A medical poultice or the process of applying a medicinal plaster to the skin to treat inflammation or pain.
From Greek 'kataplaein' meaning 'to plaster over,' combining 'kata-' (down) and 'plassein' (to mold or form). The term emerged in medical literature during the classical period to describe the therapeutic practice of applying soft, warm substances to affected areas.
Ancient doctors used this technique thousands of years before modern medicine—applying mud, herbs, and oils as early medicine shows humans always sought ways to reduce pain, and many of these poultices actually worked because plants contain real healing compounds.
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