Vinegar compresses have an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antipyretic effect. Here are instructions on how to make them:

• For a vinegar compress, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 liter of cold water and soak an absorbent cloth in it.
• Wring out the cloth and place it on the affected area.
• The wrap should not be refrigerator cold, but should be at room temperature.
• Then cover the wrap with an intermediate layer (plaster, paper towel) so that the moisture does not get everything wet.
• Finally, the compress is fixed in place with a thick outer layer. Depending on the part of the body affected and the size of the area, an old stocking, glove or towel is suitable for this.
• Always leave the vinegar wrap on until it is no longer cooling.

You can acquire this and other knowledge in a wicker course.

The following types of compresses have proven effective against inflammation:

• Curd compresses can be used for hip osteoarthritis, among other things, and ensure that heat is extracted - good for osteoarthritis. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Cabbage is characterized by its cooling, pain-relieving and soothing healing properties. The sulphur-containing ingredients such as mustard oil glycosides can have an antibacterial to antioxidant effect.
• Cabbage wraps can alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms. Cabbage contains flavonoids and mustard oil glycosides. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and promote blood circulation. Cabbage compresses can provide relief for complaints caused by osteoarthritis or inflammatory pain. Cabbage juice, for example, has proven effective for elbow or knee pain.
• Warm honey compresses (neck or chest compresses) have an anti-inflammatory effect (e.g. for bronchitis).
• Warm lemon compresses around the throat can soothe a sore throat. This is because lemons contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents.
• Fenugreek compresses have proven their worth in practice for joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. They have a relaxing, antispasmodic and pain-relieving effect. However, the compresses should not be used for acute joint inflammation.

You can learn how to handle and make them in a wrapping course.

Warming beeswax compresses, which help with colds (coughs, sore throats) and tension, are easy to make and can be used several times. The compresses provide pleasant warmth for several hours and relieve discomfort. They also exude a pleasant fragrance. Thanks to its skin-friendliness, it is suitable for babies.

Tummy compresses help with flatulence. If you don't have a ready-made compress set at home, you can also use a compress or a small cotton cloth (the size of a handkerchief). A woolen scarf can be used as an outer cloth to hold it in place:

• Apply the oil mixture (e.g. camomile-fennel oil) directly to the cloth.
• Place the cloth in a food-safe plastic bag and seal it.
• The filled bag is folded up and placed on the hot water bottle. At the same time, wrap the outer cloth around the hot water bottle. Everything is warmed for approx. 2 minutes.
• The heated cloth is then placed on the abdominal region and secured with the outer cloth (e.g. woollen scarf).

Wraps are a traditional household remedy. Onions have a decongestant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. Chopped onions are heated and wrapped in a cotton cloth. The pack is then placed on the neck or chest. Make sure that the onion compress is not too hot. Onion compresses are also said to help with earache.

A quark compress helps with many ailments. It relieves pain from sprained joints, swollen knees, bruises or an attack of gout. The compress also helps with tendonitis or insect bites. This is thanks to the casein and lactic acid in the quark: they inhibit inflammation and relieve pain. Quark compresses can be applied several times in succession.

Potato compresses help relieve pain. Boil a handful of potatoes until soft and mash them immediately between two cotton cloths. Allow the compress to cool slightly and then place it on the affected area of the body. Secure with an additional woolen cloth or towel.

Throat compresses are used as a household remedy for sore throats, hoarseness, tonsillitis or laryngitis, for example. Throat compresses can be applied cold or warm, moist or dry. A cloth with a warming or cooling content such as boiled, still warm potatoes or cold curd cheese is placed around the throat area and fixed in place with another cloth or scarf.

When applying the knee wrap, please note that the wrap can easily slip on the knee. You should therefore additionally secure the wrap, for example with a few short strips of medical tape. Or use a bandage that can be secured well all around. It is best to keep the leg elevated during application.

In a wrapping course as part of naturopathy, for example, you learn the following:

• Wrap applications
• Compresses with medicinal herbs
• Home remedy
• Naturopathic options
• Medicinal plant therapy
• Remedy for coughs, fever, colds, sore throat and earache
• Possibilities and limits of swaddling
• Effect of wraps:
  • Generally
  • Women's health
  • Diapering children
  • Help in old age
  • Tips for sports injuries
• Correct production of wraps
• Practical applications

Chest compresses help with bronchitis. A warm cloth soaked in various additives is wrapped around the child's chest, preferably from the armpit to the ribs. The warmth allows the healing substances to reach the bronchial tubes directly.

Calf compresses are mainly used to reduce fever in children - but only if the skin is also warm and not for chills. The cloths (kitchen towels or large handkerchiefs) should be fresh and not too cold. They should be moistened with lukewarm water and wrung out gently. Wrap the cloths tightly around the calves, cover with a dry cloth (no foil) and finish with a woolen cloth. Leave the calf compresses on until they are body-warm (approx. 10 minutes for small children, approx. 20-30 minutes for older children). When the calves are warm again, the procedure can be repeated if necessary.