Looking for natural remedies with ash? Discover some unique natural remedies with ash and topical uses of ash.
Since ancient times, people have noticed that ash helps heal various ailments. This remedy was always within reach, especially during winter when ash was readily available in every home. In this article, we’ll introduce you to several unique natural remedies with ash for external use, and share the magical folk practices that healers in Eastern Europe and the Balkans once performed.
11 Natural Remedies with Ash – Topical Uses of Ash
- Oral Health: Mix well-sifted ash with water in equal parts and use it as a natural toothpaste. This remedy keeps your teeth and gums healthy well into old age. Do NOT swallow!!!
- Insect and Snake Bites: Apply compresses soaked in vine ash mixed with vinegar to the affected areas.
- Tonsillitis: Wrap warm ash from the stove in a cotton scarf and tie it around your neck. Place a wool scarf over it and leave it on overnight for the best results.
- Burns: Sprinkle willow or birch ash on the burn and bandage it. Leave the ash on for 2 hours to reduce pain and prevent blisters.
- Painful Gout: Combine 2 tablespoons of charcoal powder with 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds. Add warm water to form a paste, apply it to the affected area before bed, cover it with plastic wrap, and bandage it.
- Varicose Ulcers: Sift 500 g of lime or birch ash and pour 5 liters of boiling water over it. Let the mixture cool to 35-37°C, strain it through 3 layers of gauze, and soak the ulcerated leg in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Let the skin air dry afterward.
- Wounds: Apply compresses soaked in ash water twice a day. Leave the compress on for 2 hours, then rinse the wound with calendula tincture (1 tablespoon of tincture in 150 ml of distilled water).
- Hives: Wash your body 2-3 times a week with a decoction made from ash from deciduous trees, preferably birch. To prepare, mix 1 cup of ash with 4 liters of cold water, bring it to a boil, and let it settle for 24 hours. Strain the liquid and dilute it with warm water (1:1) before using it.
- Rheumatic Pain: Mix equal parts of water and birch ash in an enamel pot. Boil the mixture, simmer it for 10-15 minutes, and let it infuse for 24 hours. Add 1 liter of the strained infusion to a bath at 32°C and soak for 10-15 minutes. Afterward, rub your body with a towel to stimulate circulation.
- Cramps, Leg Pain, Excessive Sweating, and Circulatory Issues: Fill a bucket with 6-7 liters of warm water. Add 1/3 cup of salt and 2/3 cup of oak or birch ash. Heat the mixture to 38-40°C and soak your feet for 15-20 minutes, keeping them covered with a towel or blanket for warmth.
- Excessive Sweating: Place charcoal insoles in your shoes to absorb moisture and odor while protecting your feet from harmful bacteria. If you can’t find charcoal insoles, sprinkle fine charcoal powder onto regular insoles and cover them with two layers of gauze.
Folk Medicine with Ash
Ancient folk medicine books describe many ash-based remedies with a touch of magic. They recommend using ash from three stoves—or, in more complex cases, from seven stoves. Healers believed that combining ashes from different plants enhanced their therapeutic effects.
- Healers used ash either dry or mixed with water and oil. They collected it from stoves after burning wood and stored it in sealed containers for emergency use. The most common health use of ash was for treating burns (sprinkling ash on the wound reduced pain and sped up healing).
If the stove burned linden or birch wood, women often saved pieces of charcoal, cooled them, and ate them. They believed this improved digestion, boosted brain function, and prevented sunstroke or heart attacks in extreme heat. People recovering from severe illnesses or epidemics used to bathe in a decoction made from oak branches and wood stove ash to regain strength.
We do not recommend using ash internally, as due to cloud seeding (aka chemtrails) trees can be covered in toxic heavy metals falling from the sky, and their ask may be toxic. Nature is not as clean as 100 years ago!
Read Also: From Forest to Pharmacy: St. Hildegard’s 8 Healing Trees
According to old European healers, ash, a simple byproduct of burning wood, has incredible healing properties. These ancient natural remedies with ash, rooted in centuries of wisdom, demonstrate how natural elements can effectively address everyday ailments. Embrace the power of ash, rediscover its remarkable benefits, and stay healthy, naturally!
Share on Pinterest ❤️
