Osteopathy and physical therapies in Mallorca

Quark tastes good and does good as well!

Quark is a very popular home remedy for injuries, sunburn and fever. This was brought to Joe’s attention by one of his former patients and be thought it would be good to share this with all the Care For Health patients. Besides it is 3 Kings and here in Spain, the kings come bearing gifts. So here is Joe’s gift to all of you for 2022!

In order to understand how quark works against inflammation, you need to know how it is created.

In acidified milk, liquid whey is separated from the curd, which becomes more solid. This process continues during a curd application on your skin. The soothing quark dries on the skin and the whey continues to leak out. This removes metabolic toxins or inflammatory substances from the skin. Casein, which is contained in quark cheese, has attractive properties and properly restores the damaged metabolism. Thus, the quark acquires its useful properties against inflammation: It has a cooling, analgesic, decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect. The cooling effect of quark causes the vessels to constrict. As a result, blood flow is reduced and the tissue swells.


Examples of use of cold quark compresses:

  • Joint pain and inflammation (such as osteoarthritis)
  • Sprains, bruises
  • Bruises
  • Inflammation of the superficial veins

How to make cold quark compresses:

You’ll need fresh cottage cheese (250 to 300 grams) and cloth/cloths/compresses sized to fit, a spatula, compresses or gauze pads, and a pad to protect from dirt.
Take the fresh quark out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before use so that it can warm up a bit.
Cut the fabric into pieces that fit you and cover the affected area well.
Spread a good layer of curd (about 1 cm thick) on the fabric.
Flip the fabric once so that the curd is enclosed.
Apply the curd poultice on the affected area.
Wrap it tightly around the spot. Be careful not to disturb the blood circulation.
For fixation you can wrap the wrap with an extra outer cloth.
Remove the poultice when the curd becomes warm or begins to dry (about 20 to 40 minutes).
If you want to make a quark application spontaneously (maybe for a sports injury) you can use cling film instead of the fabric.
Cooling compresses make the cooling effect of the wraps much more intense.
You can repeat the curd application against inflammation. For inflammations, five to ten applications of 30 minutes are recommended.
After application, you should wash your skin with lukewarm water and dry it well.
After that, cover the body part warmly and let it rest for 15 minutes.


Extra information:

Curd compresses are especially popular with children. They are often a natural alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs. Quark wraps are generally not recommended for children under two years of age. Quark should never be spread on open wounds/sores. It should always be fresh when you use it for an application.
Also, if you have a cow’s milk allergy, you should stay away from quark wraps.

In conclusion:

Always available, no side effects that we know of and inexpensive – and a real wonder weapon for minor aches and pains. Using quark against inflammation can be very effective. A quark wrap is really quick to make and the relief is priceless! Why not try a cool quark poultice the next time you have an inflammation or even a sunburn? And if you still have some quark left over, you can prepare a delicious snack right away. It’s good for you, and it tastes good!

As always: If you have long-term health problems, go to your family doctor and clarify it exactly. Even effective home remedies have their limits.