Herbal Preparations

Tea:

Though taking herbal tea is not the quickest way of getting herbal remedies into you body (it is the second quickest), it is the most common and easiest to make.

To make:

1. Simply boil water, and choose your herbs (dried herbs are best: chamomile, rosemary, lemon balm, etc.). If you have them available, you may wish to place your dried herbs in small muslin bags. These make nice little tea bags and are less time-consuming then placing the dried herbs directly into the water. Either way works fine.

Note:  I have read lots of recommended measurements, some for 3 teaspoons to 1 cup water, some for 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water. You may want to experiment with this a bit.

2. Place herbs in water, and let steep (sit) for 2-5 minutes (the longer you let steep, the stronger the tea).

3. Then remove “tea bag” or strain herbs out of cup. (If you put just the dried herbs in the tea, pour tea mixture through a strainer or cheesecloth into another cup, then drink as usual.)

Recommend drinking 1 to 4 cups daily for best results.

Infusion:

Infusions are made just like tea only in larger quantities. They are often a bit stronger then teas as well.

To make:

1. Take 1 ounce (or 1 cup) of dried herbs and place in a quart-sized jar. Be sure you have a lid to this jar.

2. Boil water and pour into jar. Make sure the water level is to the top of the jar.

3. Seal the jar and let steep for 4-10 hours, keeping out of direct sunlight.

4. Open and strain with cheesecloth. Squeeze herbs in cheesecloth to get all the juices out.

Note: You can put in the refrigerator but it will spoil after a time so make sure you make only as much as you will need or use at the time. Be sure to label the jar with the date and the ingredients.

Recommended dose is 2-4 cups daily for best results.

Compresses:

Herbal compresses are great for those herbs that are too strong to take internally. Placing them on the skin in a compress is a great way to get the medicinal properties into the body without ingesting.

Herbal compress is basically a piece of cotton or flannel cloth soaked in a strong herbal healing tea. When warm or hot, use for aches, circulation of blood, muscle pains, etc. When cool or cold, can soothe pain and reduce swelling.

To make:

Use 2 tablespoons to 1 cup boiling water and let steep for 5-7 minutes. Soak piece of cloth in the compress mixture and apply to wound.

Decoction:

This method of extracting medicine is used mostly on the tough part of an herb, such as the bark, roots, seeds, berries, and stems of the plant.

To make:

1. Use 1-2 tsp of dried or fresh selected herbs to 1 ½ pints of water.

2. Place in saucepan and bring to a boil. After it has reached the boiling point, reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 15 minutes or until water has reduce to about a third of what it was.

3. Strain and drink. Add honey to sweeten if desired.

4. To store, place mixture in a glass jar and seal. Keep in a cool place. Note: Be sure to label the jar with the date and the ingredients.

Recommended dose is 1-2 glasses daily.

Tinctures:

Tinctures are the quickest way to get herbal medicine in your body (especially if made with alcohol). You make tinctures with alcohol, vegetable glycerin, or vinegar.

Alcohol:

When using alcohol, 100-proof (half-water half-alcohol) is recommended. NOT rubbing alcohol! Some people prefer 100-proof (half-water half-alcohol) vodka because it is more tasteless then other alcohols. I have read that 35-45% alcohol is best for tincture-making. If your concoction is a little strong, it won’t hurt you.

When using alcohol solvent, if you do not wish to ingest the alcohol, a simple method is used to evaporate the alcohol from the tincture: simply place the dose in boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes off the stove. The alcohol evaporates very quickly, leaving the medicinal properties behind.

Vegetable Glycerin: (Be sure it is vegetable glycerin only and of food grade!)

Vegetable glycerin is not as good as alcohol but it is far better then water. It has a very sweet flavor and is great for kids, those who have picky taste buds, ones wish to avoid alcohol, or have liver problems. If you wish to water down your vegetable glycerin, you can use the ratio 2 parts glycerin to 1 part water. There are many opinions on the ratio, however I believe that experimentation is the best way to find what best works for you. You may want to start with 100% glycerin. If it is too sweet, you can dilute with water, tea or juice to the mixture.

