. |
Seeds for Change Wellness
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Modern Day Poultice
Modern Day Poultice
Author: Steven R. Frank, Chief Scientist, Klearsen Corporation (Peaceful Mountain)
Source
In years gone by it was not unusual for an herbalist to treat an injured appendage with a poultice. This
required bruising or simmering some Comfrey and wrapping it against an injury with linen. Of course to
treat a nasty break or sprain, this poultice would require regular changing and a continued access to
the Comfrey. During winter months, this could be challenging.
Arnica and Rosemary should also be considered for addition to the poultice depending on the nature
of the injury. The Arnica dramatically improves healing by acting as an analgesic (pain reducer) and
reducing bruising by breaking up clots in the micro capillary bed. The Rosemary improves circulation
thereby enabling the body to more effectively deliver macrophages to the region. These macrophages
stimulate fibroblasts which produce collagen to repair the damaged tissue. Quite a nice system indeed;
relieve the pain, enhance the generation of tissue and improve circulation to the region.
In more recent times, when we injure a tendon or damage a ligament we visit a doctor. The doctor
usually suggests a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as Ibuprofen) to reduce the inflammation
and control the pain. The doctor may even suggest icing the region, which further restricts the flow of
blood and the conveyance of healing constituents carried by the blood. If the injury persists, he may
suggest cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation and stop the persistent pain. In addition to
being a rather expensive approach to the problem, it is actually the antithesis of our body's natural
healing response.
Modern science has taught us that the inflammation reaction, which occurs after a soft-tissue injury, is
the signal to the brain to send more macrophages to the area. Inhibiting this signal with
anti-inflammatory drugs impedes the healing process. Homeopathic philosophy would be to support the
inflammation while taking advantage of the bodies actions to repair the damage. It is here that the
wisdom of the herbalist really shines through. The Comfrey, Arnica and Rosemary do just that.
Comfrey is a cell proliferator. It incites the fibroblasts at the scene of the injury to produce more
collagen. This extra collagen production maximizes the soft tissue repair. The Arnica and Rosemary
facilitate healing by maintaining sound vascular and lymphatic flow to the region so that the body can
deliver all of the healing constituents necessary to complete the repair. Supporting and accentuating
the body's natural direction represents a far more naturopathic and holistic solution to repairing the
injury.
There's just one problem. Most folks now-a-days don't want to walk around all day and night with
weeds tied to their body. That's not to mention that most of us don't have access to Comfrey, Arnica
and Rosemary on a convenient basis. This problem actually has a simple, elegant solution.
The skin does an excellent job of keeping waxes, some oils and petrolatums on the outside of your
body. Water based gels, on the other hand, are readily absorbed through the skin. By producing a full
strength decoction of Comfrey, Arnica and Rosemary and then gelling it, one obtains a very
bio-available natural topical for delivering the necessary constituents of this triad of healing herbs. This
gel will be readily absorbed where salves, ointments, and oils will not. It can be conveniently applied
directly to the site of the injury with ease and absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy smelly
emulsion. It is in fact, behaving like a poultice without the cellulose leave/flower matter and the linen.
Clinical studies and case studies with a hydrogel of this type (Peaceful Mountain Tendon Rescue) have
demonstrated amazing long-term repairs of tendonopathy, plantar fasciitis and ligamentitis in humans
and horses. The gel is simply rubbed into the region several times a day until an appropriate quantity
(usually 100g) has been administered in total.
Some pain reduction is immediate while pain during movement is usually relieved in the first day or so.
The healing continues with regular application throughout the remainder of the 2 to 3 week period.
This provides more complete healing of soft tissue injuries by extending and supporting the body's
natural collagen building activity in the region.
Of course a liver cleanse is usually recommended, as most damage to soft tissue that occurs past
middle age is indicative of degenerated liver function. However, the modern poultice utilizing this triad
of healing herbs is often wholly sufficient to produce long-term recovery from tendon and ligament
damage.
