How Do You Make an Oatmeal Poultice?
To make an oatmeal poultice for immediate use, cook down 1 cup of oats in boiling water, and let it sit until a paste-like consistency forms. Apply the poultice directly to the skin. Alternately, spread a layer on a damp cloth, and place it oatmeal-side-down on the skin; let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing to provide soothing relief from inflammation or rashes. An oatmeal poultice helps treat sunburns, poison ivy and chicken pox.
For an extra-soothing recipe, mix 2 tablespoons of finely ground oatmeal with 4 tablespoons of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of witch hazel and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a bowl. Spread this mixture between 2 pieces of muslin cloth. Place the poultice over the affected area, and let it sit for half an hour. After removing the poultice, use a cotton ball dipped in milk to clean that area of skin, and then allow it to dry.
Pre-make a ready-to-use poultice by tying 1 cup of ground or steel-cut oats in a soft cloth or piece of muslin. When you’re ready to use the poultice, run it under warm or hot water, and then apply it to the affected area. If the skin is very irritated and sensitive, opt for a strip of muslin instead of a cloth; the muslin provides a softer, less abrasive feeling for irritated skin. Plain, organic, uncooked oatmeal is the ideal choice for a poultice.
