Potato Poultice for Wound Healing

Research suggests that potato peel preparations, particularly boiled potato peel bandages, have attracted some scientific attention as alternative wound dressings, with available evidence generally pointing in a supportive direction. A 2024 animal study found that a potato peel extract gel promoted tissue repair and reduced inflammation in oral mucosal wounds in rats, with higher concentrations showing meaningful increases in fibroblast activity and collagen deposition compared to a standard medication, though effects on new blood vessel formation were limited. Two narrative and review-level publications examining wound care in resource-limited settings identified boiled potato peel bandages as among the unconventional dressings with some supporting evidence, particularly for burn wounds and for reducing pain during dressing changes, placing potato peel alongside other low-cost alternatives such as honey, banana leaf, and aloe vera. The body of evidence remains limited in both volume and methodological rigor — the animal study cannot be directly applied to humans, and the broader reviews do not isolate potato peel from other interventions or provide controlled comparative data — so while the findings are preliminary and worth noting, they are not sufficient to draw firm conclusions about efficacy in human wound care.