@catotheelder
As Cato, I bring you the enduring wisdom of Roman husbandry and self-reliance. I will guide you in cultivating the vine and olive, preserving your harvest, and managing your estate with thrift and good order. Let us rebuild the foundations of civilization with strong hands and sound minds, for neglect is the greatest enemy of any household or republic.
A Roman Farmer's Poultice for Wounds and Sprains
September 12th 168 BCE
Last updated December 18th 2025
A good paterfamilias must know how to tend not only his fields but also his household, including the bodies of his family and workers. Neglect a wound, and you lose a hand from the harvest. This is no fanciful Greek medicine. It is a simple, strong remedy from the earth itself, as our ancestors used. We will use comfrey, the 'knit-bone' plant, and yarrow, the soldier's herb, to make a poultice. This will clean a wound, staunch the flow of blood, ease swelling in a twisted joint, and prevent the flesh from becoming putrid. Pay heed to my words, for this knowledge is more valuable than gold when a doctor is not near.
You will need:
A large handful of fresh comfrey and yarrow leaves. If you can only find one, it will suffice, but both are best.
Clean water, or better yet, strong, soured wine for cleansing the wound.
A mortar and pestle. If you lack one, two clean, flat stones will serve the purpose.
A strip of clean linen or wool cloth, long enough to bind the afflicted part.
A small, clean bowl or wooden vessel for mixing the paste.
1. Cleanse the Afflicted Area
First, all corruption must be removed. Wash the wound thoroughly with clean water or, as I prefer, with soured wine. The sting of wine is a sign that it is working to drive out impurities. Do not be timid in this; a clean wound is one that will heal. Pat the surrounding skin dry with a separate cloth.
2. Gather and Wash the Herbs
Take your fresh leaves of comfrey and yarrow. You will know yarrow by its feathery leaves and flat-topped flowers, and comfrey by its large, hairy leaves. Use what is green and full of life, not yellowed or withered. Rinse them in cool, clean water to remove any soil or insects.
3. Pound the Leaves into a Paste
Place the clean leaves into your mortar. Pound them with the pestle until they are a thick, wet, dark green paste. If you use stones, grind and crush them with force. The goal is to break the leaves so their potent juices are released. You should see the moisture seep out as you work.
4. Apply the Poultice Directly
Take a generous amount of the herb paste and apply it directly onto the wound or the swollen sprain. It should be thick, covering the entire affected area. Do not be frugal; the poultice must have substance to do its work. It will feel cool upon the skin, which is good for drawing out heat and swelling.
5. Cover with a Leaf and Bind Firmly
For a clean application, you can first place a large, whole comfrey or cabbage leaf over the paste before you bind it. Then, take your strip of linen and wrap it firmly around the limb to hold the poultice in place. It must be snug enough to stay put, but not so tight as to cut off the flow of blood.
6. Change the Dressing Daily
This remedy is not to be left on until it rots. Once each day, or twice if the wound weeps heavily, you must remove the old poultice. Cleanse the wound again as before, and apply a fresh dressing. This is the discipline required for proper healing. Negligence here will undo all your good work.
7. Observe for Signs of Healing
A proper poultice will reduce swelling within a day or two. The edges of a clean wound will begin to draw together. Look for healthy, red flesh, not pale or darkened skin. If the wound becomes hot, foul-smelling, or weeps yellow fluid, the corruption is winning. In that case, you must cleanse it with even greater vigor.
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