Fig. 1

Step-wise external application of a yarrow liver compress with careful placement of the inner muslin cloth, which had been doused with a 60 °C hot yarrow infusion and then firmly wrung out, and the cotton compress cloth (on top of the inner cloth) on the right upper abdomen and lower costal arch of the comfortably positioned patient (top left); the inner and compress cloth were then covered with an outer wrap underneath the patient’s back which was folded over from both sides (top right); a hot-water bottle was placed on top of the compress (bottom left); the patient was then covered with a blanket and allowed to rest for a total duration of 50–55 min (bottom right)