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Sally's Mustard Poultice Remedy
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A friend of mine was at wits end because of an ICU patient they
were treating. This elderly patient had developed pneumonia and was allergic to every
antibiotic the staff had administered. I mentioned that in the "old days" folks used a
mustard plaster to treat pneumonia. The hospital staff was willing to try anything within
reason. I got the recipe and instructions from Aunt Sally. The patient was treated with
the mustard poultice and was dismissed from the hospital a week later completely
cured.Mustard PoulticeFor congestion, cough, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Caution: Do not apply directly on the skin.Patient: Take a warm (not hot) bath. Put on a tight-fitting T-shirt and go to bed. Attendant: Tear a piece of flannel off an old pair of pajamas, shirt, or you can use a diaper. It should be about the size of a large tortilla (10" - 12" diameter). Mix about a 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seed powder with 1 tablespoon of flour. You can use the store-bought powder or grind up the seed yourself. Add cool water to the mixture gradually till it turns into a paste. Spread the paste in the middle of the flannel. Fold the flannel like you were making a taco (like a burrito). Put it on a plate and warm (not hot) in an oven (microwave). If you get it too hot, it will turn into a brick. Put the pack on the patient's chest. The tightness of the T-shirt should hold it in place. Leave it on for a couple of hours. Keep checking every half hour or so to make sure the skin does not turn raw. If the skin is really sensitive, add more flour to weaken the poultice. If caught early on, the poultice will keep the chest muscles from tensing up and will increase the circulation in the lungs. If the patient is already into the sickness, have them drink a hot toddy while you're making the poultice. This will help relax the chest and lungs so that coughing isn't quite as painful. |
