How to Make.(Contents of site)..

[Guest guest]

Dear All(especially Sorcy),

Here is the content of the site that Renee recommended.

http://www.motherearthherbs.com/howto.html

HOW TO MAKE...

 

We advise you to use any non-aluminum pans/utensils to make your

preparations. Glass,

ceramic, porcelain, or enamel pans are preferable. Only make enough

infusion, decoction,

juice etc, to last one day. These should be made fresh daily.

Anything made with alcohol,

tincture of benzoin or vegetable glycerine can be kept much longer.

Always remember to

store in glass, away from heat, light and moisture (the three

culprits for reducing potency in

herbs). Also label each container as to contents and date prepared.

Whenever using fresh

herbs for tinctures, glycerites, etc, allow the plant to sit out for

8-24 hours to allow wilting.

This will reduce the water content in the herbs which will dilute the

preparation. It also will

reduce spoilage.

 

BATHS - SITZ, FOOT, VAPOR OR TUB - Sitz baths are primarily used to

relieve

pain of hemorrhoids, or after vaginal delivery. Use a very large

plastic tub which you set in

the bottom of the bath tub, or you may wish to fill the bath tub to

just above your hips, or

the area of your navel. Make about 1/2 gallon of the tea or decoction

you will be using.

Strain this. Add this to the bucket, tub or bath first. Then add

enough warm water to make it

comfortable and to the right level. Sit in this for about 10-20

minutes. - - Footbaths are used

for a variety of reasons - stimulate circulation, tired or cold feet,

constipation, insomnia,

headaches, prevent varicose veins, and for weak menstrual flow. Use

an infusion or

decoction and fill a bucket or deep pail to the depth of the calves.

Soak about 15 minutes.

The herbs used will be determined by the specific action you are

desiring. - - Vapor baths

are primarily to stimulate circulation in the sinuses and respiratory

passages. They are also

used to increase circulation to the facial skin to cleanse pores.

This is not actually a bath

but more of a little sauna for the facial area! Infuse or decoct the

herbs you desire - such

as eucalyptus, wintergreen and such. I have also added essential oils

to the water instead of

the herbs. Make sure the water is steaming profusely. Next place the

pot on a table or

counter and place your face about 6 " or a comfortable distance from

the top of the pot. Be

careful not to scald yourself. Drape a towel over your head to

enclose you and the pot. This

is usually done for about 15-30 minutes while you breathe deeply. If

it is more for the

respiratory passages, then breathe through your mouth. If for the

sinuses, then breathe

through your nose only. - - Tub baths or herbal baths are relaxing,

stimulating, toning and

therapeutic. The skin is the largest organ of the body and will

absorb some of the benefits

of the herbs via the skin. You can use an infusion, decoction or make

bath bags. I fill cloth

muslin bags with the herbs I wish to use then toss in the tub while

it is filling. After in the

tub, I repeatedly squeeze the water out of the bag and use as an

" herbal washcloth " .

Repeating this many times. Sometimes I add powdered milk or oatmeal

in with the herbs.

 

CAPSULES - This method is the most convenient for some people to

take, although it is

the least favorite of mine for several reasons. First of all, you are

working with powdered

herbs, which lose their potency much faster than dried, cut herbs due

to more of the plant

surface being exposed to air. I also like the fact that in other

methods, the water or alcohol

is extracting some constituents that may be lost otherwise. Finally,

in today's poor diets and

intestinal tract problems, I have to wonder how much of the herb is

actually absorbed. If

you are going to make your own capsules, then I would recommend a

couple of things.

