How to Make Ginger Compress
Here is what you need to make a ginger compress
- Fresh ginger root (powder can be used, but it’s messier and more expensive)
- Pot of boiling water
- Towel for the compress
- A heating pad or hot water bottle
- Plastic bag for the heating pad
The Amount of water and the size of the towel are determined by the size of the area to be treated. A hand towel is large enough to do the entire lumbar (lower back) area. For the neck, a face cloth is ample. Larger towels absorb more, a gallon of water is good for a hand towel.
Slice 3 inches of fresh ginger root per half gallon of water: about the thickness of a quarter. Bring the water to a boil, add the ginger and turn down to simmer. Simmer for at least 45 minutes-longer is better as it releases more of the heat of the ginger. If using powdered ginger, 2oz per quart. Don’t be stingy or it won’t really work! Don’t bother with those tiny jars in the supermarket; you need the big 5-6oz container.
Remove from heat and scoop out the slices (strain out powder as best you can with cheesecloth, or not. Just remember that you will have some pasty ginger around your treatment area). Let cool until the solution is warm to hot. I used to say hot, but actually had someone burn themselves because they didn’t use common sense! Be safe! The heating pad or hot water bottle will warm it back up if it’s cooled down too far anyway.
Place the towel in the solution, wring lightly so the towel is still saturated, but not so much that it will soak a chair or bed. Put on the desired area. Use the plastic bag to cover the towel if you are using an electric heating pad. Place the pad set for high or hot water bottle on top of the towel. Leave in place for at least a half hour, but no more than 45 minutes. There is such a thing as too long.
Upon completion, you can cover the pot of unused solution and put in the fridge for re-use. Can be stored up to 4 days. Just reheat the solution for repeated compresses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYnNo68RrNs
