Preparing Herbs - Simply and Easily.


"Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Each one of the substances in a person's diet, acts upon the body and changes it in some way, and upon these changes the whole life depends, whether in health, in sickness or convalescent."  

Hippocrates 2 000 years ago.

Preparing herbs, and storing them correctly, is the first step to using herbal home remedies for any number of complaints and ailments.
  • Play around with the method of storage, add a little extra trouble, a sprinkling of imagination.
  • Label and display your work originally and artistically for your family and friends to appreciate.

How to Make Herbal Infusions

An Infusion - "A liquid made by steeping (tea or herbs etc) in boiling water".

  • Preparing Herbs as an infusion is a simple and easy process using fresh or dried herbs.
  • Infusions are made from the seeds, stem, flower or leaf of the herb.

METHOD FOR PREPARING HERBS

  • 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs or 1 teaspoon of dried herbs
  • 1 cup boiling water.
  • Place the herbs in a teapot and pour the boiling water over them.
  • Allow to stand for 15 min and then strain discarding the herbs.
  • Add honey for a sweetener.
healing-with-honeyBenefits of Honey

NOTES AND GENERAL WARNING:

  • Infusions can be consumed hot or cold,they can be used for steam inhalation or used as a compress.
  • Ensure that the herb you are using is the one required for your ailment.
  • Do not use an infusion for more than a period of 10 days.
  • One cup per day is sufficient, excepting in acute cases.
  • Always consult your herbal practictioner if you are unsure of anything.

STORAGE:

  • Do not stand overnight, consume on the same day.
  • Chamomile is a very popular herbal tea used in many home remedies and you can even establish your very own tea garden by starting off growing Chamomile at home.
an-infusion-of-chammomile

How to make Herbal Decoctions.

A Decoction - "An extract obtained by boiling or digesting in hot water".

Preparing herbs as a decoction means that you will be using the hard parts of the herb i.e. the roots, stems bark and berries and requires a more rigorous action than the one described above for simple infusions.

METHOD

  • 3 tablespoons of fresh herbs or 1 tablespoon of dried herbs.
  • 3 cups cold water.
  • Break the herbs up and soak overnight.
  • Boil up for about an hour the next day, and allow to cool
  • Strain the liquid discarding the herbs, and store in a cool place.

NOTES:

  • Drink a cupful 3 times daily.


STORAGE:

  • Decoctions should be consumed fresh but can be kept for 24 hours.

How to make Herbal Macerations.

Maceration - "A mixture made soft by steeping in a liquid".

NOTE;

  • A little of this preparation of herbs taken internally every now and again can only be good for you especially if you have used rosemary, lavender or elder berries.
  • 1 - 2 cups fresh herb leaves. Dried bark, seeds or berries can also be used, but bruise them first in a pestle and mortar.
  • 4 cups of wine (red or white wine can be used)
  • Mix together and leave for 3 days then strain.
ROSEMARYBenefits of Rosemary

How to make a Herbal ointment.

Ointment - " A thick slippery paste rubbed on the skin to heal roughness, injuries or inflammation".

This is also a very simple method of preparing herbs, and having them handy at all times for daily use.

METHOD.

  • ½ cup of Vaseline.
  • ¼ cup of herbs.
  • Place ingredients in a double boiler and keep on low heat for about 2 hours stirring occasionally.

NOTES:

  • Ointments are good for nourishing the skin, easing bed sores, skin rashes, nappy rash, psoriasis and eczema.

STORAGE:

  • While still hot strain mixture and pour into dark ointment jars, store in a cool dark place.

How to make a Herbal Syrup.

Syrup - "A thick sweet liquid".

Preparing herbs as a syrup is important because some people, and especially children, will not like the taste of infusions, so fool them by making a herbal syrup instead.

Syrup is comforting to take and therefore a good medium for soothing remedies.


METHOD.

  • 2 cups water.
  • 1 cup sugar.
  • half a cup fresh herbs.
  • Bring to the boil while stirring continuously until sugar is dissolved. Then allow to simmer until the liquid thickens (about an hour).
  • Strain and pour into a brown or green glass bottle with a lid.

NOTES:

  • Administer 1 teaspoon at a time, 3 or 4 times daily.

STORAGE:

  • Kept in the fridge, it can last for at least a week.

How to make Herbal Tinctures.

Tincture - "A solution consisting of a medicinal substance dissolved in alcohol".

METHOD:

  • 3 tablespoon dried herbs or 6 tablespoons fresh herbs.
  • 4 cups alcohol (cane spirit or vodka).
  • Mix herbs and alcohol in a big, clean, wide necked, glass bottle with a good screw top lid.
  • Shake daily whilst storing for 2 weeks.
  • Filter before using, and always keep the bottle tightly sealed.

NOTES:

  • 1 teaspoon of this tincture in a cup of water taken 3 times daily.

STORAGE:

  • This is the safest way to keep herbs for a long time.

How to Make a Herbal Poultice.

A Poultice - "A soft heated mass applied to an inflamed or sore area of skin".

METHOD:

  • When preparing herbs as a poultice take a handful of herbs, fresh or dry
  • Add a little boiling water at a time to soften and mix well until soft and a paste is formed.
  • NOTES:
    Place the cooled poultice over the infected area. Cover with a bandage and leave on for several hours or overnight. 
  • A poultice applied directly, is usually used to draw out the pus from boils, remove stubborn blackheads and help heal skin ulcers, sores and skin infections.

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CAUTION:

  • A poultice can be used on boils and abscesses to draw the infection out but should never be used on broken skin because the moist conditions can then become a breeding ground for bacteria to present and flourish.
Fresh HerbsBenefits of Herbs


How to make a Herbal Steam Inhaler or Steam Cleanser.

An Inhaler - "A device that produces or sends out a medicinal vapor to be inhaled".

METHOD:

  • Make a herbal infusion as indicated above. Check out Common Herbs and their Uses to see what herb can be used for what ailment. Pour the boiling hot infusion of herbs in a deep bowl.
  • Place carefully onto a table, improvise a towel tent and hold your face over the bowl
  • If using as an inhaler breathe in the herbal steam alternately and slowly through nose and mouth for at least 10 minutes.
  • As a steam cleanser hold your face over the bowl for about 7 - 10 minutes, pat dry, and then splash or dab on an astringent such as rosemary to close the pores, and also has a bracing and toning effect on the skin.

CAUTION:

  • Boiling water must be treated with great respect. Always place on a solid surface, and if a child is having steam inhalation, do not leave unaccompanied at any time.
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