Herbal Tonics: Definitions and Directions

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Definitions and Directions

JoAnn Guest

Dec 10, 2004 22:28 PST

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Definitions and Directions

 

Be most careful that the medicinal agents you use are genuine and

organic or attempts at curing will be worse than useless, rendering harm

to the body.

 

Whenever possible, collect your own herbs, but if this is not possible,

the next best is to be sure to obtain the herbs from a reliable

herbalist, botanist, herb shop, or health food store.

 

In making your herbal preparations, never use aluminum ware. Aluminum

poisons with its gases and acid metallic poison (alum). Use a good grade

of stainless steel or Pyrex or a good glassware, providing you handle it

with care. Glazed earthenware is adequate.

 

Whenever using enamel pans (which are a basic metal with enamel baked

on), always be sure that there are no chips, no cracks, that the pan is

fully enamel-covered.

 

Stainless-steel ware is the best because it does not break, although

you should watch for over-high temperatures that cause burning. Moist

heat is always used, and stainless-steel ware is easiest to control,

because you can spin and seal the lid and thereby keep oxygen from going

in.

 

 

 

Tea or Infusion: (Made of the leaves & blossoms) An infusion extracts

the active principles of herbs in water, or other fluid, without

simmering or boiling; and it also refers to the liquid product of such a

process. Pour a liquid (hot water, juice, glycerine, vinegar or alcohol)

over the crude or powdered herb.

 

The liquid may be hot, cold, or lukewarm (depending upon the type of

herb and problem condition) but the flavor of the herb is generally much

stronger and the action is much faster when made and administered hot

rather than cold. Generally a standard infusion is used with the lighter

herbs (such as the leaves, flowers, etc.), and is made by taking one

teaspoonful of the dried herb or two teaspoonfuls of the fresh herb to a

cup of water, regulating the quantity to fit the patient's strength.

Finely cut or bruise the fresh herb, coarsely grind the dry herb, and

pulverize the tenacious roots and barks; then pour one pint of boiling

water over the crude herb and allow it to stand or steep for fifteen to

thirty minutes. Be sure to cover the vessel and stir occasionally, then

carefully strain off the clear liquid (though some sedimentation will

not hurt in most cases.) With some herbs (such as buds, husks, and dried

herbs like thyme), the only way medicinal value can be properly

extracted is by infusion; other herbs that yield their medicinal value

best by infusion are the pectorals (such as coltsfoot, ground ivy,

etc.), aromatics (such as balm, mother of thyme, etc.), bitters (such as

gentian root, orange peel, wormwood, etc.).

The bitter herbs do not require so large a quantity of the crude herb to

the pint as do other herbs, and with something like cayenne only a few

grains are effective. Don't be afraid of over-concentrating organic

herbal medicines or remedies. We do recommend, however, that you follow

the instructions that are provided.

Aromatic herbs contain effervescent or volatile oils which will be lost

if infused in hot or boiling water, so steep in warm water for over

one-half hour.

 

Dosage: Varies according to type of herb and problem condition, etc.,

usually one cupful three times a day. In kidney problems, extreme

debilitation, etc., smaller doses should be given.

 

Poultice: (A moist, hot herb pack applied locally.) A poultice is a wad

of chopped, fresh (or dried but remoistened) plant material that is

applied directly to a wound or infection on the skin and usually held in

place by a wet dressing that is covered by a bandage. A poultice is

mixed with water, apple cider vinegar or other substances, and used for

supplying heat and moisture to an area, or to act as a local stimulant.

Have the herbs ground or granulated.

 

When using fine powder, use enough moisture to make a thick paste; and

when using the granulated form, a thick paste may be made with a mixture

of water and corn meal (or flaxseed meal). If fresh green leaves are

used, simply heat, bruise, triturate or chop them up finely, and apply

to the affected parts.

 

Poultices are excellent for enlarged or inflamed glands (neck, breast,

groin, prostate, etc.), and also for eruptions, boils, carbuncles, and

abscesses. Onions, garlic and carrots can also be used for poltices.

 

 

Injection: Injection is the old English term for a small enema, where

medicinal aids are put in the rectum in very limited amounts (one-half

to one cupful), the small amounts of liquid retained in the bowel for a

time. An herbal injection is only an enema.

