd) also help here against swelling, pain and inflammation.
- Middle ear infection: Here, too, home remedies such as an onion or horseradish poultice can supplement medical treatment.
- Wraps for fever: Cold (vinegar) calf wraps or pulse wraps can reduce fever by up to two degrees Celsius.
- Abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, constipation: A warm abdominal compress or abdominal poultice (e.g., with potatoes) can relieve discomfort in the digestive tract.
When is it not advisable to use wraps (compresses) and compresses?
Cold compresses extract heat from the body and reduce blood circulation. They should therefore not be used on:
- severe sensitivity to cold
- acute urinary tract infections (e.g. cystitis)
- @ increase in fever (chills)
Warm compresses are not suitable if the affected person tolerates heat very poorly, especially as a result of heart problems.
Wraps and compresses are not a substitute for medical treatment of serious diseases. Therefore, always consult a doctor first if you suspect that the discomfort may have a serious cause. This is especially true for children. The doctor can clarify the complaints and, if necessary, initiate a suitable therapy. Wraps and compresses can then support this.
Home remedies have their limits. If the complaints persist over a longer period of time and do not improve or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
