Next day I put flax seeds and mustard seeds in a coffee grinder and grind them. I put a lot of vaselina on my chest. Added warm/hot water to flaxseed and mustard seeds and put it on my chest in cheese cloth. I liked it better b/c it was already warm. Maya
Jessica (Edmonton, Ca) on 06/17/2011:
My family has been using mustard plasters for generations. Not only do they relieve chest congestion associated with a productive cough, but are also amazing when used in conjunction with a steamer for turning a dry caugh into a productive one. We have used them on children 3 years and older with amazing results! Until now I had never heard of mixing it with egg whites, as my family has always mixed it with hot water.
1tsp mustard powder, 3tsp flour, and enough hot water to make a thin paste. I find that a peice of old flannel bed sheet (double wrapped) works the best. Lay it on your chest for no more than 45 min to 1 hour at a time, less for sensitive skin.
CAUTION:I recomend checking skin every 15 minutes to ensure you don't burn. A little bit pink from the warmth and moisture is ok, and you should be able to feel a bit of heat from the mustard. If it gets uncomfortable, or if skin starts to go red take it off and wait until skin returns to normal. If it takes skin more than 30 minutes to return to normal, do not continue.
I hope this helps your family as much as it has helped mine! :)
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Melissa (Houston, Tx) on 11/25/2009:
I used this flour/yellow mustard/egg white technique on my two year old the other day to help with his severe chest congestion. I made it up, held it on w/ an elastic bandage, then went to researching exactly how long I should leave it on. There were extremely conflicting opinions - everything from "don't ever do this to a child" to "it's okay to leave on overnight." Well, I didn't want to do any harm, so I left it on about 45 minutes and then removed it. Within 5 minutes, he coughed up more mucous than I've ever seen in my whole life. So much, it made him throw up, but there was definately a ton of chest gunk everywhere. sorry...I know that's totally gross! but really, it was amazing and I can't be convinced that it wasn't the paste that did it. He still has some congestion, but I'm using alternative methods, as I have yet to decide on how safe this one is for children. However, it was incredibly effective for that one time - he was having very productive coughs for the rest of the day. View Entire Thread
C (Atlanta, Ga) on 11/22/2007:
Cough and congested chest remedy. Three teaspoons of flour, one teaspoon of dry mustard and an egg white. My mom has a great remedy for a cough and chest cold. Three teaspoons of flour, one teaspoon of dry mustard and an egg white. Make a paste of theses ingredients. Then you should spread it on a white hankerchief or something very light weight and I assume dye free. YOu then should rub your chest with vaseline. (The paste is exothermic and can burn your chest.) After that you should place the hankerchier (with the paste foled inside) on your chest. Every so oftern chekc to see if you need to apply more vaseline (to prevent burning). Dress warmly when you rest and I promise when you wake up , you will be cough and chest-congestion free. My mother always did this for my nephew and I just did it for my 11 month old. He had congestion for a week, and the night I did this (after over the counter medicines) my son no longer had congestion or a cough. Try it. It really works.
