Herbal Preparations

The following are common preparations used in herbal medicine. Be sure to put all herbal preparations into sterilized containers for storage and take note that most should be made fresh each time. Only tinctures don’t spoil quickly.

Note- The proportions here are for dried herbs. If you are using fresh herbs, double them.

Infusion

Infusions are used when we want to extract the volatile oils of a plant.

An infusion is made like tea. Most recipes require that the boiling water be poured over the herbs, though some want the herbs added to the water. Usually, it’s about 1 teaspoon dried herb to 1 teacupful of boiling water, though the recipe is subject to variation depending on the herbs you are using. You can, of course, adjust to taste for most herbs, but for potentially dangerous herbs, you should always stick to the recipe.

Herbs should be steeped for about ten minutes. Place some sort of cover over your teacup or teapot while the herbs are steeping to prevent the escape of the valuable oils. Once the herbs have steeped, they should be strained out.

You may sweeten the infusion with sugar or honey if you wish. It should be drunk lukewarm or cool, except in the case of preparations designed to induce sweating or break up a cold.

Decoction

Decoctions are used when we want to extract the mineral salts and bitter properties of a plant. It is also used when extracting the volatile oils from roots and woody plants.

Using 2 teaspoons herb per cup of water, place the herbs in a pan and cover with the water. Bring to a boil. Stir and cover tightly. Allow to boil about 3 more minutes, then remove it from the heat and let it steep for another five minutes or so, still tightly covered.

Using the same proportion of woody or hard root material per cup of water, follow the same steps as above, but allow the mixture to boil, covered, for 10 minutes before removing it from the heat.

Plant parts should be strained out before drinking. The decoction can be sweetened with sugar or honey and should be taken hot if it is being used to break up a cold or to induce sweating. Otherwise it can be taken cold or lukewarm.

Cold Extract

A cold extract is called for when you want to minimize the loss of volatile oils and do not seek to extract mineral salts.

Using two teaspoons of dried herbs to one cup water, place in a non-metal container. Let it stand overnight. Take as you would an infusion. Refrigerate unused portion and take within 24 hours.

Juice

Juicing retains vitamins, minerals and volatile oils the best.
Chop up the fresh herb and press to release the juices, add some water and press again. Unfortunately, juicing by hand leads to a great deal of waste. If you have a commercial juicer, you should use that. Drink immediately for best value.

Powder

Powdered herbs can be sprinkled onto food or into drinks or added to a gelatin capsule and taken like a pill.

Grind dried herbs with a mortar and pestle until you have a powder. Depending on the herb, two to three pinches of powder is usually a sufficient dose.

Syrup

Syrup is a more pleasant way of taking medicine all around.

To make the basic syrup, dissolve three pounds of sugar into a pint of water and boil, stirring constantly, until it reaches the desired consistency. Then add the desired infusion or decoction. Alternatively, the herbs can be boiled in honey and then strained out.

Tincture

Tinctures last the longest. Use a very fine grain, high proof alcohol, vodka is suggested.

Depending on the potency of herbs, use about 1 ounce dried herbs to 8 ounce alcohol. Combine these ingredients in a wide-mouthed non-metal container and let stand for two weeks, shaking once or twice a day. Then transfer into a sterilized container suitable for long-term storage, as tinctures are generally dosed out in drops, a dropper would be helpful.

Essence

Essence is created by dissolving one ounce of essential oil into a pint of alcohol.

Poultice

Poultices are used to apply herbs directly to affected areas of the skin with moist heat.

Pound fresh herbs into a pulpy mass and apply to the affected area. Soak a cloth in hot water and place over the herbs. Replace the hot cloth as it cools.

If using dried herbs, add warm water and soak a bit. If necessary, mix with corni meal or flour.

In some cases, herbs may be used that might be irritating to the skin. If this be the case, the poultice should be placed between two pieces of cloth and applied that way.

After the poultice is removed, cleanse the area carefully with water, or an infusion of chamomile.

Fomentation

Soak a cloth in a warm infusion or decoction, wring out and apply to the affected area.

Cold Compress

Same as a fomentation, but using a chilled decoction or infusion. Replace whenever the cloth is warm again.

Herbal Bath

Herbal baths are used for muscle aches and for those herbs the fumes of which you may wish to inhale.

Method 1
Place the herbs you wish to use inside a cloth and throw it into the bathtub. The herbs will infuse into the water as the bath is filled.

Method 2
Add a few drops of essential oil to your bath after it has been filled.

Method 3
Add a bit of an infusion or decoction to your bath.