The Charcoal Poultice What is it? A charcoal poultice is an application of charcoal over a body part. The active ingredient is usually a mixture of pulverized charcoal and water, and may also contain ground flax seed or other constituents.
How can it help you? Charcoal has powerful drawing properties which can be used to great advantage in many situations, both internally and externally. It has great effect in cleansing and assisting the healing of the body. It can adsorb toxic gasses, poisons, fluids etc., taking in as much as 80 times its own weight of the substance adsorbed. Taken internally as a tablet, capsule or a slurry, charcoal is the most valuable thing we have for treating poisoning, and also has great effectiveness in treating abdominal gas, diarrhea, etc. It is not toxic to humans, even when taken in very large amounts.
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Externally applied as a poultice, it has the following applications: applications: Antidote for bites and stings, including ant, bee, wasp, mosquito, snake – Make a poultice of appropriate size and apply to bite site. Relief from pain and other symptoms is usually very quick, and is even effective with those allergic to the sting. If a snake bite, promptly make a poultice of charcoal and water large enough to cover cover the whole extremity, or a large area of the body around the bite. Change poultice poultice every 10-15 minutes. Take charcoal internally in large amounts. Continue as long as there is pain and swelling. If these symptoms get worse, add ice packs to the bitten body part. To counteract poisoning of almost every type, including mushrooms, drugs, pesticides, herbicides, cancer producing substances, heavy metals, gasses, petrol, etc. take lots of charcoal internally, and apply a poultice over the liver. Inflamed eyes, and also meningitis and encephalitis – apply as poultice to eyes, either hot, warm or cold as it feels most comfortable. Intestinal gas, diarrhea, indigestion, irritable or spastic colon etc. Apply large poultice over the abdomen, and take charcoal internally. Reduce swelling of almost every type – apply poultice over swelling. This is very powerful, and actually draws fluids through the skin and into the charcoal. In kidney failure, urine will be drawn out; if a bile duct is blocked, bile will be drawn out; in swelling caused by trauma or damage, excess fluid will be drawn out; in swollen joints, fluid will be drawn out, etc. Infections – will adsorb bacteria, viruses, toxins, wound secretions, etc. Will also deodorize a smelly wound. Inflammation of any type – apply poultice over inflammation. Aids the liver if it is diseased or under heavy load – apply poultice over liver area. Liver failure can be treated with charcoal poultices. Relieves pain of many types. Abdominal pain, sore throat, earache, sprains, arthritis, pleurisy, and other pains usually respond quickly to a charcoal poultice.
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External applications of charcoal have not been known to cause any problems whatsoever. Taken internally, there are no known contraindications to the use of charcoal, except for the occasional person who may be very sensitive because of bowel inflammation, and the rare person who may become slightly constipated. No allergies have been reported. The type of charcoal used is important. Charcoal produced from eucalyptus trees is one of the best. In an emergency, use whatever type of charcoal you can get. Do not use burnt toast or other food, this charcoal can be carcinogenic. Applying charcoal to freshly broken skin may cause a tattooing effect. Use comfrey or similar poultice instead until scab forms. Err on the side of caution with charcoal applications internally – if in doubt, take more charcoal!
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In a non-emergency situation, preferably apply the poultice just before bedtime for best reaction and to lessen possibility of leakage and slipping. Remember that the charcoal poultice is powerful in its action, but that many problems have a deep cause that, unless dealt with, will make the charcoal ineffective. Become familiar with the ailment or condition and see if there is some advice you can give that may help them deal with the cause of the problem. Also consider other faith building therapies that may be used.
