Grandma's Mustard Plaster

For centuries mustard plasters were the tried and true home remedy for the flu, coughs, colds, pneumonia and many other ailments. It was used regularly up until the not too distant past since this poultice was thought to sweat out all the “ills” the body held.

As more pleasant cures and remedies came on the market, use of the poultice went down in popularity. This can be an uncomfortable home remedy (from the heat it generates) but it was believed that the poultice knocked sense back into the body and does a good job drawing out all the “gunk” flus and congestion bring with them (of course this isn’t a 100% guaranteed cure, but IMHO it’s one tough gangster bug that laughs off a mustard plaster).

Mustard Plaster Recipe

4 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons dry mustard
Water (lukewarm)

Directions:

• Mix the dry mustard and flour together then add the water to make a paste. The paste should be smooth and easily spreadable but not too thin so that it runs or is watery.
• Take a clean flour sack towel and spread the mustard paste evenly across top half (one side only), fold up the bottom half of the towel and apply poultice to chest area. Do not apply mustard paste directly to skin or it may cause blistering. Cover with a fresh towel then top with a heavy blanket to encourage sweating (the fresh towel protects the blanket from any staining). If needing a large size poultice, cover an entire flour sack towel with the mustard paste, then top with another flour sack towel (or make two separate poultices).
• Leave plaster on for up to 20 minutes, remove if skin turns deep red and is in danger of blistering. If using on children, watch tender skin carefully (not to be used on children under school age unless directed by doctor). Some reddening is normal as heat & circulation is being drawn to the surface.
• Remove plaster, wash skin with a warm cloth to remove traces of mustard that may have seeped through, dry and apply a layer of lard or vaseline over the skin.
• Next apply to back for same amount of time or until danger of blistering appears, again covering with a heavy blanket and following procedure above.
• This poultice can be reapplied every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
• A warm bath or shower can bring some comfort to the patient after treatment, but they must be supervised at all times due to their weakened condition from the illness (not left alone for even a minute). This is standard care in all cases of illness.

Tips:

• Some recipes recommend applying a layer of vaseline on the skin before laying on the mustard plaster cloth, this apparently helps prevent any blistering…however, still “peek” at the skin every few minutes to watch. It is also thought that by using egg white instead of water to mix the paste, there’s some protection against blistering.
• Flour sack towels are a cotton tea towel. If you don’t have any, you can apply this paste to an undershirt or some other thin fabric like flannelette. For children, a cotton terry towel can be used.
• The mustard/flour ratio can be adjusted if necessary to accommodate lower tolerance levels (it can get uncomfortable), but remember the purpose is to draw heat (and the illness) to the surface.
• This stuff is no joke–you really do need to watch for blisters, especially on tender skin. Do not fall asleep with this on–set the alarm clock if you’re treating yourself (for 5 minute intervals).
• Along with colds & flus, mustard plasters were also used for sore muscles, arthritis, treatment of back pain, poor circulation and gout (and many more things I’m sure). Simply apply the poultice to the area afflicted.

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