SIMPLE DIRECTIONS FOR USING HERBS TO MAKE

SIMPLE DIRECTIONS FOR USING HERBS TO MAKE

INFUSIONS, DECOCTIONS AND OINTMENTS

It seems that many health conscious people these days are

turning away from prescription drugs and turning to making their

own medicines. Healing with herbs and other natural remedies is

becoming popular and making your own medicines is quite an art.

Some popular methods of natural healing involve the use of

making infusions, steeping to extract various properties,

decoctions, the extraction of an essence by boiling and

ointments.

Always remember when you are creating your own herbal remedies

to use an enamel or nonmetal pot.

HERBAL TEAS

To make a cup of herbal tea, for drinking or as a face wash,

boil 10 ounces of water. Prewarm your teapot, put in 1 tbsp. or

less of dried herbs or a large pinch of fresh herbs and pour the

boiling water over them. Add honey, if you like. cover and

steep to taste, 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and drink.

INFUSIONS

To make an infusion, fill a teapot with one quart of boiling

water. Then throw in a large handful of fresh herbs or an ounce

or more of dried herbs. Add some honey, if desired, and let the

mixture steep for ten to twenty minutes. Now strain and drink.

DECOCTIONS

Making a decoction involves boiling your mixture. It is usually

made from the tougher parts of a plant, the roots, seeds or the

bark. Put one ounce or more of the herb parts in a quart of

water and cover the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer

for about twenty minutes. Steep and strain the mixture. Drink

or apply externally.

OINTMENTS

An ointment, unguent or salve is made by combining the decoction

of a herb with olive oil and simmering it until the water has

completely evaporated. A little beeswax is then added to get a

firm consistency. Some gum benzoin or a drop of tincture of

benzoin per ounce of fat will help preserve the ointment.