Equipment you need 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Enough Enough pulv pulveri erized zed char charcoa coall to gener generous ously ly cover cover the the area area to be be treate treated d to a depth depth of of 5-10 5-10 mm. Wate Wa terr to to mix mix with with the the cha charc rcoa oall to to mak makee pas paste te Mixing Mixing bowl bowl or or pot, pot, spoo spoon n to to mix mix and and apply apply charco charcoal al to toweli toweling. ng. Pape Paperr towe toweli ling ng or linen linen of the appro appropr pria iate te size, size, or a piec piecee of plast plastic ic backe backed d incont incontin inen ence ce pad or bed protector. Piec Piecee of plas plasti ticc of appr approp opri riat atee siz sizee to cove coverr poul poulti tice ce.. Mask Maskin ing g tape tape to seal seal poul poulti tice ce edge edgess Bandag Bandagee and and pins pins,, or adhe adhesi sive ve tape tape like like Leuko Leukosi silk lk to to hold hold poul poultic ticee in place. place. Ground Ground flaxse flaxseed ed or or other other addit additive ive to aid aid actio action n of char charcoa coall or to to act as as holdi holding ng gel. gel.
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Assemb Assemble le all of the items items need needed ed to make make and and apply apply the poulti poultice ce The amount amount of charcoal charcoal needed needed will depend depend upon upon the the area area to be treate treated. d. For For example, example, an insect insect bite can be satisfactorily treated by getting a charcoal tablet or lump of charcoal from a cold fire, dampening it with water, placing it on the skin, and holding in place with a Band-Aid. But a poultice to cover the abdomen will require about 3 Tablespoons of charcoal, 3 Tablespoons of linseed, and 1 cup of water. Mix Mix the the char charco coal al wit with h enou enough gh war warm/ m/ho hott wate waterr to make make a pas paste te.. If you you are using linseed linseed with with the charcoa charcoal, l, mix approximat approximately ely equal equal parts of linseed linseed and charco charcoal, al, and and mix mix with hot water – proportions about 1T of charcoal + 1T of linseed + 1/3 cup of water. Stir until well mixed together. The linseed will slowly congeal and the mixture will become a paste. If this does not happen, place over low heat and mix until it thickens. Spread Spread charco charcoal al paste paste over over pape paperr toweli toweling ng or simi similar lar to to a depth depth of 5-10 5-10mm. mm. Rememb Remember er to be be genero generous us with the size of the poultice so that it covers some area around the injured site. Do not spread paste right to the edge or it may leak out. Cover with another another piece piece of toweling toweling or similar similar.. This This will will hold hold the the poultice poultice ingredien ingredients ts togethe together, r, and help prevent leakage. The charcoal will happily draw substances through the toweling or gauze if it is kept moist. It is is benefic beneficial ial to to use use the the masking masking tape or similar similar to seal seal aroun around d the the edges edges to to minimize minimize leakage. leakage. Place Place the poul poulti tice ce on the the skin, skin, and cover cover with with a piece piece of plas plastic tic.. This will will act act to keep keep the the poulti poultice ce moist moist and prevent leakage. Use Use ban banda dage ge or Leu Leuko kosi silk lk tap tapee to hold hold pou poult ltic icee in in plac place. e. Cover the the area with with clothi clothing ng etc. etc. to ensure ensure that that it stays stays warm. warm. If a poultice poultice is is applied applied to reliev relievee pain, pain, a hot water bottle or heating pad of some kind will aid the reaction. When the the poultice poultice is is in place, place, offer offer a prayer prayer to the Great Great Physicia Physician, n, and reques requestt Him to attend attend to the wellwell being of your patient, and to bring about the reaction He desires. Leave Leave poultice poultice on on for 6-10 6-10 hours hours unless unless otherw otherwise ise indicat indicated ed or if it is inconv inconvenie enient. nt. If the poulti poultice ce dries dries out, remove, remove, add add some hot hot water water to it to moiste moisten n and reapply reapply,, or apply a new poultice poultice.. The The charco charcoal al poult poultic icee may may be used used for up to 18 hours hours each each day if needed needed.. Allo Allow w the skin skin to dry dry out between poultice changes to prevent any skin irritation. Take a break every 2 or 3 days to allow the skin to normalize for at least 24 hours. When removin removing g a poultic poultice, e, ensure ensure that that the charcoa charcoall does not leak leak or fall fall out out – it makes a mess! mess! When you remove remove the poultice, poultice, rub the area with with a cold cold flannel flannel or simila similar. r.
