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Herbs

This is the standard disclaimer for any information of this nature. All the information contained in this site are mainly from the study of other peoples’ work as well as my own research; they have not been all proven to work 100% of the time. Also, the information contained herein are not meant to replace standard treatment for whatever ails you, but rather an aid in helping you treat whatever you suffer from.

If any of the following apply to you, please use caution in using any recipes contained herein:

  • If you have a serious ailment, illness, or icky, then PLEASE see your doctor.
  • If you are pregnant, please consult your doctor before taking any medication, herbal or otherwise. Many of the herbs listed in this book can contain toxins which are harmful to growing fetuses.
  • If you are giving these herbs or recipes to young children or elderly adults, please give small dosages and monitor your patient. Your patient can have a reverse reaction to the herb contained in the recipes.

The author of this site is not responsible for the outcome of any information contained in this Web page. Use the information at your own risk!

And now....Herbs. This information is a just small sampling of what herbs can do for you.

Preparing Herbs

  • Water Preparations (teas, infusions, & decoctions)
  • Poultices

The general rule of thumb for making herbal concoctions is: NEVER MAKE MORE THAN WHAT YOU NEED! Herbal preparations lose their effectiveness when kept for too long a period, especially water-based preparations. Other herbal preparations.such as tinctures, salves, and oils may be kept for longer periods. However, these types of heral preparations require that you date them, and periodically smell them. If it begins to smell bad, it is most likely bad and needs to be thrown out.

I've only listed the simplest of herbal preparations that you can make at home. There are, of course, other types, such as tinctures (alchohol or vinegar based), salves, ointments, etc. etc. There are plenty of books and Web sites to which you can look up this information.

The Right Tools

Preparing herbs can be a delicate process. You need to have the right tools. You'll need:

  • an enamel pot & pan--metal can contaminate the medicinal properties of the herb
  • wooden spoons
  • bottles & jars--colored glass, especially amber glass, is great for some herbs because they lose their effectiveness in light. Other herbs require the use of the sun. You’ll need to sterilize the bottle and jars before you use them. Amber-colored bottles are available at any drug store or pharmacy.
  • muslin or cheesecloth--to strain the herbs from the infusion or decoctions. Muslin or cheesecloth is great for this as well as making compresses
  • mortar & pestle--you’ll need to be able to ground or crush some herbs

Water Preparations

There are three types of herbal preparations made with water: teas, infusions, & decoctions.

Teas

Teas are made with the soft parts of a plant (leaves, flowers, and stems) and are good for taking the medicinal properties of herbs directly. Sugar or honey can be added to sweeten the taste.

  • 1t dried herb or 1T fresh herb
  • 10 oz of boiling water (approx. 1 cup)
  • Cover the pot to prevent steam from escaping.
  • Steep for 3-10 minutes depending on the herb. Strain and drink.

For a stronger flavor, use more herbs, because longer steeping may bring out a bitter flavor.

Infusions

Infusions are different from teas. Infusions are stronger than teas, and can be used for different purposes other than drinking (like soaking or washing) Infusions are made using the softer parts of the plants: leaves, flowers, and stems.

Hot Infusions:

  • 1 t. of herb
  • 1 cup of water Boil water and pour over herb.
  • Steep for 10-20 minutes. Strain and use.

Keep refrigerated for no more than 48 hours. Reheat gently.

Cold infusions: Some herbs lose their potency when exposed to heat. In that case, use a cold infusion. Use the same amounts as a warm infusion, but steep for 8-24 hours according to the specific herb.

Decoctions

Decoctions are similar to infusions, except when making decoctions, you are using the roots, seeds, or bark, or combinations of the whole herb. Roots take the longest to extract the medicinal contents. If creating a decoction made from several botanicals, use in the following order: roots, bark, seeds, herbs, flowers, spices.

  • 1 oz botanical
  • 20 oz. water Bruise or crush the botanical.
  • Boil and let the decoction simmer for 15-20 minutes in a covered pan.