 

Extract: This is an herbal preparation made by boiling the herbal agent

in water and evaporating the strained decoction to a desired

consistency. By this process, some of the more active principals of the

medicinal herb are liberated from the useless insoluble, pulpy matter

(which comprises the larger share of the bulk). The solvents used are

alcohol, glycerine, water, etc. Make extracts at the lowest temperature

possible, because many of the light balsam oils and precious ingredients

can be lost. The preparation vessel should always be tightly covered

until the extract is sufficiently cooled.

Dosage: A few drops (according to need), generally put into another

liquid.

 

 

Tinctures: (A tincture is made by steeping herb material in drinkable

alcohol) Cheap vodka works just fine. The alcohol extracts a great deal

of the medicinal essence of the herb. Tinctures have longer shelf lives

than dried herbs or capsules.

To make a tincture, you can use anything from 40-proof to almost

200-proof alcohol. Nonalcoholic option: use glycerine rather than

alcohol. Use two ounces of dried herb (or a loose handful of fresh

herb) per pint of alcohol. Allow your herb-alcohol mixture to stand for

about a week, shaking it occasionally. Then strain it. Discard the

plant material and store the tincture in a bottle (preferably a brown

bottle) with a dropper lid.

 

Dosages: 5 to 50 drops (a fraction of a dropperful to several

dropperfuls). One advantage of buying a tincture is that appropriate

dosages are generally indicated on the label.

 

Herbal Vinegar: Made the same way as a tincture, except you use vinegar

instead of alcohol or glycerine.

 

 

 

Syrup: A syrup is a thick, sticky liquid preparation made by dissolving

sugar into (distilled) water, decoctions, infusions, juices, or other

liquid solution, and is used to suspend medicinal or flavoring agents

for easy administration alone, or to combine with other preparations.

For making a syrup with herbs, settle out the heavier matter and pour

off the clear liquid; then add to that (for every pint of herbal liquid)

one and three-fourths pounds of sugar, place into an appropriate vessel

(stainless steel, glass, or enamel), heat until the sugar is melted

(some skimming is needed in the process), cool, and store for future

use. For a syrup with flowers (such as cowslip, damask roses, peach

blossoms, red poppies, violets, etc.), three pounds of the flowers

should be picked from their husks with the heels cut off, five pints of

boiling water poured over them, let stand all night, pour off the clear

liquid in the morning, and then make the syrup as previously indicated.

Another formula for making a simple syrup is to pour one pint of boiling

water over two and one-half pounds of sugar, place on hot stove and stir

until the liquid begins to boil, and then instantly remove; this makes

one quart of simple syrup, to which medicinal aids, one ounce of fluid

extract, to three ounces of the simple syrup may be added, adding two

ounces of glycerine which has been mixed into two ounces of thick

mucilage (such as gum arabic) for tender stomachs.

Cordial: A weakened form of medicinal syrup, diluted to one-fourth its

original potency.

 

Dosage: Varies according to size and age, one teaspoonful to one

tablespoonful.

 

 

Decoction: (A tea made from the roots, seeds, & bark) Some must be

boiled in water, while with others boiling water must be poured over

them, and then a simmering heat applied over a period of time.

Decoctions are intended for immediate use within a twenty-four hour

period (with a 72-hour maximum limit when stored in a very cool place).

Some herbs, however, do not sour within seventy-two hours, but if the

souring or scum starts, make a fresh preparation. An herbal decoction is

the chief basis for preparing enemas, ointments, spirits, fomentation,

etc. A decoction is generally made by pouring cold water upon fresh or

dried (cut, bruised, or ground) herbal agents. The usual preparation is

one ounce of the botanical herb placed into one and one-half pints of

cold water--one-half pint to compensate for water lost in the extractive

process--with the herb and liquid brought slowly to a boil. The

decoction differs from the infusion in that heat is applied and then

continued over a period of time (boiling or simmering), because roots

and barks generally need longer heating to extract their active

principles. The harder the material, the longer the simmering and

extractive period will be. This must be determined by your own careful

observation, ingenuity, intuition, and experience, if not specified. In

making a decoction of dry roots and barks, pulverize them first by

mechanical means or pounding; next, soak the ingredients for twelve

hours; then set this liquid on the fire and gradually heat to a slight

boil. After the extractive period, drain off the liquid while hot and

press the herb hard to make sure that all of the therapeutic ingredients

are removed; then let stand until cool; and when cool, pour off the

clear liquid on top, separating it from the settlings; and, finally,

sweeten to taste. When fresh herbs are used in a decoction, the roots

should be cut into very thin slices and the barks and woods should be

shaved down, but the leaves and whole herbs need only slight cutting.

