Topical detoxification
Topical ways of detoxification include
the cleansing of skin lesions or other
skin problems, as well as pulling toxins out
of the body through the surface application
of substances that draw and detoxify. Some applications are capable of stimulating the
immune system and increasing white blood cell count.
When used for cleansing the body, compresses, poultices, and packs stimulate circulation, cause sweating that excretes toxins,
and draw out impurities. These noninvasive
treatments can help to rid the body of many
different toxins and infections.
Caution: Occasionally, sensitive people
may develop a rash after a particular treatment. If this happens, do not use that treatment again.
Compresses
A compress is a soft pad of gauze or cloth applied to a body part with varying degrees of
pressure. Compresses can be used to control bleeding, to reduce pain and inflammation, or to prevent infection.
- ICE OR COLD
- Cold compresses soothe pain and reduce
swelling. They are removed or changed
when they warm to body temperature.
Ice or cold compresses can be used for
bursitis, strains, sprains, sore throat, arthritis, inflammation, fever, headaches, hemorrhoids, and swelling.
- HOT
- Warm or hot compresses stimulate the circulation of blood and lymph, and heat cold
joints. They are removed or replaced when
they cool to body temperature.
Heat compresses can be used to relieve
the pain of earaches, cystitis, diverticulitis,
flatulence, old injuries, and headache.
- ALTERNATING HOT AND COLD
- Alternating hot and cold compresses applied over the affected area will help flush
fluids in the area, pulling out waste products
with the cold (contractive) phase, and bringing in fresh fluid (blood and nutrients) with
the hot (expansive) phase.
Use the hot compress for three to four
minutes and follow with cold for thirty to
sixty seconds. Repeat three to five times, always ending with cold. This treatment will
help many conditions, including inflamed
ovaries, nephritis, hepatitis, hemorrhoids,
glaucoma, and sinusitis.
- EPSOM SALTS
- Dissolve 1 cup Epsom salts in 1/2 gallon hot
water and apply as a compress to draw out boils or any type of infection. Leave on until
the compress cools. Repeat if needed.
- HERBAL
- Specific herbal compresses can be used for
bruises, swelling, hematomas, and pain. Compresses are made by diluting herbs in water.
If used warm, allow to cool; if used cool,
leave on until warmed by body heat. Repeat
as necessary to obtain relief.
- ESSENTIAL OILS
- A cloth soaked in water to which 6 drops of
essential oils have been added can be used
for spot treatment of injured areas, such as
wounds, sore muscles, joint aches and
pains, or skin problems.
Make a hot compress with hot water, but allow it to cool to a safe skin temperature before using, then leave in place until it cools to body temperature. For a cold compress, use ice-cold water and leave in place until it warms to body heat. Repeat at intervals as needed.
Poultices
A poultice is usually described as a hot,
moist preparation that may be applied to any
part of the body. Poultices are used to relieve
pain and congestion, reduce inflammation,
promote absorption or resolution of an abscess, diminish tissue swelling and tension,
soften crusted lesions, encourage muscle relaxation, stimulate healthy granulation (the
formation of new tissue), and deodorize or disinfect.
Poultices differ from a compress in that
no pressure is used, and whole substances,
such as herbs or clay, are usually used rather
than a watered solution. The moist heat of a
poultice can penetrate into the body for almost an inch and in some cases up to 3
inches. The poultice should always be
slightly larger than the organ it is treating.
A poultice can be left on all night. Most
poultices are applied warm and should not
be reheated. When the poultice cools, discard it.
- CLAY
- Clays have excellent drawing power for
pulling toxins out of the body. Clay can be
used in poultices, as a clay-water paste, or in a clay-glycerine mixture.
To make a clay poultice, sterilize the clay
in a 350°F oven until heated through before
mixing with the water or glycerine. Apply
the paste to the skin and cover with cotton
cloth; keep moist. Clay poultices may be left
on for 6 to 10 hours. After removing the
poultice, rinse the skin thoroughly and pat
dry. Allow 1 to 2 hours before reapplying the poultice.
