This very basic form of treatment entails the folding of a piece of material, bandage or small towel, into a pad wetting it and applying it to the areas to be treated. Two types of compresses can be used - that being cold or hot, and each of them has a specific place in the treatment of muscular pain, sprains, increasing circulation as well as reducing pain and congestion of the internal organs, and relieve lymphatic and fluid congestion.
HOT COMPRESSES
Hot compresses are used to treat old injuries, muscle pain, rheumatic pain, menstrual cramps, boils, and toothache.
To make a hot compress, take about a pint of hot water, as warm as you can comfortably stand it, and add about 4 drops of your selected essential oil to it. Then place your folded piece of material, bandage or small towel, on top of the water and let it soak it up. Next wring out the excess water and place it over the area to be treated.
Cover the warm compress with either cling wrap or a plastic bag, and another towel on top to keep it in place. You may bandage the compress lightly if applied to an awkward place where it keeps slipping of.
Leave on, and replace with a new compress as soon as it has cooled to body temperature.
COLD COMPRESSES
Cold compresses are used for recent sprains, bruising, swelling and inflammation, fever and headaches. It can also be used as a pep-up when feeling tired.
A cold compress is made exactly the same as the hot compress, but ice or refrigerated water is used instead of the hot water, and the compress is replaced when it has heated up to body temperature.