Beeswax wraps can alleviate numerous ailments. Here you can find out everything about the application and effects of the tried-and-tested natural remedy.
Bee products are valued in both naturopathy and conventional medicine. Bee honey, Bee pollen, Propolis and Beeswax numerous healing properties are said to exist, as is the SWR reported. With beeswax wraps you can alleviate colds or relieve tension. The gentle natural product is even suitable for babies.
Beeswax wraps: how they work
Beeswax wraps usually consist of cotton cloths, which are soaked and hardened in liquid beeswax. The principle of action of beeswax wraps is simple and has been tried and tested for centuries: After you have warmed the wraps and placed them on the affected part of the body, the warm wax, which has become flexible again, radiates into the upper muscle layers. In interaction with your own body heat, a deep and long-lasting warmth is created which should relax and stimulate the blood circulation. The professional association for naturopaths also summarizes the health-promoting effects of wraps on its Website together. Depending on the application, a wax wrap can give off heat for up to several hours.
Areas of application of beeswax wraps
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / silviarita)
Of course, beeswax does not replace medical treatment. When used correctly, the home remedy can support them and alleviate symptoms. The warm wraps help with numerous complaints:
- Cough and bronchitis
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches (for example due to tension or aching)
- rheumatic complaints
- Tension headache
- Joint pain
Caution: Especially in case of inflammation, you should not use wax wraps without consulting your doctor. In some cases, heat can be counterproductive and even make inflammation worse.
Use beeswax wraps correctly
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Couleur)
In principle, you can put beeswax wraps on all parts of the body:
- For colds, it is particularly recommended to use it on the chest, neck or back. At a headache you can put the beeswax wrap on your forehead or neck.
The easiest way to heat the beeswax wrap:
- Warm a wrap of the appropriate size. It is best to use a hair dryer and set it to the highest level. Blow dry the wrap evenly until it has reached body temperature. If it gets too hot, be sure to let it cool down before hanging it up.
- Then place the wax wrap on the selected area of the body and smooth it so that the wax clings tightly to the skin.
Now it is up to you how intensely you want the heat effect:
- For a short application, it is sufficient to hold the beeswax wrap on the body area until it has cooled down.
- For intense warmth, you should first fix the wrap to your skin. A tight-fitting piece of clothing (preferably made of natural materials) is suitable for this, so that you pull yourself or your baby over the wraps so that it does not slip under it. Then you extend the heat effect by placing a heat pad on the wrap. Alternatively, a thick duvet is also suitable to store the heat. This way, the beeswax wrap stays warm for a few hours.
- Depending on the manufacturer, you can reuse and rewarm a beeswax wrap five to ten times.
tip: Healing ointments, aromatic oils or herbal mixtures under the beeswax wrap are said to enhance the beneficial effects. The warmth can essential oils penetrate particularly well into the upper layers of skin and muscles. To do this, massage the area of the body where you want to place the wrap with the natural product before application and put the wrap on immediately afterwards.
Beeswax wraps – sustainability is worth it
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Myriams Photos)
Beeswax wraps are made from animal products. Here it is particularly important to pay attention to sustainability and animal-friendly production. So don’t necessarily buy the cheapest product. You can buy organic beeswax wraps online, for example at Hans Natur** or buy in the organic market.
If you want, you can easily make wax wraps yourself.
Make soothing beeswax wraps yourself
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Lolame)
Making beeswax wraps yourself is not difficult. The advantage: you know which wax was used and can directly enrich the wraps with your favorite aromatic oils and herbs. It is also usually cheaper to make beeswax wraps yourself.
What you need for beeswax wraps:
- Remnants of cloth or cloths from pure untreated cotton or linen (e.g. at ** Avocadostore)
- Organic beeswax from the pharmacy or online (e.g. at ** Avocadostore)
- Two pots for a water bath
- Clothes line
That’s how it’s done:
- Cut your fabrics to the size you want. It is practical if you prepare different sizes at once. So later you have the right beeswax wraps ready for all family members and areas of application. A cloth size of eight by ten centimeters is sufficient for babies. You can prepare cuts up to 20 centimeters wide for schoolchildren and adults.
- Now fill the larger of the two pots with a little water and hang the second pot in it. Put the beeswax in the smaller pot and let it slowly melt in a water bath with little heat.
- Completely immerse your cut cloths in the melted wax.
- Hold the cloth in the air for a few seconds to dry it and then immerse it again. Dip each cloth into the liquid beeswax two to three times.
- Then hang the finished towels to dry with clothes pegs on a clothesline.
- Store the towels in stacks or rolled up. So that the wax does not stick together, place an untreated cloth between each layer or roll the oilcloths into it.
Read more on Utopia:
- Lower fever: home remedies for increased temperature
- Cough syrup for children: risks, home remedies and what you should consider
- Earth bees: what you need to know about the type of bee