🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Apply Chinese herbs
Take 10 grams white agnus castus, mix with 100 grams petroleum jelly. First grind white agnus castus into fine powder, then blend into petroleum jelly to form a soft ointment. Apply externally to affected area three times daily for ten consecutive days to achieve cure. (Wang Xianying)
Sheep fat
In winter, low temperatures often cause frostbite, leading to painful swelling and unbearable itching in hands and feet. Here is a method to relieve discomfort: melt sheep fat over fire, apply to frostbitten area. A slight pain indicates effectiveness. Continue applying for one week to fully recover. In June next year, rub ginger on the previously frostbitten area to prevent recurrence.
Glycerin
When I lived in my hometown, I often suffered hand and foot frostbite in winter. Later I tried a simple method that worked well. Soak frostbitten areas in warm water for 3–5 minutes before bedtime, then apply a layer of glycerin and rub gently for 2–3 minutes before sleeping. Do not wash off. After 3–4 applications, improvement is noticeable.
Dried red chili
Soak dried red chilies in boiling water, cool slightly, then immerse frostbitten hands or feet until water cools. Remove chilies and place them directly on the frostbitten area, wrap with cloth (best done before sleep). Remove next morning. Two applications usually suffice. For severe cases, continue for several more days.
Wrapping chilies around frostbitten area may cause discomfort, but persistence until next morning yields results.
Radish leaves
As a child, my feet would develop frostbite every winter—itchy and painful. My family later collected fresh radish leaves, boiled them, and soaked feet in the hot broth along with the leaves until cooled. This immediately relieved itching. Repeating this process several times eliminated frostbite effectively.
Radish leaves should be pre-ordered from farmers to ensure freshness. About 1 kg is needed per use. Choose older leaves, boil until soft. The method is simple and practical.
External application method
Those with history of frostbite often relapse at the same site annually, so prevention is crucial. Starting in autumn, rub affected areas with warm palms twice daily (morning and evening), continuing until spring. If no recurrence occurs for two consecutive winters, the condition is essentially cured.
For existing frostbite without ulceration, wash affected area with decoction made from equal parts winter melon peel and eggplant root; alternatively, boil 30 grams chili powder in 250 ml water and use as wash. If ulceration has occurred, apply honey onto sterilized gauze and place directly on wound. These methods are simple and effective—worth trying.<frostbite>