Clay poultices are effective for boils,
corns, callouses, hemorrhoids, insect stings,
ringworm, acne, gangrene, skin sores, and ulcers.
- CHARCOAL
- Charcoal poultices are extremely effective
against insect venom, such as spider bites and bee stings.
Charcoal combined with water and
ground flaxseed (as a thickening agent)
makes an excellent poultice that can be used
almost anywhere on the body's surface. Use
3 Tbsp. ground flaxseed combined with 1 to 3 Tbsp. charcoal and 1 cup water. Let set for 20
minutes or heat gently to thicken.
Spread the charcoal mix approximately
1/4 inch thick over a square of white paper
towel or cotton cloth. Cover with another paper towel or cloth. Apply to the affected area
and cover with plastic, then a towel, and
leave the poultice in place for 6 to 10 hours.
After removing and discarding the poultice,
rub the skin gently with a cold, wet cloth.
Mini-poultices are effective for ant, mosquito, and chigger bites. They will also detoxify poison ivy eruptions. Apply charcoal to a
piece of gauze or a Band-Aid. Dip the damp
gauze into charcoal powder, or rub a charcoal tablet on the dampened gauze or Band-Aid until it is black. Place the poultice over the injury.
A second type of charcoal poultice uses
equal parts of charcoal powder and olive oil. Apply to the bite or sting on a paper towel or
cotton cloth thoroughly saturated with the
mixture. Cover with plastic and hold in place
with adhesive tape. Leave in place for several hours.
- CORNSTARCH
- A poultice of cornstarch and fresh lemon
juice, or cornstarch and witch hazel, alleviates the itching of mosquito bites. Mix in
equal parts and apply to the bite with a large
Band-Aid or a paper towel or cotton cloth
held in place with adhesive tape for 30 to 60
minutes. Repeat as necessary.
- HERBAL
- Herbal poultices are made from crushed herbs or a paste of herbs, moistened and applied directly to the body or between a layer of gauze. The poultice should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Hold it in place with adhesive tape or an elastic bandage, and leave it on at least 3 hours or overnight.
- MUSTARD
- Although called a plaster, a mustard plaster
is actually a poultice. Many people remember mustard plasters from their childhood,
sometimes with less than pleasant memories. However, correctly applied, a mustard
plaster can be very helpful in relieving congestion and increasing circulation.
To make a mustard plaster, stir 1 Tbsp.
dry mustard into 4 Tbsp. flour. Add enough
warm water to make a paste thin enough to
spread, but not thin enough to run. Place a
clean cloth on a warm plate and spread the
paste over the surface, but not extending
over the edges. Place a clean cloth over the
patient's chest so that there is a layer of cloth
between the poultice and the patient's skin.
Put the poultice in place and cover with a
piece of plastic to prevent soiling the patient's clothing and bedclothes. Place a towel over the plastic and carefully pin through the
clean cloth to hold the poultice in place.
Leave the poultice in place for 20 minutes only. The skin can blister if the mustard
plaster is left on the skin longer. Remove it
sooner if the patient complains of stinging
and burning or if the skin becomes quite
red. After removing, wipe the skin with a tissue or cloth dipped in a tolerated oil, such as
mineral or cooking oil, to remove the mustard traces. Cover the area with flannel or a
towel and leave overnight.
Packs
A pack treats the whole body or a body part
by wrapping it to provide cover, containment, or therapy. For detoxification purposes, packs are used to hold a treatment in
place or to provide a cold or hot application to a larger area of the body.
- COLD PACK
- Cold packs are administered with a cotton
cloth that has been saturated with ice water,
wrung so that it is not dripping, and placed
on the treatment area. Always be sure there
is a layer of dry cloth between a cold pack and
the skin. A cold pack is replaced when it warms to body temperature.
Both hot and cold applications may be
wrapped with another dry cloth to hold them in place.
- HOT PACK
- Hot applications are usually given with a cotton cloth that has been dipped in very hot water. Place the cloth over the treatment area and
replace when it cools to body temperature.
Always check the temperature to be certain it is tolerable before placing the pack.
