There are a lot of things I love about Korean dramas. The way I talk about them so frequently might make you think that’s all I do around here, but I generally only watch when exercising on the elliptical. With a goal of 60 minutes per day, I meet my minimum KDA (Korean Drama Allowance) at least five times per week.
One of the things I appreciate most is their portrayals of rendering emergency care, everything from simple wound washing and applying band-aids—and each modern TV family has a well-maintained first aid kit which every member can always easily find—to the application of medicinal herbs for healing serious battle injuries in the historical dramas. (I’ve never seen anything in writing, but I somewhat suspect that there’s some kind of rule saying that each drama, which averages 16-20 hour long episodes, must include at least one scene of conventional or herbal aid being rendered.) The character rendering aid knows exactly which herbs he needs, where to find them, and how to prepare them.
Sometimes the actor makes a spit poultice, where the herbs are chewed and mixed with saliva and then applied to the wound. More often, though, a rock is used to grind the leaves and roots, thus releasing the active constituents, before they are generously heaped (up to an inch thick doesn’t seem unusual) on the gaping wound and bandaged in place.
In our day and time, without the cameras rolling and a production crew to assist, we can still prepare our poultices like they do in the dramas.
- Dried and powdered herbs are moistened with water to a soup-like consistency. This mixture is applied directly to the skin or to muslin or gauze that is then laid on top of the skin. The poultice should be covered with more gauze or a bandage. Alternatively, use a small square of cheesecloth or a coffee filter as an herb bag. Place the dried herbs on the fabric, draw the corners together, and secure with a twist tie or some string. Place the bag in ¼ - ½ cup of warm water (about 100°F) for 3-5 minutes. Remove the bag, squeeze the excess water out, and place it on the affected site. Use gauze to secure the poultice in place.
- Fresh herbs should be crushed using a mortar and pestle or pureed and applied directly to the affected area. Secure the herbs with gauze and tape or a bandage.
- Spit poultices are made by chewing the herb (be sure it is non-toxic) and applying it to the affected area. Plantain leaves are an especially common herb used in spit poultices for insect bites and stings. You know the drill: secure in place with some gauze and tape.
- Even easier than the spit poultice is applying a leaf directly to the affected site and securing it in place with a bandage.
Change the poultice 2-3 times per day, or as otherwise directed. Cold poultices (as opposed to warm poultices or fomentations) are better suited for relieving inflammation and calming burns, bites, stings, lacerations, and abrasions.
Some of the most popular herbs for use in poultices include plantain, which is good for all things bite- and sting-related, activated charcoal for infections (OK, I do realize it isn’t an herb), and arnica, a great remedy for bruises and sprains.
Links to related posts:
Plasters, Poultices, and Powders
The Medicinal Uses of Plantain
The Medicinal Uses of Activated Charcoal
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