Mustard plaster has amazing health benefits, though it is mainly used for cold and cough related problems, it has other uses too. 1. For Chest Congestion & Bronchitis- It has been used for centuries to treat chest congestion. It is a very effective home remedy that can be used for both adults and children. When we get cold and flu, the main problem is the phlegm, many of us find it hard to cough out the phlegm. Applying mustard plaster on the chest helps greatly in bringing out the phlegm. Mustard increases circulation and heat to the area that it is applied, thus helping in bring out the phlegm. Many get scared of applying mustard plaster because of getting burnt, but applying the mustard like shown in this recipe is very safe. 2. For Boils- Mustard plaster is an effective way to reduce the infection and treat the boils quickly. Apply the mustard plaster over the boils to make them mature and drain fast. 3. For Fevers- As mustard plasters warms up the body, it encourages perspiration thus bringing down the body temperature. 4. For Arthritis- Since mustard has anti inflammatory properties, applying a warm plaster over the joints greatly helps in easing the pain. 5. For Detox- Mustard plasters are known for their effectiveness in bringing out the toxins from the body. Although you can use store bought mustard powders, I prefer using my own homemade mustard powder, as it is the most effective. If you are using store bought mustard powder, make sure to use from a pack that you have opened up recently. To make the mustard plaster, first grind the mustard into a fine powder in a dry jar. Add the given amount of flour to the mustard powder and mix well into a thick paste using water. Take a thick cloth and spread the mustard paste on it. Now apply a thin coat of coconut or olive oil on the skin, that plaster has to be applied. Apply the plaster over the thin coat of oil and cover with a hot wet towel. Take the plaster out after 20 to 30 minutes, once the heat from the towel has reduced. If you have a very sensitive skin, cover the mustard paste with another thin cloth and then apply on top of the skin. Please make sure to check the skin periodically to see if there is any redness or irritation, especially if you are using it for the first time.
METHOD:
1. Take mustard seeds and powder them finely in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder.
2. Add flour to the powdered mustard seeds and mix into a paste with little warm water. The paste should neither be too thick nor too thin.
3. Take a piece of cotton cloth and sterilize it by boiling it in water and then squeeze the out the water completely. Spread a thin layer of the mustard paste on the cloth.
4. Apply a thin coating of either coconut or olive oil and then apply the mustard plaster on the chest and back. Cover with a warm wet towel and wait for 15 minutes before removing the mustard plaster and then wash the area with warm water. For demonstration, I have applied the plaster on my hands...
NOTES:
- If you feel your skin is burning, remove the plaster and wash the area with water. But that happens only to people with very very sensitive skin.
- I use it directly on my skin itself.
- I have used 1: 4 ratio for mustard powder and flour, you can also increase the ratio to 1:5.
- I used whole wheat flour, you can use any flour that you have at home.
- Because we are adding flour and then applying on top of a thin layer of oil, this plaster is very safe to apply on children too.
