A Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Using a Charcoal Poultice

In our quest for holistic and natural remedies, we often come across ancient remedies that continue to stand the test of time. One such remedy is a charcoal poultice - a powerful tool for drawing out toxins and soothing inflammation. The art of making a charcoal poultice is simple yet highly effective in various applications, such as relieving insect bites, reducing stings, and aiding in wound healing. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to harness the healing power of charcoal through the creation of a versatile charcoal poultice.

Materials Needed:

- Activated charcoal powder or crushed activated charcoal tablets (available at health food stores)

- Ground flax seed

- Purified or distilled water 

- A small bowl

- A tablespoon or fork for mixing

- Glad wrap or a small, sturdy plastic ziplock bag

- Tape or elastic bandage wraps for securing the poultice

Step 1: Prepare the Charcoal Paste

Start by adding one tablespoon of activated charcoal powder or crushed activated charcoal tablets into a small bowl with one tablespoon of ground flax seed. Add a tiny bit of the distilled or purified water to the bowl and stir. Keep adding tiny amounts of water until a thick, semi-spreadable paste is formed. Ensure there are no clumps of dry charcoal powder hiding in the mixture as you stir.

Step 2: Use Imeadieatly or Store in a Bag

Spread part or all of your poultice near the affected area. You can also make a larger batch and store it in a zip lock bag. Just place the poultice mixture in the bag and get the air out of it before closing the top. Once closed, press and flatten the mixture until it’s thin and even inside the bag. Keep the bag in the refrigerator and cut off squares when you need a poultice.

Step 3: Secure the Poultice

If you are using the cut square from the refrigerated bag remove the plastic on one side and place it directly on your skin. Keep the other side covered with plastic and wrap an elastic bandage wrap around the area. This will keep the poultice in place. You can do the same with a fresh poultice by cutting a piece of Glad Wrap on top of the poultice and wrapping it up with the bandage.

Step 4: Allow Time for Absorption

You can leave your poultice on all day, but you should change it more frequently if you are dealing with severe toxic build-up. If your pultice starts itching and the area it covers starts to hurt it has absorbed as much toxins as possible. Remove the old poultice and clean the area before using a new one.

Step 5: Cleaning and Removal

Take off the bandage and peel the poultice off of your skin. Throw the poultice in the trash and thoroughly wash your skin until most or all the pigment is gone. You want to make sure all the toxin-filled charcoal is removed so that the new, clean charcoal can easily absorb more toxins out of your body.

Making a charcoal poultice is a simple and versatile way to unlock the healing properties of activated charcoal. Add it to your natural healing toolkit. 

I’ll make another blog post about some of the most common uses for charcoal poultices. 

See you in my next post!