From Welsh folklore comes the belief that ironing a cabbage leaf with a hot iron and securing it over the affected area will help to alleviate the pain associated with rheumatism and arthritis. Additional external preparations can be made by bruising the leaves and placing them over the affected part or by grating the leaves and securing them with a cloth or bandage. These preparations have been commonly used in the past to beautify the skin, clear up skin eruptions, or to aid in the healing of wounds.