Simple, effective, and deeply healing.
When it comes to natural first aid at home, one of my favorite ways to care for my family is with herbal compress or soaks. Whether you're tending to cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, or inflamed skin (like a mysterious rash) — herbal compresses offer fast, soothing support straight from your garden or kitchen shelf. It’s one of the most underrated and easy-to-make remedies, that everyone should know how to do and feel comfortable leaning on as a go-to home remedy.
Recently, my daughter got a small cut near her eye (a toy with a sharp edge fell from the top of their pillow fort and grazed just beneath her eyelash line). It wasn’t serious, but I knew I wanted to support her body’s healing in a gentle, natural way. I turned to yarrow — one of my favorite wound-healing herbs. I went straight to the kitchen, heated a pot of water, and made a strong infusion (a very potent tea). I soaked a cotton pad, and gently applied it to her cut throughout the day. I always let out a sigh of relief knowing these plants are taking care of us and working their healing magic. I am constantly in awe of how powerful these simple practices really are.
🌿 What Is a Compress or Soak?
A compress is a cloth or pad soaked in an herbal infusion (a very strong tea, typically a high ratio of herb to water), then applied directly to the skin or wound.
A soak is similar, but used when you want to submerge an area — like soaking a hand or foot, or using a sitz bath for postpartum healing.
Similar to how brewing a cup of tea extracts all those minerals and medicinal magic into the mug you sip…when brewing herbs with the intention to make an herbal compress, you’re extracting all those healing properties and delivering them directly where they’re needed — soothing skin inflammation, fighting infection, and encouraging tissue repair.
🌿 When to Use a Compress
Herbal compresses and soaks can support the healing of:
- Cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds
- Inflammation and swelling
- Rashes or skin irritations
- Eye infections or styes (use gentle herbs)
- Bug bites and stings
- Minor burns or sunburns
- Bruising and sprains
I’ve used herbal foot soaks for my son after long beach days, when his feet were cut up from walking the reef. I’ve made a healing herbal compress for road rash after my cousin had a skateboard fall. I’ve even prepared a hand soak for my husband’s cracked, callused hands after a long work week.
Soaks and compresses have become my go-to because they’re so versatile — and they work so well. They support skin repair, reduce inflammation, help prevent infection, and can be used in countless ways for all ages.
🌼 How to Make an Herbal Compress
1. Choose your herb.
My go-to is yarrow — she's antiseptic, antimicrobial, and known to stop bleeding and speed wound healing. Other great options include:
- Calendula – anti-inflammatory, promotes tissue repair
- Chamomile – calming, gentle on delicate skin
- Plantain (laukahi) – cooling, draws out infection
- Lavender – antimicrobial, soothing
- Thyme – powerful antiseptic, great for infection-prone wounds
- Turmeric ('ōlena) – anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (traditionally powder mixed with water to create a paste)
- Ginger – reduces pain and inflammation (helpful as a soak for muscles injuries and sprains)
Use what’s on hand, what’s in your pantry, at your local grocery store, or in your friend’s garden.
2. Make a strong infusion.
Start with about 1 tbsp dried herb (or 2–3 tbsp fresh) per 1 cup of hot water.
Cover and steep for at least 10–15 minutes (the longer you steep, the more potent your compress or soak will be – sometimes I continue to let it steep the whole day).
3. Strain and let cool.
Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the plant material.
Let it cool until it's warm (not too hot) to the touch. You can also chill it in the refrigerator if you’re needed a cold compress.
4. Apply.
For a compress: Dip a clean cloth, bandage, or cotton pad into the infusion and apply to the affected area. Repeat as needed.
For a soak: Use a bowl or container big enough to fit the area you need to submerge. Submerge affected area and let it soak. The soak may be warm or cold depending on the need of relief. Repeat as needed.
I like to keep the infusion in the refrigerator to use over the next couple of days. Infusions typically last 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
🌿 When to Choose a Compress Over a Salve
While I love using herbal salves for everyday skin healing, there are times when a compress or soak is a better choice— especially for deeper cuts, scrapes, or wounds that are wet, oozing, or show signs of infection (like pus or inflammation).
Oil-based remedies, like salves and infused oils, can sometimes trap heat and moisture, which may slow healing or worsen infection. In these cases, water-based medicine — like a cool herbal compress — allows the skin to breathe while still delivering powerful plant support.
🫶🏽 Why This Matters
These small, but empowering moments leaning on herbs to care for yourself and your family — is magic in itself. It’s more than a simple remedy. It’s a reminder. That we have the power and ability to support healing with Mother Nature’s gifts. That your home is already full of medicine. That plant wisdom is still alive, accessible, and can be incorporated in our daily lives to support our wellness.
Whether you’re a mama tending to little ones, a caretaker of yourself, or simply curious about how to weave herbalism into your everyday life — compresses and soaks are a beautiful place to begin.