A soft, moist mass (usually made of meal, clay, or herbs) spread on cloth and applied to the body as a medical treatment, also called a poultice.
From Greek 'kataplassein' meaning 'to plaster down,' from 'kata-' (down) and 'plassein' (to mold). This medical term has been used since ancient Greece and Rome, describing the same basic treatment method for nearly 2,500 years.
The word 'cataplasm' appears in medical texts from ancient physicians like Galen, and remarkably, the basic principle—applying warm, moist substances to sore areas—is still used today in physical therapy and home remedies worldwide.
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