[Margaret Pilkington]

Margaret, we used Kaolin Poutices at the hospital......and we used them for all kinds of things...on the medical wards we placed them on the base of the lungs of people who had pleurisy and pneumonia....and it was very comforting.
My understanding of the mode of action for such a practice is that applying heat brings the blood supply to that area......bringing the blood supply brings with it the fighting cells and the cells which clean up infection and inflammation.

it was not a good idea to apply this means of pain relief to any area which was bruised as it increased the bruising....that is when you would apply cold packs.

Heat applied to joints helps the muscles which surround the joint, to relax.......and this in turn makes the joint easier to move and reduces pain.

Now after years in the nursing profession, if there is anyone out there who knows anything different....I'm ready to have my education increased/improved.