HERBAL POTIONS AND LOTIONS

Infusions 1) Take one ounce of a dried herb put it into a quart jar 2) cover it with boiling water 3) let it sit for at least four hours up to overnight. The next day you drain it and drink it throughout the day. Decoctions The method of choice for stems, roots,bark and seeds. 1) 1 - 2 tsp herb per cup of cold water. 2) Bring the mixture gently to a boil. 3) Keeping covered, simmer for about 10 minutes. The usual dosage is 1 cup 3 times a day. If the herb is very bitter or strong, use 4 tsp 3 times a day. Prepare no more than 24 hours in advance. Vinegars: 1) Pack a jar full with fresh plant material 2) Cover to top with pasteurized organic apple cider vinegar. 3) Put a piece of plastic between the top and the lid, cover and let sit for 6 weeks before using. Vinegar extracts have high amounts of minerals and trace nutrients from fresh herbs. For example one tablespoon of a vinegar that has been made with a fresh wild plant is equal to 300 mg calcium (same as a glass of milk). Tinctures A tincture is an alcoholic extraction of herb. Alcohol makes soluble the plants active constituents acts as a preservative, allowing the tincture to retain its effectiveness for up to 2 years. Any part of the plant may be used. 1) Place 4 ounces of dried herb in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid 2) Add 2 cups vodka, gin, whisky, brandy. 3) Leave for two weeks, shaking daily. 4) Strain through a cloth into a glass bottle/jar. Keep tightly closed. Standard dosage is 15 drops 3 times daily. Herbal Wines 1) Use a sweet red wine with an alcohol content of at least 12%. 2) Cover 4oz herb with 3 cups of wine. 3) Leave for a week before straining, then drink a glass full daily. As you pour tonic out, add more wine to top up or exposed herb will go mouldy. Should last several months (wine goes on extracting the roots active components) before the herbs need replaced. Capsules Dry, powdered herb can be placed inside empty capsules. This method is preferred by some people who cannot tolerate bitter herbs.

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Syrups Sugar is a good preservative and ideal for cough mixtures, especially since some herbs for cough are very bitter. They are usually made from infusions or decoctions, though tinctures which are stronger may also be used 1) Prepare 2 cups of an infusion or decoction of the required herb. 2) Strain and add 1 cup brown sugar or a honey and sugar mixture. 3) Heat gently until the sugar dissolves. 4) Pour into a clean glass bottle and seal. 5) Store in the refrigerator. Standard dosage is 1 tsp 3 times a day. Oxymels Honey, water, vinegar, and spice, boiled to a syrup. 1) Mix 500 ml Cider Vinegar and 1 kg of fresh honey in a pot, 2) Boil it till it becomes viscous and syrupy, 3) Then add herb infusion. (Eg : For Garlic Oxymel : To 250 ml Vinegar put 7.5 g Caraway seed and boil. Add 7.5 g Fennel Seed and continue simmering. Add 45 g fresh garlic. Press out the liquid. Add 300 g of fresh honey and continue boiling till mix becomes syrupy.) 4) Take as gargle or syrup, 2 tsp twice daily. Refreshing ane recuperative to mind and body. Oil Infusions for external use only. They can be prepared by hot or cold methods. For the hot method: 1) fill a jar with fresh herb and cover with olive, sunflower or almond oil. 2) Place the jar up to the neck in a saucepan of water and bring to a medium temperature. 3) Simmer for up to three hours. 4) Strain through filter paper or cloth into a glass bottle or jar. For the cold method: The oil should be placed on a sunny windowsill instead of heated. The process can be repeated with the strained oil infusion and a fresh supply of herbs to make a stronger (double-infused) oil. Ointments Ointment does not penetrate the skin like cream, but covers and protects it. Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is a good base, and the method is as for a cream. 1) Melt petroleum jelly in a double boiler

HERBAL POTIONS AND LOTIONS

2) Add plenty of herbs - Making sure the melted petroleum jelly covers the herb. 3) Simmer until the herbs are crisp. 4) More herb may be added to make a stronger (double-blended) ointment. 5) Strain into jars while hot. Creams A blend of oil, beeswax and water. You can make your own, or buy an unscented, water based cream. With bought cream: 1) Add herb to purchased cream 2) Simmer in the top of a double boiler for 30 minutes. 3) Strain before it cools. To make your own : 1) Melt 2 ounces beeswax in a double boiler. 2) Add one cup olive or other vegetable oil and blend. 3) Add 2 ounces herb. (For lighter cream, add a little water) mixing well. 4) Simmer 20 minutes, mixing well. 5) Add a drop of benzoin as a preservative. 6) Strain thorough a cloth in to sterilized jars. Lotion: Combine herbal infusion with vegetable glycerin. Bolus/Suppositories Are best made in advance so they will be ready when needed. 1) Blend equal quantities of powdered herbs with butter/lard/cocoa butter. 2) Place the mixture into bullet-shaped molds made of foil and refrigerate. 3) Remove the foil before use! 4) Allow to reach room temperature before inserting. Compresses 1) Soak a cloth in a hot decoction of herb, 2) Squeeze most of the liquid out 3) Apply the hot cloth to the affected area. 4) Once it has cooled, repeat the process. Tinctures of other herbs and essential oils can be added to the liquid. Poultices Poultices are effective for boils, abscesses, chest infections and sprains. A thin layer of cream protects skins and prevent poultice sticking

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1) Mix chopped herb or powdered seeds with boiling water to make a pulp. 2) Place the pulp in a piece of cloth and apply to the affected area while hot. 3) Replace when cool. Steam and Inhalants Use steam for skin problems like acne and an inhalant for bronchial problems like sunusitis and laryngitis. 1) Add strong decoction, 1-2 drops essential oils, or 2 tsp tincture to boiling water. 2) Cover with cloth high enough above the water that the cloth does not get wet 3) Raise cloth and put head under cloth but above water. 4) Inhale herbal steam for as long as is easily bearable. Enfleurage 1 Remove the stalks from your choice of flowers 2. Fill a glass jar with your choice of oil. 3 Add the flowers to the jar and set aside for 24 hours. 4 Remove the flowers. Squeeze them over the jar to extract all the liquid 5 Pick new flowers and add these to the jar. 6 Repeat this process for about 2 - 4 weeks, until the oil is sufficiently scented 6 Add alcohol (pur ethyl if possible) to the oil. Screw on the lid. 7 Shake the mixture daily for another 2 weeks. The alcohol will always rise. 8 carefully Pour the alcohol off the oil into a container. This forms the basis of the essential oil and is best kept in a dark glass bottle with a lid. Tisane 1. Warm a vessel by filling it with very hot water 2. Pour out this water 3. Place a package (teabag, bag of linen tied, etc) of dried leaves and berries to the vessel 4. Pour freshly boiled water over it 5. Allow to brew for 5 min approx 6. Remove bag and drink while hot Liniments/Embrocations (for external use) (use Cayenne, Clove, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Marloram, Peppermint, Rosemary, Wintergreen ; in an Oil base, a Rubbing alcohol base or a Turpentine base) 1. Combine ingredients in a clean glass jar with a lid

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2. 3. 4. 5. Shake and store in darkness Shake morning and night for one week Strain, squeezing herbs to extract maximum liquid Test on a small patch of skin, and dilute (or dont use) if reaction occurs