Healing Practices by the Vegan Leader¶
Global Herbal Wrap Practices → Transition to Kombucha Vegan Leather¶
1. The Common Idea Behind Natural Wraps¶
In many countries — for example, liver wraps (Leberwickel) in Germany, lemon throat compresses, or cabbage wraps for joints — herbal compresses are used to deliver warmth, moisture, and botanical benefits to a specific area of the body.
The main goals of these wraps are always the same:
- To increase local circulation
- To reduce inflammation and pain
- To transfer the healing compounds of plants through the skin
This week I researched traditional herbal wrap practices from different cultures.
In most cases, the carrier material is a simple textile.
I combined this knowledge with my fermentation practice, asking:
What happens if the carrier itself becomes a living, biofabricated material?
By fermenting kombucha leather with herbal teas and botanicals,
I developed bioactive herbal wrap surfaces instead of passive fabrics.
2. The Role of Kombucha¶
Kombucha leather is a bacterial cellulose-based material.
It is breathable, flexible, moisture-retaining, and compatible with skin contact.
By combining:
- Kombucha liquid (organic acids, polyphenols, microbial activity)
- Filtered herbal infusions (aromatic and biochrome-rich plants)
the resulting material functions as a living carrier surface.
| Element | Function |
|---|---|
| Kombucha Leather | Breathable, elastic carrier |
| Herbal Infusions | Pigments, aroma, botanical properties |
| Fermentation | Cellulose formation and stabilization |
3. Traditional Lemon Wrap (Reference Practice)¶
The traditional lemon throat wrap uses lemon slices placed inside a cloth and wrapped around the neck.
The acidic and antiseptic properties of lemon, combined with warmth, stimulate circulation.
This reference practice informed my experimental reinterpretation using kombucha leather as the carrier material.
4. Applications¶
Material Recipes & Fabrication Protocols¶
All recipes were developed as material experiments,
focusing on fermentation behavior, surface formation, and structural stability.
They are not intended as medical treatments.
Recipe — Kombucha + Lavender + Hibiscus Healing Patch¶
Ingredients - 1 SCOBY sheet (fresh, wet kombucha leather) - 200 ml strong lavender tea (fully filtered) - 100 ml hibiscus tea (fully filtered) - 20 ml active kombucha liquid
Process 1. Lavender and hibiscus teas were brewed separately, carefully filtered to remove all plant particles, and cooled to room temperature. 2. The filtered teas were combined with active kombucha liquid to create an acidic, fermentation-friendly medium. 3. A fresh kombucha SCOBY sheet was fully submerged in the herbal liquid. 4. Fermentation was carried out at room temperature (22–25 °C) for 5–7 days under clean conditions. 5. After fermentation, the SCOBY was removed, gently rinsed with distilled water, and air-dried on a sterile surface.
Result
A smooth, flexible, and structurally stable bioactive patch with strong pigmentation derived from hibiscus biochromes.
The material retained elasticity, uniform thickness, and surface integrity.
Recipe — Lemon & Fresh Ginger Kombucha Wrap (FAILED)¶
Ingredients - 1 kombucha SCOBY sheet - 200 ml water - Fresh lemon slices - Fresh ginger slices - 20 ml active kombucha liquid
Process
Fresh lemon and ginger slices were added directly into the fermentation liquid together with the SCOBY.
The mixture was fermented under the same environmental conditions as the successful samples.
Result
Solid plant particles disrupted bacterial cellulose formation.
The kombucha leather became uneven, fragile, and structurally unstable.
Conclusion
Whole plant materials are not suitable for direct kombucha leather fermentation.
Only filtered herbal infusions allow uniform cellulose growth.
Recipe — Rosemary Eye Patches (Hand-shaped, No Mold)¶
Ingredients - Thin kombucha leather sheet - 200 ml strong rosemary and green tea infusion (fully filtered) - 20 ml active kombucha liquid
Process 1. Rosemary and green tea were brewed together, filtered, and cooled to room temperature. 2. The kombucha leather sheet was soaked in the herbal infusion for 24 hours to regain softness. 3. Eye patches were shaped manually by cutting and hand-forming the softened material.
Important Note
No rigid mold was used.
The patches were intentionally shaped free-form, prioritizing softness, adaptability, and skin conformity over geometric precision.
Result
Cooling, flexible eye patches with good surface contact.
The material retained herbal aroma and supported microcirculation and antioxidant delivery.
Process Documentation¶
Conclusion — Updated Results¶
Three different kombucha leather formulations were tested.
- Lavender + Hibiscus → SUCCESSFUL
- Lemon + Ginger → FAILED
- Whole plant pieces → FAILED
These experiments showed that solid plant matter prevents smooth cellulose formation.
Key Learnings from Week 7¶
- Kombucha leather functions as a living carrier material
- Solid particles interrupt bacterial cellulose growth
- Filtered herbal teas integrate successfully into SCOBY formation
- Fermentation parameters directly affect surface integrity
- Kombucha leather can act as:
- Healing wrap material
- Bioactive patch surface
- Soft biofabricated interface
Lab Notes — Hygiene & Ongoing Work¶
Fermentation is oxygen-dependent and sensitive to contamination.
All experiments were conducted in a clean workspace, disinfected using vinegar-based solutions.
Future experiments will focus on: - SCOBY growth in fully filtered herbal teas - Controlled thickness using shallow molds - Improved drying consistency