When our ancestors needed First Aid, they didn’t have a little box on hand filled with all sorts of over-the-counter medicines for any emergency. So what did they do? Today, we are so used to going to the nearest drugstore and finding what we need conveniently placed on a shelf that most of us have forgotten the remedies used by our grandmothers, and their mothers and grandmothers before them. You can scoff at these remedies and dismiss them as old wives’ tales, and in some cases, you may be right. But do not be too quick to write them off. There are ‘old fashioned remedies’ that most of us can find on our pantry shelves, and they really do work! Believe it or not, one of the most popular and trusted home remedies is the potato. From my own experience, I can tell you that potato remedies really work. My son is very susceptible to insect bites. When he was bitten by something (we think it was a spider) when he was a little boy, the bite swelled up and became very inflamed. Following his grandmother’s advice, I put a potato poultice on the bite, left it on overnight (not easy to do with a toddler!) and by morning the swelling had gone down, and the bite was red. “normal”. place.
How does it work?
Anyone who cooks can tell you that potatoes have very powerful absorbent qualities. So doesn’t it make sense that they would be useful in any condition that requires the removal of toxins or other unwanted substances? Potatoes have decongestant, soothing and anti-irritant properties. In addition, since potato juice is alkaline, it has an antiseptic effect, and potato pulp is acidic, which helps to remove dead skin cells. There are different ways to make potato poultices (also called compresses). I’m going to describe two of them, but you can find other ways. You can try different types of potato poultice and see which one works best for your problem.
1. Cold potato poultice.
Method 1: Grate the raw potato, with or without skin, spread it over the affected area and place a gauze pad or bandage over it to keep it in place. Or you may find it easier to first spread the grated potato on gauze and then tape it to the affected area. Some ‘recipes’ suggest adding a few drops of milk to the grated potato. Not sure what that is for, but if you don’t mind the mess, do it, ‘just in case’. Other recipes say that you should sprinkle the potato with baking soda. Again, I’m not sure why, but it’s worth a try. Leave the poultice on as long as possible, preferably for 24 hours. You can replace it after 12 hours if you want. When you remove it, you will see that it has turned black. Useful for:
- acne
- pimples
- bruises
- swelling
- inflamed insect roosters
- boils
- Burns
- any other skin condition that needs drainage
The cold poultice can also be used to treat eye conditions (such as symptoms of conjunctivitis, such as redness and tearing, watery or thick discharge, “night crust,” or swollen eyelids), but in this case, leave the poultice on for 30 to 60 minutes per day. in the morning and again at night for 2-3 days. After each session, wash the eyes with a weak solution such as 20% boric acid.
2. Warm potato poultice
Chop two unpeeled potatoes into 1-inch cubes, then boil and mash. Spread the potatoes between two sheets of thick cheesecloth (or a folded sheet). Make sure it’s not too hot by testing it with your hand, and then apply it to the affected area, using tape, a bandage, or a towel to hold it in place. Leave the poultice until it cools. Useful for:
- relieve congestion and inflammation
- healing skin.
- arthritis
- eczema.
This is just one of the many home remedies available in your kitchen. I hope it has been useful to you. Look for more articles on home remedies from your kitchen.