Horseradish topping

Naturopathic procedure in which an application of horseradish is applied to a lesioned area of the body. Horseradish compresses are used to treat inflammatory processes in the body, e.g. irritable bladder.

Increased blood circulation in the skin, reflective increase in blood flow e.g. to the urinary bladder, stimulation of the metabolism.

Chronic, inflammatory processes, e.g. with a lying permanent catheter for irritable bladder

Materials: 1 horseradish root, grater, bowl; 4 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish or 4 tablespoons horseradish from the jar (without chemical additives; room temperature). 1 compress or linen towel, plaster, olive oil, 1 terry towel, hot water bottle for the feet if necessary.
Procedure: Grate the horseradish and spread it 1 to 2 cm thick on the compress. Wrap the edges to form a packet and stick it to the patch. Position the pad on the skin so that there is only one layer of fabric between the pad and the skin. Lay a terry towel over it.

Apply once a day; first application under skin control for a maximum of 4 to 5 minutes; with repeated applications the duration of the pad can be increased to a maximum of 10 to 12 minutes.

Allergy to horseradish, open wounds, inflammation in the area of the pad

Follow-up: the application of the pad causes reddening of the skin; do not wash off the area, but rub a thin layer of olive oil into it.
Caution: During the application, check the skin condition for local redness. If necessary, remove the pad before the end of the application period if it becomes too hot or uncomfortable for the patient. Special attention should be paid to patients with sensitive skin, elderly patients and patients with impaired perception.

The treatment should only be repeated when the redness of the skin has subsided. In case of a chronic disease a longer application is recommended.

Beer AM (Ed.) Guide to Natural Remedies for Medical Practice, Urban und Fischer Verlag 2012, p. 43.