Proven remedy: how wraps and compresses work

The last time you had a nappy change was probably when you were a toddler: with cloth or disposable nappies. But even back then, nappy changing gave you more than just clean 'packaging': When swapping nappies, parents intensify their emotional relationship with their child, talk to them lovingly, encourage them to communicate, cuddle with them.

At Wraps that are applied for medical reasons (whether for children or adults) are very similar: Even today, many people swear by potato wraps, calf wraps et al. and not without reason. This is because wraps don't just work through heat and active ingredients: "A wrap is a form of personal care, which is why it has a holistic, systemic effect," says Brigitte Waser-Bürgi, nurse, phytotherapist and author of the book "Professional Wraps".

What are wraps and compresses?

Wraps consist of two to three layers of cloths that are placed or wrapped around a specific part of the body. Active ingredients are applied to support the healing effect. These can be vinegar or quark, for example. Linseed can also be healing: In a study, test subjects with hand osteoarthritis felt significantly greater pain relief than the control group with hot compresses when they bandaged their hands with linseed wraps to support pharmacological treatment.

Bandages are also called compresses and fulfil the same purpose as wraps. They are not wrapped around parts of the body, but applied to them.

What are the health benefits of wraps and compresses?

Wraps and compresses are used to stimulate the body's self-healing powers, relieve pain, improve or even reduce blood circulation - for example, to prevent severe swelling. "They can alleviate discomfort and support well-being as a supplement to conventional medical treatment," says Waser-Bürgi.

There are different types of compresses. The expert differentiates between cold, hot, tempered and skin-irritating wraps:

• Hot and skin-irritating wraps strongly promote blood circulation. Hot compresses also have a relaxing and antispasmodic effect. They are generally more suitable for chronic pain, gastrointestinal cramps and organ stimulation, for example liver stimulation in cases of chronic fatigue. However, it is important to ensure that the compress is not too hot, otherwise burns or scalds may result.
• Cold compresses tend to reduce blood circulation and inhibit inflammatory processes. You can apply a cold compress to a sprain or bruise, joint inflammation or high fever. Please note, however, that fever is a natural reaction of the body and should only be reduced if a certain body temperature is exceeded or if it rises sharply in a short period of time.
• Tempered compresses slowly warm the body. They roughly correspond to our body temperature and are suitable for muscle and joint pain, for example, or as a eucalyptus oil compress for cystitis. "Tempered compresses such as a lavender oil compress can be used on anyone who is not allergic or averse to the ingredients."

In the case of hot, cold or skin-irritating compresses, the expert recommends obtaining more detailed information about contraindications beforehand or consulting a doctor.

This is what you should bear in mind with skin-irritating wraps:

Skin-irritating compresses should be used with caution. They contain active ingredients such as mustard flour, ginger or horseradish. They are only applied once a day for a few minutes to relieve bronchitis, asthma or sinusitis, for example. They are not suitable for small children and babies. Special care should also be taken with weakened people or people with sensitive skin. It is best to first test the skin reaction with very little active ingredient in the crook of the arm and discuss with a doctor beforehand whether a compress is an option.

Wraps can also be divided into moist and dry wraps. Moist compresses are prepared with tea, for example. A classic dry-hot compress, on the other hand, is the potato compress, which provides heat for a particularly long time.

When and which compress is used depends largely on the patient and their symptoms. Most people prefer hot or warm compresses, while some find cold compresses more pleasant. A key point when applying a compress is that the compress should feel pleasant and the patient should feel as comfortable as possible during the treatment.

Which medicinal plants and active ingredients are suitable for compresses?

Firstly, herbal active ingredients such as those found in ginger, cabbage, thyme, lemon, onion or lavender are suitable for compresses. Extracts of these ingredients, such as in essential oils or tinctures, can also be used. Vinegar, quark and salt are typical foods that are also used for wraps and compresses due to their active ingredients and can support the healing effect of wraps.