Purchase your herbs in cut form and powder them as you need them

using a coffee bean

grinder and fine mesh strainer to remove the larger pieces. Only

grind as much as you will

need for a week or two. If buying capsules pre-made, be aware that

they may contain up to

65% filler such as soy or millet. This does not need to be stated on

the label. Also, there are

many whacky, unnecessary combinations out there - some of the herbs

even counteract each

other. Some herbs are pretty much useless in dried form too - such as

St. John's Wort. As a

basic guideline, here are some comparisons:

 

-0- capsules filled = ~ 400mg or 10 grains of herb

 

-00- capsules filled = ~700mg or 15 grains of herb

 

-1- capsules filled = ~200mg

 

-3- capsules filled = ~100mg

 

DECOCTION - This is useful for the harder plant parts such as roots,

bark, berries and

seeds when boiling will extract their active ingredients. Using a

non-metallic pain, add 0.5 to

1 oz of plant material per cup of water. Bring to a boil, and allow

to boil for 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat, and when cool, strain the plant material off.

 

EXTRACTS - These are highly concentrated alcohol based preparations

in liquid form.

These are available through health food stores and mail order. I

include these here for

definition purposes. Many extracts on the market today are

standardized to contain a

certain percentage of the herb or constituents.

 

EYEWASH/NASAL IRRIGATION - This must begin with a saline solution. I

heat

one cup of distilled water and dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in this.

I use this water to infuse

my herbs into. Then I strain it several times through a coffee filter

- especially being

careful for the eyewash - as I do not want any particles of herb

going into the eye. This is

made fresh for each use. When I am making a nasal irrigation, I will

either infuse the herbs

into the saline mixture, or add tinctures to it.

 

FOMENTATION - This is a weaker version of a poultice. Soak a cloth in

an infusion or

decoction of the herb(s). Apply this as hot as possible to the area,

and cover with a dry

flannel cloth or towel to help retain the heat.

 

GLYCERITE - This is an alternative method to alcohol based tinctures,

for those who are

alcohol-sensitive, do not want to ingest alcohol, or for use in

children and pets. It is also a

way to use herb in soapmaking without the threat of seizing due to

alcohol content. You will

not get the constituents drawn out by alcohol (it will dissolve

minerals, vitamins and mucilage

- not the resins or oily properties), but many herbs do extract

fairly well in glycerin. Also

the sweet taste can help mask the taste of many herbs such as

valerian! It is processed by

the body as a fat, and not a sugar - an important point for

diabetics. Glycerites are also an

alternative to those on " candida diets " . To make a glycerite, you

start with 100% vegetable

glycerin. Follow the steps for making an alcohol tincture, but use 3

parts glycerin to 1 part

distilled water, or use all glycerin. If you add a little bit of

citric acid, you can expect a

shelf life of around 2 years. Otherwise, I would recommend keeping

them no longer than one

year.

 

INFUSED OILS - These directions are for fresh. You can use dried

herbs,but it will

be less potent. That method will be given at the end of this section.

First, I gather the herbs

in the morning after all dew has left the plant. I then spread them

on paper towels, paper

bags or screening to allow the herb to be exposed to the air for 8-24

hours. I then bruise

the herbs by crushing them in my hands, or putting on pulse for a few

seconds in the food

processor. Then I cram them into a gallon glass jar and pack tightly.

Next, I place an

inverted coffee filter or paper towel over the top of the herbs. This

keeps the herbs from

getting exposed to the air. Next I add approximately 1 oz of

~25,000IU Vitamin E oil to

each quart of olive oil. This I pour over the herbs and make sure

that there is about one inch

of oil above the herbs. Then I put a tight fitting lid on and place

in a dark cupboard for

about 4-6 weeks, shaking the jar daily. You can also sun infuse for

about 2 weeks, but I

have found that this has a higher chance of growing bacteria and

making the oil go rancid.

The fresh herbs I use most for infusion are St. John's Wort,

Calendula, Yarrow, Comfrey

leaves, Chickweed. These are great for adding to salves, lotions, and

soaps. - - - - For

infused oils using dried plant material, place 1 part herbs to 4

parts oil in a non-metal pan.

The herbs will soak up quite a bit of the oil, so make sure that the

herbs are totally covered.

Put the burner on the lowest setting for 4-8 hours, strain and use.

You can also use a crock

pot on the lowest setting, but usually these get hotter than I

prefer. For any unused portions

of oil, add 1 tsp vitamin E 25,000IU per quart of oil. You can also

add tincture of benzoin

as a preservative.