Author: Steven R. Frank, Chief Scientist, Klearsen Corporation (Peaceful Mountain)
Source
In years gone by it was not unusual for an herbalist to treat an injured appendage with a poultice. This
required bruising or simmering some Comfrey and wrapping it against an injury with linen. Of course to
treat a nasty break or sprain, this poultice would require regular changing and a continued access to
the Comfrey. During winter months, this could be challenging.
Arnica and Rosemary should also be considered for addition to the poultice depending on the nature
of the injury. The Arnica dramatically improves healing by acting as an analgesic (pain reducer) and
reducing bruising by breaking up clots in the micro capillary bed. The Rosemary improves circulation
thereby enabling the body to more effectively deliver macrophages to the region. These macrophages
stimulate fibroblasts which produce collagen to repair the damaged tissue. Quite a nice system indeed;
relieve the pain, enhance the generation of tissue and improve circulation to the region.
In more recent times, when we injure a tendon or damage a ligament we visit a doctor. The doctor
usually suggests a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as Ibuprofen) to reduce the inflammation
and control the pain. The doctor may even suggest icing the region, which further restricts the flow of
blood and the conveyance of healing constituents carried by the blood. If the injury persists, he may
suggest cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation and stop the persistent pain. In addition to
being a rather expensive approach to the problem, it is actually the antithesis of our body's natural
healing response.
Modern science has taught us that the inflammation reaction, which occurs after a soft-tissue injury, is
the signal to the brain to send more macrophages to the area. Inhibiting this signal with
anti-inflammatory drugs impedes the healing process. Homeopathic philosophy would be to support the
inflammation while taking advantage of the bodies actions to repair the damage. It is here that the
wisdom of the herbalist really shines through. The Comfrey, Arnica and Rosemary do just that.
Comfrey is a cell proliferator. It incites the fibroblasts at the scene of the injury to produce more
collagen. This extra collagen production maximizes the soft tissue repair. The Arnica and Rosemary
facilitate healing by maintaining sound vascular and lymphatic flow to the region so that the body can
deliver all of the healing constituents necessary to complete the repair. Supporting and accentuating
the body's natural direction represents a far more naturopathic and holistic solution to repairing the
injury.
There's just one problem. Most folks now-a-days don't want to walk around all day and night with
weeds tied to their body. That's not to mention that most of us don't have access to Comfrey, Arnica
and Rosemary on a convenient basis. This problem actually has a simple, elegant solution.
The skin does an excellent job of keeping waxes, some oils and petrolatums on the outside of your
body. Water based gels, on the other hand, are readily absorbed through the skin. By producing a full
strength decoction of Comfrey, Arnica and Rosemary and then gelling it, one obtains a very
bio-available natural topical for delivering the necessary constituents of this triad of healing herbs. This
gel will be readily absorbed where salves, ointments, and oils will not. It can be conveniently applied
directly to the site of the injury with ease and absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy smelly
emulsion. It is in fact, behaving like a poultice without the cellulose leave/flower matter and the linen.
Clinical studies and case studies with a hydrogel of this type (Peaceful Mountain Tendon Rescue) have
demonstrated amazing long-term repairs of tendonopathy, plantar fasciitis and ligamentitis in humans
and horses. The gel is simply rubbed into the region several times a day until an appropriate quantity
(usually 100g) has been administered in total.
Some pain reduction is immediate while pain during movement is usually relieved in the first day or so.
The healing continues with regular application throughout the remainder of the 2 to 3 week period.
This provides more complete healing of soft tissue injuries by extending and supporting the body's
natural collagen building activity in the region.
Of course a liver cleanse is usually recommended, as most damage to soft tissue that occurs past
middle age is indicative of degenerated liver function. However, the modern poultice utilizing this triad
of healing herbs is often wholly sufficient to produce long-term recovery from tendon and ligament
damage.