Again, add more water when decoctions are too strong.

Dosage: Depending on age, size and temperament, 2 fluid ounces to a

cupful of liquid three times a day.

 

 

Fomentation: (A cloth wrung out of hot tea or decoction) This is

applying herbs to convey heat, moisture, and medicinal aid in order to

relieve pain, to reduce inflammation, and to relax affected areas.

Fomentations are usually made from bitter herbs, sometimes with cayenne

added, steeped in apple cider vinegar or water, or in castor or olive

oils, and placed hot in cloth (natural fibers only--cotton, wool or

linen) over the affected area. The effectiveness of the fomentation

can be speeded by using a hot water bottle during the warm application

and alternating this with a cold application in many cases is very

beneficial, following again with a hot one. The method to be used will

depend on the type of problem, but specifically in sprains and sore

muscles, the alternate hot-and-cold applications are very excellent.

Generally, fomentation are covered with oiled silk, plastic, or wax

paper, and a hot water bottle placed over this to keep the application

warm, changing periodically when the potency and value of the tea itself

has been absorbed out of the toweling. For a glandular swelling, the

preferred procedure is a hot fomentation--always with moist heat.

Along with the fomentation, an internal tea used in combination with the

external aid will greatly facilitate the healing process.

 

 

Liniment: This is an herbal preparation of an herbal oil or liquid

intended for skin application by gentle friction or massage; it is

thinner than the ointment and is usually rubbed on the skin as an

anodyne or counter-irritant. Liniments can be mixed with rubbing alcohol

or with other oils and herbal ingredients.

Dosage: Sufficient so that little is left on the skin surface when

massaged thoroughly into the skin.

 

 

Herbal Bath:For hydrotherapy, we oft times use decoctions, infusions,

tinctures, dry powders, etc. in the water to bathe in using herbs (such

as ginger, cayenne, mustard, and others). We also use foot baths and/or

hand baths in heated apple cider vinegar for arthritis and rheumatism.

 

 

 

Oil: This preparation is made from the plant oils. For instance, the

best oils from sassafras come from the root and the bark, but you can

also take the oils from the chips and woods, much more slowly, with the

mints (peppermint, spearmint, etc.), the oils come from the leaves. The

oils from eucalyptus usually come from the leaves and some from the

bark; and in many cases, oils are taken from flowers (as in lavender and

various others), extracted almost to a gum consistency from red cover

blossoms. Many of these oils, when properly made, do not go into

rancidity easily (such as when made with olive oil). The amount of herbs

used--a pound of fresh herbs to a pint of oil, oft times--depends on the

quantity of oil desired. Simmer the herbs for hours until the oil comes

out of the herb. In the case of cloves, grind up fine, and simmer the

powder in olive oil at a temperature of 125-150 degrees F. Never use

mineral oils.

Dosage: Do not overdo; varies according to type and need, a few drops to

one tablespoonful. For olive oil , which is high in nutritional value,

massage as much as the skin will absorb; olive oil is generally used in

small doses internally, except when used for gallstones or kidney stones

(here an adult dosage is four ounces or more at a time after a few days

of preliminary herbal liquids).

 

Plaster:

This is an herbal preparation for external application that is harder

than an ointment, but soft enough to be spread on linen, silk, etc., and

adhere to the skin when applied to the body. The consistency of a

plaster will vary according to the intended purpose--those applied to

the breast or stomach will be soft and yielding, while those applied to

the extremities should be firm and adhesive. Plasters must always be

watched guardedly, so that they are not left on too long, as types such

as the mustard plasters left on the area too long will cause blisters,

burns.

Never make plasters stronger than the individual can endure. For

example, when making a mustard plaster, softening agents should be used

(such as egg whites or whole wheat flour mixed with the mustard

ingredients or olive oil massaged thoroughly into the skin prior to the

plaster application) and these will prevent burning.

 

Dosage: Usually one-fourth to one-half inch thickness to cover the

problem area (varies according to the condition, toughness of the skin,

etc.); however, use caution not to make plasters stronger than the

patient can stand.

 

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

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AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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