Note: The stronger the sugar content the longer it will last at room temperature.

Vinegar:

Apple Cider Vinegar is the most highly recommended for making vinegar solvents for tinctures. Vinegar is not as good a solvent as alcohol but it has been noted to be very beneficial for the digestive tract. (It also tastes better, in my opinion!) Vinegar is also especially good for extracting vitamins and minerals from the herbs. Using vinegar will also help regulate the acid/alkaline balance within the body.

Important note: Vinegar has a limited shelf life if you use herbs that are not thoroughly dried because moisture can cause the tincture to ferment prematurely (this also goes for vegetable glycerin and alcohol solvent). If you keep the tincture is away from heat and light, it should keep for at least 2 years or more.

To make:

1. Select your solvent (if you choose vinegar, you must warm it first).

2. Take a glass jar (most people prefer using amber bottles because it is easier to keep out light) and fill ½ to ¾ full with dried herbs (Note: make sure your herbs are completely dry), then fill jar with the solvent at least 1-2 inches above the herbs (this is best for when the herbs swell). If the herbs swell past the solvent, just add more solvent.

3. Seal and label with the date and the ingredients. This is very important to do.

4. Shake the mixture everyday. Leave setting in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight for 4-8 weeks. The longer you let it set, the stronger it will be. You could let it set for year if you wanted to.

After 4-8 weeks (or however long you have let it set) you can strain the herbs out of mixture, reseal and store until use.

Liniments:

Liniments are made exactly like tinctures. The only difference is that liniments are used externally while tinctures are used internally.

To use:

Rub liniment on sore muscles, ligament, etc. For more potency, you can add the essential oils into liniment or rub in along with it. Is also good to use as a disinfectant.

Important Note: If using rubbing alcohol to make liniment, be sure to label it for EXTERNAL USE ONLY!

Note: When making liniments, be sure to label ingredients and date.

Poultices

Poultices are ground herbs mixed with water to make a paste that can be applied to abscesses, boils, eruptions, wounds, etc.

To use:

Note: Most people recommend that you oil your skin first before applying the poultice.

1. Grind with a mortar and pestle (or in a grinder only used for herbal remedy-making) selected dried herbs and grind to a powder.

2. Mix with water or even the medicinal oil of the herbs you are using.

3. Spread poultice mixture over infected area about ¼ to ½ inch thick.

4. Wrap with a cotton cloth that is big enough to completely cover infected area. (You can also use ace wrap, vet wrap, or even a black plastic bag.)

Medicinal Oil

Medicinal oils are not the same as essential oils, which are extracted by steam distilling, but they are useful nonetheless. They are key ingredients in making ointments and also do well in liniments.

To make:

There are four methods in making medicinal oils: Solar, Crock Pot, Double Boiler, and Oven. Solar seems to be a favorite of many people but it takes the longest to make.

Solar:

Crock Pot:

Important Note: Be sure not to over heat herbs! Check frequently.

Oven:

Note: If heating at 175-200 degrees, the oil will take a few hours to make. If using 140 degrees, it will take longer but you will have better quality oil.

6.   Strain and label ingredients and date. Store in a cool dark place.

Double Boiler:

Important Note: Check frequently to make sure you are not frying the herbs. Do NOT overheat.

Salves

Made with medicinal oil, salves are great for applying ointments to dry skin, itchy spots, chapped lips, and other external uses.

Great for chest rubs, lip balms, ointments, etc.

To make:

If you wish to add any liquid components, such as Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, etc., you can.

Syrups

Syrups are great way for ingesting herbal medicine without the fussing and crying of children not liking the taste.

To make:

Substitutes: 1 cup of the herbal liquid to 1-2 cups of the following:

Vegetable Glycerin
Honey
Maple Syrup
Or even KaroÒ Syrup

If the mixture is too sweet for you taste, try using only 1 cup of sweetener per pint of liquid. However, you will have to keep it in the refrigerator if you use this ratio. The thicker and sweeter the syrup, the better preserving qualities and the more nutrients kept.