Different ways of using Herbs

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Different ways to use herbs

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• Compresses

O A compress is made by soaking a clean cloth in a

Herbal infusion, decoction or a diluted tincture.

• Decoctions

O They are made by using 2.5 oz (60 g) of fresh herbs

Or 1.25 oz (30 g) of dried herbal material and

Simmering it in 18 fl oz (500 ml) of water for at

Least 20 minutes. Bark and root are very suitable

Types of material to use when making a decoction.

O The decoction must be used the same day it is made

And excess should be discarded.

• Infusions

O Prepare an infusion by pouring 18 fl oz (500 ml)

Near-boiling water over 3 oz (75 g) fresh herb or 1.25

Oz (30 g) dried herb and let it steep for 5 minutes.

Flowers and leaves are suitable when making an

Infusion.

O The infusion must be used the same day it is made

And excess should be discarded.

• Liquid extracts

O These are made by using one part alcohol to one part

Herbal material to create pharmaceutical grade

Concentrates.

• Macerated / Infused liquid

O This can be made by steeping 1 oz (25 g) dried

Herbal material in 18 fl oz (500 ml) water at room

Temperature for at least 12 hours and then straining

It.

• Macerated / Infused oils

O Oils can be made from herbs, using fresh or dried

Material. Heat 18 fl oz (500 ml) oil over boiling

Water – bain-marie style (NOT directly on an electric

Plate or gas, and while doing this, ensure that there

Is always water in the pot underneath heating the

Oil).

O To this oil you should add 27 oz (750 g) fresh, or 9

Oz (250 g) dried herbal material – and keep it heated

For 3 hours.

O After cooling the plant material is strained. Take a

Jar and fill it with fresh herbs and use enough of the

Oil to cover the material, and then leave for 3 weeks

To diffuse.

• Ointments

O They can be made by heating solid fats or petroleum

Jelly over boiling water (as above with the macerated

Oils) and adding 2.5 oz (60 g) dried material to 18 fl

Oz (500 ml) of fat/petroleum jelly.

O This mixture must be warmed over the boiling water

For 3 hours and then strained and decanted into jars.

• Poultice

O This is made by making a paste from dried or fresh

Material (finely chopped) and/or powdered material by

Mixing it in water and heating it to a temperature

Where it is still bearable to apply to the skin.

O The poultice is applied to the skin without burning

The skin, and replacing when cooled down.

• Powdered herbs

O Herbs can be powdered when dry, to mix with fluid

When taken, but since the taste is not always

Acceptable, this process is often used in the

Supplement/pharmaceutical industry for making pills

And capsules.

 

• Syrups These are infusions or decoctions mixed with

Sugar to promote a more palatable taste. This also

Helps to preserve it. It is normally created by using

18 fl oz (500 ml) fluid to 18 oz (500 g) sugar.

• Tisanes

O These are herbal teas, and are infusions normally

Made from aromatic herbs such as fennel, chamomile,

Peppermint etc. They are taken without milk, but

Depending on personal taste, sugar or honey may be

Added.

• Tinctures

O The same process is followed as when making

Macerated oils, but instead of oils, a water/alcohol

Mix is used to extract the active ingredients. This is

An effective way to extract the constituents.

Tinctures are stronger than infusions or decoctions

And are made by using one part material to four parts

Alcohol.