Fig health benefits and therapeutic value

Updated on 21 September 2026Published on 3 May 2018

A poultice of figs is a warm dressing made from cooked figs, mashed or halved and wrapped in cloth, then laid on the skin. It is one of the oldest household preparations on record. Here is what the fig contains, how the poultice was made, how to use the fruit fresh, dried and cooked – and the one part of the plant to keep well away from your skin.

The fig at a glance
Item	Detail
Botanical name	Ficus carica
Family	Moraceae
Part used	The fruit, fresh or dried (the latex of leaves and stems is not for skin use)
Forms of use	Fresh fruit, dried fruit, compote, decoction or syrup, warm poultice
Harvest season	An early crop in early summer on some varieties; the main crop from late summer to mid-autumn
Taste	Sweet and honeyed, faintly jammy, with crunchy seeds; caramel-like and much more concentrated once dried

What it is credited with

Boils and swellings. In traditional herbalism, from Greek, Roman, Arab and mediaeval European practice, a warm fig poultice was laid on boils, abscesses and swellings. Most English speakers meet the idea through Isaiah 38:21, where a lump of figs is applied to King Hezekiah’s boil.
Comfort from moist heat. Warm, damp compresses have a long reputation in domestic care for helping a simple boil come to a head; the fig was simply the traditional way of holding that warmth in place.
Sluggish digestion. Figs are rich in fibre, and naturopathy credits dried figs – often soaked overnight – with a gentle role in occasional constipation.
Dry, tickly throats. Old herbals used a sweet fig decoction or syrup as a soothing gargle, valued for its mucilage rather than for anything it was thought to cure.
The enzyme argument. Herbalists have long pointed to ficin, a protein-digesting enzyme in the latex, as the explanation for the poultice’s reputation. This is tradition’s reasoning, not demonstrated fact.

Gauze dressing held against a forearm — *The poultice is simply held in place with gauze and warmth*

How to use it

The warm fig poultice

Boil whole figs – three or four is plenty – in water or milk for no more than five minutes, just long enough for the heat to reach the centre. Dried figs need a few minutes longer to soften.
Halve them, or mash them coarsely with a fork.
Wrap in gauze or clean cloth, one or two layers, so the juice does not run onto the skin.
Test the temperature on your wrist. Apply comfortably warm, never hot.
Leave 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day, on unbroken skin only.
Make a fresh one each time, and wash your hands before and after. Stop after three days.

The soothing decoction

Simmer three or four dried figs in a mug of water for about ten minutes, covered.
Strain, let it cool to warm, and sip slowly, or use it as a gargle.
Add a slice of lemon or a little thyme if you like; it is naturally sweet, so it needs no sugar.

Eating them

Fresh: at room temperature rather than chilled, which mutes the flavour.
Roasted or pan-cooked: the sugars caramelise; they go as readily with cheese and cured meat as with dessert.
Poached: in wine or honey with a little spice.
Dried: two or three, soaked overnight in water, eaten in the morning with the soaking water – the classic naturopathic habit for fibre.
In compote and jam, or chopped into bread and cakes.

Forms of use compared
Form	Preparation	What it is used for
Warm poultice	Figs boiled 5 minutes, mashed, wrapped in gauze, applied warm for 15–20 minutes	Traditionally laid on boils and small swellings, on unbroken skin
Decoction or gargle	3–4 dried figs simmered 10 minutes in a mug of water, strained	An old soothing drink or gargle for dry, tickly throats
Soaked dried figs	2–3 figs left in water overnight, eaten with the water	Credited in naturopathy with a gentle role in occasional constipation
Fresh fruit	Eaten raw at room temperature, or roasted and poached	Everyday eating, in season

Green-skinned fig cut open showing deep pink flesh — *The pink interior is a mass of tiny fruits, each with a seed*

Fresh or dried: what changes

Drying concentrates everything, including the sugar. That is the whole difference.

Fresh and dried figs per 3½ oz (100 g)
Item	Fresh figs	Dried figs
Calories	about 74 kcal	about 250 kcal
Fibre	about 3 g	about 10 g
Sugars	about 16 g	about 48 g
Potassium	about 230 mg	about 680 mg
Calcium	about 35 mg	about 160 mg
Best for	eating fresh, in season, as fruit	a concentrated source of fibre, in small quantities

Figs cooking down in a dark syrup, stirred with a wooden spoon — *Cooking caramelises the sugars and concentrates the flavour*

Cautions

A warning about fig sap. Older sources – including, until now, this page – recommend applying the milky sap of fig leaves and stems to warts and corns. Do not do this. Fig latex contains furocoumarins and causes phytophotodermatitis: redness, then blistering burns that appear hours after sunlight and can mark the skin for months. Warts and corns are a matter for a pharmacist or a chiropodist.
If sap gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and keep the area out of the sun for a day or two.
Never apply a hot poultice. Test it on your wrist first; a poultice that scalds does harm. Use unbroken skin only, a fresh poultice each time, and stop after three days.
See a doctor rather than treating at home if a boil is on the face, nose, lip or spine; if you have a fever or the redness is spreading; if it is larger than an inch (2.5 cm) or several appear at once; if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system or take immunosuppressive medication; or if pain is worsening after two or three days.
A dental abscess is always a matter for a dentist, without delay. No poultice or fig gargle addresses the cause.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: figs as food are ordinary fare, but keep to culinary amounts and avoid concentrated fig preparations and any skin use of the plant.
Children: figs as fruit are fine from the usual weaning stage, but dried figs in quantity are very laxative for small stomachs, and poultices are best avoided on thin young skin.
Existing medication and interactions: dried figs are high in potassium and sugar, so speak to a pharmacist first if you take potassium-sparing diuretics or heart medication, manage your blood sugar, or follow a restricted-potassium diet.
Allergies: some people sensitive to natural rubber latex react to fig fruit and leaves. Stop at the first sign of itching, rash or mouth tingling.
This page describes traditional uses and general nutrition. It is not medical advice and does not replace consulting a doctor, dentist or pharmacist.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: in a fig poultice it is the moist warmth that does the work, so keep it comfortably warm, give it three days at most, and never put the sap on your skin.

What is a poultice of figs?

It is a warm dressing made from figs boiled until soft, then mashed or halved, wrapped in gauze and laid on the skin. It is one of the oldest preparations on record. Most English speakers meet the phrase in Isaiah 38:21, where a lump of figs is applied to King Hezekiah’s boil.

How do you make a fig poultice?

Boil whole figs in water or milk for no more than five minutes, then halve or mash them and wrap them in one or two layers of gauze. Test the temperature on your wrist before applying. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day, using a fresh poultice each time and unbroken skin only.

Can I put fig sap on warts?

No. Fig latex contains furocoumarins, which make skin acutely sensitive to sunlight and cause phytophotodermatitis: blistering burns that appear hours later and can mark the skin for months. Wash any sap off with soap and keep the area out of the sun. Warts and corns are a matter for a pharmacist or chiropodist.

Are fresh or dried figs better?

They serve different purposes. Fresh figs are about 74 kcal per 3½ oz (100 g) with 3 g of fibre; dried figs are about 250 kcal with 10 g of fibre and three times the potassium. Dried figs are a concentrated source of fibre – and of sugar, so a small handful goes a long way.

When should I see a doctor instead of using a poultice?

If the boil is on the face, nose, lip or spine; if you have a fever or the redness is spreading; if it is bigger than an inch (2.5 cm) or several appear at once; if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system or take immunosuppressive medication; or if pain is getting worse after two or three days. A dental abscess always needs a dentist, without delay.

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This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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