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Poultices are sweet little bundles of heated herbs that are pressed and pounded on your body to soothe and relieve muscle tightness.
Since its beginnings in ancient India, the herbal poultice has travelled a long way. Today, you can enjoy various interpretations of this therapeutic treatment throughout Asia. Whether it’s in a temple or five-star spa, the gorgeous steaming poultice is something to be experienced.
Healing with heat is not new. Most cultures use some form of heat in their traditional rituals, ceremonies and healing practices. In Australia, for example, Aboriginal smudge stick rituals involve burning bundles of specific herbs to cleanse a person, place or object of negative energies.
In ancient China, hot rocks were wrapped in bark and pressed on the body to relieve stress and muscular pain. In traditional Korea, warmed basalt rocks containing heat-retaining silica were wrapped in cotton fabric and placed on specific points of the body to eliminate blockages and reduce stress.
Then there’s crystal therapy, practised in Tibetan and Ayurvedic rituals, where heated crystals are placed on chakra points (energy centres of the body) to stimulate circulation. There are also the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices of cupping and moxibustion to treat a variety of ailments via heat therapy. In massage, even the warmth of a therapist’s hands involves using heat to heal.
Turning up the heat further, the northern Europeans are well known for their love of the weekly sauna, while Native Americans celebrated the sweat lodge in ceremonial style, and the steam room is integral to the Turkish hamam (bath) culture.
But it’s the little herbal poultice, given as a stand-alone treatment or part of a massage, that is fast becoming a staple on spa menus today. The sensation of this heat therapy being pressed on your skin not only works to heal the body but can also induce immense calm.
The herbal poultice is made by wrapping specific local herbs, flowers and plant extracts in natural cloth like a “dumpling” and heating it in a steamer for around 10 to 15 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached. The steaming process softens the compress and the aroma intensifies as the essential oils in the contents are released.
The therapist then takes the hot compress and presses it gently on various parts of the body. Movements contrast between a gentle touch, press and lift to vigorous pounding. The speed varies from slow and rhythmic to rapid. Sometimes two compresses are used alternately (the one temporarily not in use is put back in the steamer to maintain a consistent heat). It’s reported each session should not exceed more than 15 to 20 minutes and can be taken up to twice a day, preferably morning and evening.
In Australia, the revival of heat therapy can be experienced at various spas, but as yet there is no Aussie version of the steaming poultice.
Hot stone therapy and crystal therapy, reported to increase circulation and improve blood flow, are fast becoming popular. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future we’ll also see herbal pouches filled with local plants like lemon myrtle and tea-tree!
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