Wrap expert Waser-Bürgi describes more than 100 ailments that can be treated with wraps in her book. Her tip: "Many things work. The most important thing is that you do it." So if you're interested, just start with the products you already have at home. For example, salt or vinegar are suitable for cold compresses, onions for temperate compresses and linseed for hot compresses. If you want to delve deeper into the subject, you can collect medicinal plants yourself and then use them for the compresses.

Wrapping properly: how it's done

As mentioned, wraps and compresses should be removed immediately if the patient finds them uncomfortable. It is also important to avoid allergy-causing substances. In other words, do not apply a lemon compress if the person being treated is allergic to citrus fruit ingredients.

The duration of the compress varies depending on the compress: "A cold quark compress on a highly inflamed joint only lasts a few minutes. Once it has warmed up, it needs to be removed or replaced straight away. A charcoal compress for chronic joint pain, on the other hand, stays on all night."

As a general rule, skin-irritating compresses should be left on until you feel a tingling sensation on your skin, but for a maximum of 15 minutes, hot compresses for around 20 minutes and temperature-controlled compresses for several hours.

With cold compresses, change the compress as soon as it gets warm. A cold calf compress to reduce fever should not be ice cold, but about 10 degrees Celsius below body temperature. For people with a fever, 30 degrees Celsius often feels really cold, and you can get compresses and ready-made compress sets from the pharmacy. However, you are sure to have free wrapping material at home: anything made of natural fibres, i.e. linen, cotton, silk or wool, is suitable. Old towels, sheets or woollen scarves are great. "Synthetic fabrics are less suitable, they don't allow air and moisture to pass through easily and there is a risk of heat or moisture build-up."

You usually use three cloths for a compress or overlay: an inner cloth, an intermediate cloth and an outer cloth. The inner cloth (for example an old tea towel) is coated with the active ingredient (for example with quark), wrapped around it (as with potatoes) or soaked in it (in tea, for example). It is then placed on the skin and the intermediate cloth (e.g. an old cotton towel) is wrapped over it. The intermediate cloth is used to maintain the moisture and temperature of the wrap.

A woollen scarf as an outer cloth secures the wrap. You can also secure the outer cloth with clips, plasters or gauze bandages to ensure that nothing slips. A hot water bottle or a warmed cherry stone cushion can also be placed on the outer cloth to keep the heat in the hot compress.

Recipes: These compresses help with bruises, ear and muscle pain

• **Tempered onion compress: **You may remember onion compresses from your childhood. They are a popular natural remedy for earache. Onion compresses can also be applied to any inflammation that can drain - kidney, bladder, ear, throat, bronchial or lung inflammation - or used for foot compresses for colds or flu. To do this, cut an onion into small pieces and place on a cotton cloth. Fold the cloth into a kind of sack and heat it on a saucepan lid over boiling water until it is lukewarm.
  Now place the onion bag on the ear so that the area behind the ear is also well covered. The compress should now be left on for at least an hour.
• **Cooling arnica compress: **Arnica is one of the most important herbal remedies for blunt injuries. An arnica compress can soothe painful sprains, bruises or contusions. However, do not collect arnica yourself, as the plant is a protected species in Germany and some cantons in Switzerland.
  Arnica tincture is available in many pharmacies - and this is exactly what we need for a cooling compress: mix the tincture 1:10 with cold water and soak a cloth in it. Lightly squeeze out the cloth, apply and wrap with an outer cloth. Leave the compress on for several hours and soak the cloth with cool arnica water from time to time.
• Lotion of comfrey or comfrey ointment is Waser-Bürgi's most frequently used poultice: "I make the ointment myself from roots that I dig up in spring or autumn. However, for those less familiar with medicinal plants, there are also ready-made preparations in Switzerland that are covered by basic health insurance."

For the dressing, spread a double layer of ointment on a cotton cloth (linen sheet) as thick as the back of a knife, leaving a 3 cm border free. Place the coated area directly on the skin. Place 1 to 2 flannels or wraps over it, as the ointment can soak through. The ointment cloth can be reused several times and left on overnight. The ointment pad is suitable for bruises, strains, sprains, haematomas, muscle and nerve pain, osteoarthritis, tendonitis or joint inflammation as well as for the follow-up treatment of broken bones.