Herbal Preparations: Infusions, Decoctions, Tinctures, Extracts.

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Herbal Preparations

JoAnn Guest

Oct 13, 2004 14:36 PDT

 

Herbal Preparations

http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/dietplans/appendix1.htm

 

This appendix briefly reviews the basic methods of herbal

preparation. Many of the old herbals and herb texts have methods

which vary slightly. Working directly with herbs is the first and

best way of developing effective preparation methods.

 

Herbs are medicinal plants and the preparations made from herbs can

be taken internally or used externally.

 

In the case of internal application, the choice of delivery method

includes infusions, decoctions, macerations, juices, tinctures,

extracts, powders, etc.

 

External use can involve poultices, lotions, compresses, dressings,

eyebaths, gargles, enemas and boluses.

 

An alphabetical list of preparations follows:

 

Capsules are easy to make. Simply take ground herbs and insert them

into soluble hard gelatin capsules. Capsules come in various sizes —

" 000 " to " 5 " — to permit easy swallowing. The " 5 " is the smallest

size while " 000 " is the largest.

 

Why do we encapsulate herbs?

 

One reason is to improve palatability (since some herbs taste

indescribably bad).

A second reason is convenience, since less water and no special

equipment is needed.

A final reason is compliance.

 

Keep in mind that people vary widely in their ability to swallow

capsules or tablets. Some prefer capsules to a tea. Others require a

liquid because of an individual problem swallowing capsules.

 

Concentrate is a fluid extract strengthened through evaporation of

fluid. Alcohol concentrates are produced by allowing the alcohol to

evaporate without in any way decreasing the strength of the herb.

Water concentrates are usually made by slowly simmering the herbs

until the volume of the extractive agent is reduced.

 

Decoction is a water solution of plant extracts. They are prepared

at a boiling temperature.

Decoctions differ from infusions in that coarse and brittle plant

structures (the roots, bark and chips) are the base.

 

Because of their volatile nature, decoctions are intended for

immediate use, and should typically be put to use within twenty-four

hours. Some authorities state that they should not be kept longer

then six hours before application.

 

The longevity of decoctions may be increased by the use of certain

preserving agents, such as glycerin, or refrigeration. A standard

decoction consists of fifty grams of closely ground plant material

in 1000 cc of cold water.

 

The procedure of preparation is as follows:

The ground plant (approximately 50 gms) should be placed into a

vessel which has a lid. Never use aluminum or iron cookware.

 

Stainless steel, porcelain or Pyrex® cookware is suitable. One quart

(1000 cc) of cold water should be added. Mix and then place the

vessel over heat and bring to a boil and simmer for fifteen to

twenty minutes.

Remove from the heat and cool to about body temperature. Then pour

the decoction into a jar through a suitable strainer. Since some of

the fluid will have evaporated during boiling, you will end up with

less than one quart of fluid.

 

Enema is the introduction of a large amount (three to eight cups) of

liquid into the bowel via an enema tube. An enema is carried out to

disencumber an obstructed bowel, to cleanse it, or to serve as a

means of introducing nutrition into the body when an individual is

unable to take nourishment otherwise.

 

A good cleansing enema consists of warm (not hot) water and nothing

else, although herbs (like coffee) can be used for special purposes.

 

Extract is a solution of the essential constituents of a herbal

agent.

 

It is prepared by boiling the plant material in water and then

evaporating the strained decoction to a desired concentration.

Extracts harbour the more active principles of the medicinal plants,

allowing the less active principles to be removed as a dross.

Various solvents may be used including alcohol, water and glycerin.

 

Extracts should always be prepared at the lowest temperature

possible that is compatible with good extraction of the healing

principles.

 

If care is not taken, some of the lighter and more volatile oils and

other important ingredients may be lost. In addition, the vessel in

which the extract is prepared should always be tightly covered until

such time as the extract has reached a sufficiently cool temperature

(i.e., body temperature).

 

Fluid Extract is an alcohol or glycerin preparation of herbal

extract

containing the active constituents in a definite ratio of plant

material to solvent.

 

There are several types of fluid extracts.

 

Heated extracts are prepared by boiling (but preferably simmering) a

herbal agent in water and then evaporating the strained decoction to

a desired concentration — this yields a more concentrated herbal

remedy.

Fluid extract is made by evaporating an already prepared fluid (such

as an infusion or decoction) to the desired concentration.

 

Cold extract is similar to an infusion. It is prepared by taking

twice as much herb as is desired for an infusion and then letting it

sit in an enamel or non-metallic pot for eight to twelve hours. It

is then strained and taken as one would take an infusion.

 

Glycerin is often used as a preserving agent in extracts. Glycerin

can be derived from a vegetable or petroleum base.

Preferably, use only the glycerin which has come from a vegetable

base.

 

 

 

Fomentation is a herbal preparation used to draw out poison, allay

irritation, reduce inflammation or relieve pain. To make a

fomentation, prepare the herb as a tea (as either an infusion or

decoction), strain and then absorb it into a piece of muslin, cotton

wool, towel, flannel or gauze (natural fiber material). Wring out

the cloth sufficiently so that it is not dripping and then place it

on the affected area.

 

Fomentations are usually applied as hot as can be tolerated and then

reapplied as they cool or dry. The fomented area is often covered

with a sheet of plastic and then a towel to keep it moist and hot.