- CASTOR OIL
- Castor oil packs can be used on the liver to
aid detoxification and on the thymus gland
to strengthen the immune system. They
have a drawing power as deep as 4 inches
into the body. Use undyed or white cotton
cloth or wool flannel (wool flannel is preferable) to saturate the oil for application to the
body. Soak the flannel in cold-pressed castor
oil. The castor oil must be cold-pressed, as
heat processing destroys its therapeutic
properties. Wring the cloth so it is still wet, but not dripping.
Apply the cloth to the affected area of the body and cover with plastic. Cover the plastic with a towel and place a heating pad or hot water bottle over the towel. If you use a heating pad, it should be as warm as it can be tolerated. You may have to refill the hot water bottle if it cools off too quickly. Leave the pack on for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Wash off any remaining oil with a water and baking soda mixture.
Some healthcare practitioners feel that
the cloth can be stored in a covered pan or
Ziploc bag and reused numerous times before it is washed. Others feel that one or two
uses before washing and reusing are appropriate. The number of safe uses can be partially determined by the degree of toxicity being treated.
- CLAY
- Clay has antibacterial properties and attracts
toxins in much the same way as does charcoal. Clay packs may be used to reduce
edema and to resolve boils. Clay has deep
drawing power and will draw toxins and excess fluid out of the body through the skin.
Clay packs help infections, both superficial
and deep, and can help reduce pain and swelling. There are many clays suitable for
packs, such as Indian Healing Clay, green
clay, and bentonite clay. These clays and others are available at health food stores.
To make a clay pack, mix the clay until it
is soft and has no lumps. It should be the
consistency of a heavy ointment or cream
cheese. Apply to the affected area to a 1/4 inch
thickness. Cover with a damp cloth. Leave on
for 30 to 60 minutes. Rinse off with water
and pat skin dry. If the pack causes a rash, do not repeat.
Medicated soaks
Soaks containing skin-soothing substances
in the water can be used as topical means of
detoxification. Soaks are similar to detoxification baths, but are concentrated on the affected area rather than the whole body.
- BAKING SODA
- Soda soaks and baths are alkaline baths that
are slightly anesthetic. They are soothing for
drug reactions, poison ivy, itching eczema,
hives, insect stings, heat rash, sensitivities to
plants or chemicals, sunburns, and other
general skin reactions and problems.
Use 1 cup baking soda to a tub of water at
approximately 94° to 98°F. The soaking
water should be dipped up with a cup so that
it continually bathes all portions of the affected skin. Use the soak for 30 minutes to
an hour. Allow the excess water to drip from the skin and then pat dry.
- STARCH
- Used for the same skin irritations as baking
soda, starch soaks consist of 1/2 cup starch stirred into a clean dishpan or bucket of hot
water. Baths consist of 1 cup starch stirred
into a shallow tub of water. The temperature
should be at 94° to 98°F and the water must
be stirred to keep the starch suspended.
Use a cup to dip the water onto all affected skin surfaces. Soak the affected part
or stay in the tub for 20 to 30 minutes, then
allow the skin to air dry, or pat dry gently.
- EPSOM SALTS
- Dissolve Epsom salts in hot water for soaking infected fingers, hands, toes, and feet.
Use 1 cup Epsom salts to 1/2 gallon of hot water. Soak for 30 minutes to draw out infections. Repeat several times during the day.
- OATMEAL
- Oatmeal soaks and baths are soothing for
poison ivy, eczema, hives, and any itching affliction.
For a bath, tie 1 pound uncooked oatmeal
in a large piece of gauze and hang it under
the bath spigot so that the water runs
through the oatmeal. Use hot water so that it
will soften the oatmeal and extract the
starch. After the tub is filled, put the bag of
oatmeal in the bath water or use it to sponge
the surface of the body. One heaping cup of
uncooked rolled oats ground fine in the
blender can be substituted for the bag. Stay
in the bath for 20 to 30 minutes and finish by gently patting skin dry.
To soak a hand or foot, use a dishpan or
bucket of hot water and stir in 1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats ground in the blender.
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