 

INFUSION, COLD - This method is for Marshmallow Root (Althea

officinalis). I also

prefer this method to the hot infusion so that I am not exposing the

herbs to heat. I use

about 1 oz of herb placed in a cloth drawstring bag and suspend it in

3-4 cups of water. I

let this sit overnight on the counter. Then I squeeze the water out

of the bag and use. I will

double-infuse this for use in salves, creams, lotions, soaps and

such. This gives me a very

strong solution.

 

INFUSION, HOT - This is made like a tea. Usually use this method for

preparing

leaves and flowers. The shorter exposure to heat by this method will

minimize the loss of

volatile oils and vitamins. Boil one cup of water and pour over one

heaping teaspoonful of

herb, cover, allow to steep 15-30 minutes, then strain. Some people

prefer to use a tea ball

or bamboo strainer to hold the herbs while they infuse. I prefer to

place the herbs in the

cup loose and strain into another cup so that more of the herb's

surface is exposed to the

water. You may double-infuse by repeating the process above after

straining the first time -

reuse the tea and repeat the steps above. Hot infusion should not be

used for Marshmallow

root, as it needs to be cold infused.

 

MELLITA - This is good for children and the more bitter tasting herbs

(unless of course

you wish the bitter principles to help with digestion). I refer to it

as 20-1 - Place one ounce

of herbs in 20 oz of water and boil for 20 minutes, covered. Add one

ounce of honey and

use. Store in glass bottle in the refrigerator for a few months.

 

POULTICE or Cataplasm - This is used when you want to apply herbs to

the skin and

do not wish to use a salve, ointment or cream. It is one of the

strongest ways to utilize the

properties of the herbs by applying directly to the skin. You also

use the element of heat to

help the herbs become more readily absorbed into the tissue.

Poultices are used to soothe,

irritate or draw impurities from the body via the skin. There are

several different methods

for applying a poultice. The one I use most frequently is also

referred to as a " plaster " :

Take a handful of herb(s) and place them in a steaming rack placed in

a pan of boiling

water. The water should not touch the bottom of the steaming rack. I

then cover the pan, and

allow the herbs to steam for 10-15 minutes. I then remove the herbs,

place in a thin cloth

such as a handerkerchief or pillowcase. I fold the cloth to keep the

herbs in place then put

this directly onto the area. Be sure that the herbs are not too hot

to burn the skin, yet I want

as much heat as possible to remain. I next place a piece of saran

wrap or other cloth over

this to help retain the heat. I use the water from steaming the herbs

to pour over the poultice

as necessary to keep it hot for the desired length of time. Once

again, be sure it is not too

hot to burn the person's skin. Some herbalists prefer to use a

heating pad to help retain the

heat. I like the idea of using some of the liquid the herbs were

steamed in because this will

also contain some of the elements of the herb. - - - - When I am out

hiking, I will use what I

call a cold poultice or herbal bandaid. Say for instance, I get bit

by a mosquito and notice

some chickweed or plantain growing nearby. I take a few leaves,

slightly chew them in my

mouth, the apply to the area - sometimes using another large leaf to

help keep it on a finger.

You can also add just enough hot water to moisten the herbs and apply

this way.

 

SALVE - This is one of my favorite ways to use herbs. I have a

variety of them in our first

aid kits and around the house. I use a variety of methods when making

my salves. Some are

many steps, so I will give you the simplest form here. Make an

infused oil of the herb(s) you

wish to use. For each 5 oz of oil, you will want to use 1 oz of

beeswax. You may adjust this

to suit your personal preferences for hardness of the finished

product. Add the beeswax to

the oil, while still over low heat, after straining the herbs. Allow

the wax to melt. To test if

your salve is hard enough, place some on a spoon and put in the

refrigerator or freezer for a

few minutes. If you wish a softer salve, add more oil. For a harder

salve, add more beeswax.

