The famous calf wrap for fever almost everyone has tried once. For simple illnesses such as mild colds, compresses are an effective way to activate the body’s own forces. A quark poultice, on the other hand, can be used to treat various skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, sunburn or insect bites. It has also proven to be effective for sore throats and breast infections of nursing mothers. Here are a few useful tips on how to properly apply wraps and a small selection from the possible applications.
Wraps as great-grandmother’s home remedy
Vinzenz Prießnitz (1799 – 1851) and Sebastian Kneipp (1821 – 1897) used compresses – for larger body areas and compresses for individual body parts – very successfully in their naturopathic medicine. In the “classic” Prießnitz poultice, which is applied to a sore throat, a thin cloth is dipped one-third into cold water and folded so that the wet-cold side comes to rest on two dry layers. The wet side is now placed on the front of the neck and secured with a dry cloth. The wrap cools and has a pain-relieving effect. Original Kneipp wraps consist of three different cloths, the wet linen cloth for inside, a cotton cloth as an intermediate layer and a woolen cloth as an outer cloth. There are different ready-made sets in the pharmacy, but also dishcloths, bedcloths and terrycloth towels can be used. Basically, a distinction is made between hot and cold wraps:
- Hot wraps thereby promote blood circulation and have an antispasmodic effect.
- Cold compresses extract heat, thereby lowering fever and relieving inflammation. They should be taken off when they have warmed up.
Wraps usually consist of an outer and inner cloth. Natural fabrics such as linen, cotton or wool have proven themselves in the application – synthetic fabrics should not be taken, as they accumulate heat and moisture. For all wraps, warm and cold, the feet must first be warm (if necessary, warm them with a hot water bottle beforehand). It is very important that the patient feels comfortable with the wrap. Therefore, it must not be too loose or too tight. In addition, the temperature must be right: Too much heat leads to burns and discomfort. If the sick person starts to freeze, the wrap should be removed immediately.
Calf wrap for fever – or vinegar socks.
The best known of the cold wraps is the calf wrap. He helps to lower the body temperature by one degree. It is important to note that it should not be applied when the patient is shivering – this is a sign that the fever is still rising. Dip a linen or cotton cloth in cold water and wring it out, it should not drip. The cloth is wrapped tightly, but not too tightly, around the calf. Now a second, dry cloth is placed over it. It should completely cover the bottom cloth. A third woolen cloth forms the conclusion. It should not scratch the skin. Alternatively, you can put on woolen stockings. After half an hour, the poultice is removed and can be applied again after an hour if necessary. Instead of wraps, you can also simply use socks that you have previously dipped in cold vinegar water. Longer, dry stockings are then pulled over the wet socks. If necessary, this treatment can be repeated two or three times.
Foot compresses for sprains, difficulty falling asleep and headaches.
You need three not too small square cloths (about 50 x 50 cm) folded into a triangle. One moistens the inner cloth, puts the two dry cloths over it, so that they all lie on top of each other. Place the foot in the middle of the inner cloth, fold the tip of the cloth over the back of the foot, first fold the right tip, then the left tip under the foot and eventually interlock them under the sole of the foot, fold the intermediate cloth and woolen cloth in the same way.
Wraps and compresses for colds.
For congested bronchial tubes, this application supports self-healing: dip a cotton cloth (about 40 x 190 cm) in hot water, wring it out, and then wrap it tightly around the upper body – from the armpits to the lower ribs. Over it comes an intermediate cloth and finally a woolen cloth. As long as the wrap is felt to be warm, it is left in place (usually about 30 minutes). Caution: Do not use the chest compress if you have a fever. If the cold has also settled in the sinuses, a poultice with healing clay or linseed can provide relief.To do this, stir two to three teaspoons of healing clay into warm water. Instead of healing clay, use five tablespoons of flaxseed to two cups of water, boil the flaxseed until it is soft. Spread the slightly cooled porridge evenly on a cloth, cover it well with another cloth and put this compress on the nose area for about twenty minutes. The heat promotes blood circulation and in this way supports healing.
Wrap for joint pain: Healing earth or mustard flour
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, affects many people. Instead of strong painkillers, people use more and more proven home remedies that help alleviate the discomfort. Thus the active substances of the welfare earth unfold under a wrap particularly well: One mixes in addition welfare earth with water, so that a spreadable paste develops, spreads these thickly on the painful places and wraps the joint with a damp cloth, over which a cotton cloth as well as at the end the wool cloth are wrapped. The wrap can remain on the skin for one to two hours, then the healing clay begins to dry. Not suitable for acute inflammation, but for chronic pain: Mustard flour. You can buy this in the pharmacy: mix three to four tablespoons of black mustard flour with warm to hot water (maximum 60 degrees), apply this paste to a gauze bandage or cotton cloth and cover with another gauze bandage – this mixture should not be directly on the skin, it burns! This wrap goes on the skin and is well covered with another cloth. After 10 to 15 minutes, this wrap should come down. This method has also proven effective for lumbago, nerve pain or headaches, sciatica or rheumatism.
Envelopes and wraps for abdominal discomfort
Sebastian Kneipp used the abdominal poultice for all complaints around the abdomen and intestines, which often brings enough relief. A warm poultice around the abdomen, which you can also soak with oils such as lavender, olive or castor oil, helps with flatulence, diarrhea, nausea and insomnia. A warm lumbar poultice is suitable for kidney and bladder infections. A cold poultice is to be used for constipation. Although knowledge of simple home remedies such as compresses and poultices has diminished with the triumph of drug therapy, it is increasingly being supported by doctors of all specialties. In many cases, for example, “wrapping courses” are offered at adult education centers, where you can learn all kinds of useful tips in addition to the correct wrapping technique. All in all it can be stated: Wraps could be used – in addition to conventional medical or naturopathic methods – even in severe diseases. However, it is important that patients and their caregivers do not overestimate their medical competence and always consult the doctor if the course of the disease is unclear.