 

A hot apple cider vinegar fomentation is excellent for arthritis,

rheumatism and other types of aches.

 

Infusion is prepared by steeping a herbal agent in liquid, usually

water. Domestic teas are usually prepared this way — herbs are

submerged in hot or boiling water and allowed to steep for a certain

length of

ime.

 

Cold infusions are made in a similar manner, the only difference

being that cold water is used, often dripping the water slowly over

the herb.

Generally, infusions are made from the more delicate parts of the

plant, such as the buds, leaves, or flowers (you will recall that

decoctions are prepared from the coarser parts, such as the roots,

bark or chips).

 

Juice, also called an " express " , is prepared by juicing a fresh

herb, with great emphasis on the word " fresh " . The juicing can be

done with either an electric juicer, or hand juicer, or a press.

 

Juices are typically the best embodiment of the active ingredients

of a herb. Juices may also be extracted by placing the herbs,

wrapped in

muslin cloth, in a mortar and then crushing them with a pestle.

 

Liniment is a liquid or semi-liquid preparation of a herb. Liniments

are applied to relieve skin irritation and muscle pain and include

herbal oils, tinctures or liquids. They are intended for application

to the skin by gentle friction or massage.

 

Liniments are thinner than ointments and have application primarily

as anodynes (pain relievers) or counterirritants.

 

Maceration is a term synonymous with cold infusion. The herb

(approximately 50 gms) is placed in a 1000 cc menstruum (usually

alcohol but potentially water).

 

Oils are prepared by taking a specified amount of herbs and mixing

them,

crushed or whole (depending on the herbs), with a botanical oil. The

amount of oil used depends on the herb and the desired strength of

the final preparation, but two parts of oil for each part of herb is

regarded as an ideal ratio.

 

Some oils, such as Balm of Gilead, are best heated (but not boiled)

for a given length of time (e.g. 20 minutes), while others, such as

garlic

oil, are best steeped for several days, and then strained.

 

Always use an oil of high quality, such as a cold-pressed olive or

almond oil.

 

Essential oils differ from oil preparations as these are the

volatile oils present in the herb (e.g. clove oil, cinnamon oil.)

 

Ointment, sometimes called salve, is a soft, semi-solid herbal

preparation, prepared as follows:

 

A herbal preparation (i.e. an infusion or decoction) is placed in an

oil and the water is evaporated. The result is then mixed with

heated lanolin or lard. Melted beeswax is subsequently mixed in

until the desired consistency is obtained.

 

And there is your ointment! A little gum benzoin or a drop of

tincture of benzoin is a helpful preservative.

In hotter climates, more beeswax is necessary to maintain stiffness.

In general, salves tend to have less beeswax than ointments.

 

Poultice is a soft, usually heated, semi-liquid herbal mass which is

spread on a cloth and then applied to an area of the body. A bruised

herb is mixed with water, heated, applied to a cloth and placed on

the appropriate area.

 

The poultice is easily applied if heaped onto a cloth and then

wrapped or placed on the desired area.

 

The cloth should be moistened frequently to keep it wet and heated.

 

Non-irritating herbs come in direct contact with the skin. While

most poultices can be left in contact with skin for a long time,

those that can act as irritants should be applied for short periods

only (a mustard

plaster or this type of poultice needs a layer of wax paper between

the poultice and skin).

 

After removing the poultice, it is advisable to wash the treated

area, using water or a herbal tea (such as chamomile or mugwort).

 

Covering the area with plastic will keep the water from evaporating

and permit its absorption into the skin. The area may also be

covered with a towel to keep the heat in.

 

Syrup is a thick, sticky, liquid-like preparation. A herbal syrup is

made by taking a herbal agent and boiling, simmering, or heating it

in

honey and/or glycerin, and then straining it through cheese cloth.

Often a tea is made first, strained, concentrated, and then the

syrup or glycerin or honey is added.

 

Syrups are especially useful for administering medicines to children

or fussy adults. Some syrups are made in a vegetable base.

 

Tincture is, technically, a fluid extract but in this case the

medicinal virtues are withdrawn into an alcohol, glycerin, or

vinegar solution

(acid tincture) since water alone, for some herbs, will not retrieve

some of the medicinal principles.

 

The menstruum (the alcohol, glycerin, etc.) also acts as a

preservative. A typical tincture is prepared by steeping one part

herb in two parts of alcohol for ten to fourteen days (maceration.)

 

The resulting mixture is then strained, poured into a sealed jar,

stored in a dark place, and shaken twice daily. A herb prepared in

tincture form will last virtually forever.

 

 

There are several other " high tech " ways to make botanical

preparations.

 

Hypercritical carbon dioxide is used as a pure " solvent " for very

expensive volatile oil extraction. This technique is further

discussed in the Textbook of Advanced Herbology.

 

Freeze drying is also used to get active ingredients out of plants

and preserve them.

 

The technique is used in the coffee industry as well as

for herbs. Fresh plant extracts are becoming commercially popular.

 

In these cases, fresh plants are used to make the tincture rather

than dried material. Sometimes this results in a more potent

preparation,

other times less potent. The properties of a fresh plant extract

will also vary from dried plant extracts, both positively and

negatively.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

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DietaryTi-

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