You can also add cocoa butter, emu oil, honey and other additives as

you prefer. I do not

recommend adding aloe oil until the temperature is way below 120

degrees, so as not to

destroy it's properties. Then add a preservative of vitamin E,

tincture of benzoin or 1 tsp per

quart of gum benzoin to your pan. Just before pouring, add any

essential oils you desire and

stir in well. Put in glass jars and label. Store in a cool, dark

place and your salves should

keep for a couple of years at least. I do not recommend ever putting

salves in plastic, as the

plastic can break down over time, especially if you add essential

oils!

 

TINCTURE - This is alcohol based and utilizes alcohol and water to

extract a very large

range of plant constituents when made properly. (DO NOT use isopropyl

alcohol - this is

referring to things like vodka, rum, everclear, brandy.) It is my

preferred method of taking

herbs for several reasons. It has a shelf-life of several years, is

obviously more potent, and

is one of the most easily absorbed by the body. To make a potent

tincture from dried herbs,

please refer to the chart provided to find out the amount of herb to

alcohol, and the

percentage of alcohol needed to extract the constituents from each

herb. I prefer to use

fresh plant material when available and use a 1:2 ratio for them. I

stuff the jar as tight as I

can with the cut, bruised herb and fill to the top with Everclear.

Tinctures will last five

years or more if stored away from light and heat. To make a tincture

from dried herb, run it

through a blender or coffee bean grinder to expose more of the plant

material to the

alcohol. It does not need to be a fine powder. Add the alcohol, and

cover with a tight fitting

lid. Shake this at least a couple of times a day and add more alcohol

as the level lowers

after a couple of days. I allow my tinctures to sit for 4-6 weeks

before straining. I use a

coffee/tincture press or run through a coffee filter and squeeze with

all my strength! I then

bottle these in amber glass bottles and pour into amber dropper

bottles as needed. Dilute in

tea, water or juice. If you do not wish to consume alcohol, you can

add the tincture to a cup

of boiling hot water. After 5-10 minutes, the alcohol will have

evaporated off, leaving you

with the therapeutic effects of the herbs.

 

1/2 teaspoon = 30 drops

 

1 teaspoon = 60 drops = 5ml

 

2 dropperfuls = 1 capsule

 

1 teaspoon tincture = 2 -00- capsules

 

VINEGAR TINCTURES - This will primarily draw out the alkaloids of the

herbs and

is not as potent as using alcohol. This is used for people sensitive

to alcohol or for using

externally as for use in arthritis. They have a shelf life of around

6 months. Make these

using the same instructions as for alcohol tinctures and cover with

pure apple cider vinegar.

 

 

 

DOSAGE GUIDELINES

 

Research each herb to see what the recommended dosage is for the

particular results you

are looking for. A highly sensitive or petite person is going to

probably require less, and a

300# person will likely require larger dosages. I have read

somewhere that herbal dosages

are based on the same principal as pharmaceuticals - a 150# male.

Also remember that in the

elderly, only 1/2 to 3/4 of the " normal " dose should be used. Their

metabolism has slowed

down and many herbs can aggravate chronic conditions or have

untoward side-effects.

Children should be given only the mildest of herbs, in dosages

based on body weight.

YOUNG'S rule for determining dosage in children is to take the

child's age and divide by 12

plus the age. So, in a 5 year old, this would look like: 5/12+5 =

5/17 = slighly more than 1/3

adult dose. The one I believe to be more accurate is CLARK'S rule

which determines dosage

based on the weight of the child. Take the weight of the child and

divide by 150. For

instance in a 50# child, you would have 50/150 = 1/3 of the adult

dosage. This is only a

basic guideline and should also take into consideration the herbs

being used, the child's

condition, etc. Always refer to a knowledgable health care

provider when in doubt.

 

This information is not meant to replace the advise of a physician,

diagnose, treat or

cure. As always, consult your physician before undertaking any

treatments.

 

 

smeherbs

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...................a good site.......Love PEnny

[Guest guest]

Thank you Penny. My webtv wont let me cut and paste a long article.

When I try, it turns itself off.

When I forward anything, it is always at very bottom of page, for those

who are new.

 

Take good care.

 

Love,

Renee and Jerry