Peparation Of Herbs For Medicine

In the modern world the plants are used in different forms to lessen the human suffering and discomfort and they are decoctions, tinctures, infusions, extracts and poultices. The western society uses a pill if they are ill but our ancestors have only depended on herbal preparations. Even primitive man had the idea of extracting the herbs using water and boiling it ever since he learnt to boil water.

Herbal infusion means herbal tea. It has medicinal advantages. The flowers, leaves are boiled in hot water for little time to save the volatile oil. The roots, seeds, nuts or bark are boiled in water for 15 to 30 min to get a nice decoction. Infusions can be refrigerated and used in a few days after brewing. 28 grams of dried herb is placed in a porcelain glass or steel pot or tea pot and one pint of boiled water is poured into it and covered well. Then it is let to stand for 10 min and slightly cooled and strained through muslin cloth. Three cups of brew can be taken to keep healthy. The tea can be goggled in the mouth before swallowing to help absorption of the nutrients.

By steeping the herb in alcohol, glycerin or apple cider vinegar tinctures are formed. They have to be taken in small amount for treatment as they are very concentrated. Tinctures are better used when the herbs are bitter and have unpleasant taste and they last at room temperature for many months or years. General rule is three parts of fresh herb is equivalent to one part of dried herb and one serving equals one tea spoon crushed , dried herb with one cup hot water. Any type of natural herb as given in the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing can be used like nettles, dandelion leaves, elder flowers, raspberry leaves, and St John’s Wort.

The herbs should be picked up early in the morning avoiding the heat of the day and the dew of the night. Leaves are picked when the flowers are blooming and flowers just after blooming. Roots are pulled when the growing season ends so that they contain all he winter nutrients. Dry on a towel after rinsing well in cold water. Once the herbs are collected they can be dried either hanging upside down, or spreading on a clean towel or scattering loosely in a huge closed brown paper bag. After throwing away the damaged parts they have to be dried in shade in and airy place. Drying should be done well otherwise moulds may occur. Glass jars can be used to preserve them as such and crushing can be done just before infusion.