RECIPE: MUSTARD COMPRESS FOR COLDS AND FEVERS

Use this with CAUTION. Mustard can be quite heating and irritating to the skin, so make sure you don’t let it burn you or the person under your care. Some people have allergies to mustard seed; in doubt, ask or do the muscle test.

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour

4 Tbsp. dry mustard powder, or less according to strength

Warm water

Method:

• Mix the flour and mustard, then gradually add warm water to make a paste. Aim for a smooth and easy-to-spread, but not runny, consistency.
• Take a clean tea towel, or piece of cotton or flannelette and apply the paste on it.
• Fold up the bottom half of the towel and apply to chest area, fabric side on the skin. Do NOT apply the paste on the skin! This would cause blistering.
• Before covering with a blanket to encourage sweating, make sure you put another piece of fabric on top of the paste to avoid staining the blanket.
• Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes. Tingling, heat and redness of the skin are normal as heat and blood circulation is drawn to the surface but too much can bring blistering. Remove if skin turns deep red. If using on a child, watch carefully as young skin is more delicate.
• Remove poultice, wash skin with a warm cloth to remove any trace that may have seeped through and dry.
• Apply sesame oil.
• Repeat the same procedure on the back.

Apply every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

A good recipe to make your own mustard paste is available at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/12/how-to-make-mustard-home.

DECOMPRESS WITH HOT AND COLD COMPRESSES

Compresses are great for a great many conditions and the ingredients to use for them will vary accordingly.

Both hot and cold compresses can be used, but for different purposes.

Rules of thumb


- Using hot or cold compresses depends both on the condition and the person’s dosha.
- Never apply a hot compress on the head.

TIP - FATTY ACIDS AND IODINE: TO WRITE HOME ABOUT!

You have heard a lot about the benefits of Omega-3 and -6 for brain growth and performance, and to reduce cholesterol and the risks of heart diseases and cancer. Whether you integrate Omega-3s to your meals or spread them on your body, your skin loves them because of their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to repair damaged and dry skin. Omega-6s are also great because they support anti-allergic functions and are great allies against eczema.

Next time you prepare a menu for your skin, add avocado oil and 2 or 3 drops of linseed oil (the best of the Omega-3) and rosehip or poppy seed oil (the richest in Omega-6).

For those of you with eczema, add linseed and rosehip oil to increase the value of your unguent or massage oil. Linseed and rosehip also contain iodine, which is great for the thyroid. Rashes, discoloration, acne and edema are some of the skin problems associated with thyroid malfunction.