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Lavender Compress for Pain

Weekly newsletter of Ancestral Herbiary
Lavender Compress for Pain
By Ifayomi Fasola • Issue #41 • View online
Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. —Hippocrates

Our bodies constantly bend, lift, turn, and reach. Or as medical terminology puts it, we flex, extend, and rotate. Our joints allow us to be graceful and effective at what we wish to accomplish. We are naturally supple, resilient, and mobile, but if our joints ache or have become stiff or painful, we quickly realize how important a healthy, balanced body is. Many common botanicals, applied topically or taken internally, act as anti-inflammatories and analgesics (herbs that reduce inflammation and ease pain).
Here are some popular, recommended herbal medicines:
  1. Wintergreen Essential Oil - A natural pain reliever used in muscle ache creams.
  2. Capsaicin, also sold as Capsicum - Found in hot chili peppers, this natural remedy temporarily desensitizes nerve responders which cause the pain response. It shows promise in reducing back pain and fibromyalgia when applied to the skin, and can provide relief for migraines and cluster headaches.
  3. Ginger - is one of the most popular herbal remedies. Its antioxidants can help with joint and muscle pain with very few side effects when taken in small doses.
  4. Feverfew - is an herbal remedy with many different uses, including treating headaches, migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, stomachaches, and toothaches. Slight side effects include canker sores and irritation of the tongue and lips. Pregnant women should not use this herbal remedy.
  5. Cranberry juice - is considered a great pain reliever for ulcerative colitis. Cranberry juice can kill the pain causing pathogens that attack the lining of your stomach and small intestines.
  6. Devil’s Claw - Don’t let the name fool you. It is a blessing in disguise for people with heartburn and liver problems. It can also reduce pain from conditions like arthritis, headaches, and lower back pain.
However for today’s newsletter, we’re going to learn how to create a Lavender compress for pain.
This recipe will create about 2 cups
Placing a warm, heavenly scented compress on the forehead or temples will often signal to the brain that it can relax. Lavender is soothing and at the same time uplifting; it can safely be used for any age, at any time, to ease discomfort.
Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lavender flowers (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rose petals (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 2 cups water
A compress, also called a fomentation, is the external application of a warm, concentrated herbal infusion. It is like a poultice, but instead of applying the leaves directly to the wound, the leaves are removed from the liquid and the infusion (tea) is applied directly to the wound with a soft cloth.
Directions:
  1. Place the herbs in a shallow pan.
  2. Pour 2 cups fresh cold water over the herbs and bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Immediately reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes until the liquid is dark and fragrant.
  4. The water is now an infusion full of the plant’s properties.
  5. Prepare two or three clean cloths. [These are best when made of cotton or flannel, but they can be handkerchiefs, bandanas, or some other cloth in an emergency situation or while camping].
  6. Strain the herbs, reserving as much liquid as possible, and return the liquid to the pan.
  7. Place the cloths in the water and allow them to soak up the “tea.”
  8. Pull one cloth from the pan and wring it lightly; you want a lot of tea in the cloth but not so much that it drips everywhere.
  9. This cloth is your compress.
  10. Place the compress on your forehead or area of body with pain, lie back, and let the heat penetrate.
  11. Allow it to remain in direct contact with the skin until the heat is gone, then remove it and apply more infusion with a second cloth.
  12. Repeat this process for 20 to 30 minutes, then discard any unused liquid.
This method is great not only for bodily pain, but headaches as well!
Remember!
This does not replace or is medical advice. ALWAYS consult with your Doctor before changing your regimen or incorporating herbs. This is purely for educational purposes.
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Ifayomi Fasola

I’m Iya Ifayomi! She/Her. Onisegun. Herbalist. Isese. Ifa, Egbe, & Olokun priestess. Rootworker. Mvskokxe. 2 headed. Bone Reader 🦴 Venmo:@ifayomifasola

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