Keep the decoction refrigerated and reheat gently. Do not keep for more than 48 hours.

Herbs

These are just a sampling of the herbs that I have found most useful to me, my family, and friends. There are, of course, hundreds and thousands of other medicinal plants that can be used for the same ailments. But the ones listed are the most commonly found in your grocery or health food store.

Cayenne (aka capsicum)

Cayenne benefits the body's circulation when taken alone or added to other remedies. It is also a very good carrier, meaning that it works well with other herbs enhancing their natural healing elements.

Cayenne isn't really "hot" per se. It promotes blood flow to certain areas, so when you put a pinch of caynne on your tongue, blood flow is promoted by the cayenne, giving you that "hot" feeling. Cayenne's "hotness" is measured in what are called MCUs. The higher the MCU, the "hotter" the cayenne. (Usually, the more orange or yellow the cayenne, the "hotter" it gets.) I suggest using a fairly low MCU unless you are used to "hot" sensations.

The best way to use cayenne is in the powdered form, which you can get at any grocery, health food store, or herb store.

Cayenne works well for both people and pets. You can use cayenne for:

  • caffeine withdrawal--try putting a teaspoon of cayenne in your juice (orange juice, grape juice, or any sweet juice). You can moderate the amount of cayenne. However, if you do use too much, you'll end up runing to the bathroom.
  • heart attacks
  • shock--put a small pinch of cayenne on the person's tongue.
  • ulcers (yes, ulcers)--when not cooked, cayenne can help heal ulcers. When cooked, cayenne turns caustic which can lead to ulcers.
  • teeth or gum problems--brushing with cayenne can prevent the build-up of bacteria. It's not hot and leaves a tingly feeling.

Chamomile

Chamomile might be the most commonly found herb in grocery stores, and comes in handy pre-packaged tea bags. Don't overlook chamomile just because it is so common. Research has discovered that chamomile stimulates the immune system's infection fighting white blood cells.

Chamomile can be used to:

  • Aid digestion--drink the tea 3x a day for stomach cramps
  • Nerves
  • Treat menstrual cramps--drink the tea 3x a day for cramps
  • Reduce inflammation of skin and mucous membranes
  • For babies, the tea is also useful for babies and small children with colds and stomach troubles.
  • For cankers sore swish the tea in your mouth for 3 minutes.
  • For sore eyes--make an tea for an eye wash
  • For burns--the oil applied to the skin helps burns to heal quicker.

Comfrey

Comfrey contains a substance called "allatoin" which is easily absorbed by bones and tissue promoting faster healing. The easiest use of comfrey is to make a poultice from either the dried leaves or roots. For internal use, it is easier to make a tea (from the leaves) or a decoction (from the roots). Large amounts, taken internally, might cause liver damage.

The best way that I use comfrey is externally in the form of a poultice. You can use comfrey for:

  • wounds
  • sprains
  • broken bones

Echinacea (aka Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea is a natural antibiotic. It increases the production of white blood cells. I normally use this herb to help prevent colds and flus, or to help get rid of one.

Ginger

Ginger is used for strengthening and healing the respiratory system and for fighting off colds and flu. It removes congestion, soothes sore throats, and relieves headaches and body aches. Ginger is another good carrier herb and helps enhances the healing properties of other herbs.. It is also very effective in combatting motion sickness.

Some great uses:

  • for colds and flus: make a ginger tea. Also great for warming up after a cold night.
  • nausea or motion sickness: munching on crystallized ginger gets rid of that awful feeling
  • for baths: put about two tablespoons of powedered ginger in your bath. You'd be amazed at how refreshed you'll feel.

Honey

Honey is a natural antibiotic, and helps to clean even the dirtiest wounds out. Simply pour honey around the wound. The body's heat softens the honey letting it flow into the wound taking the tiniest bit of dirt out.This is great for kids or pets who have wounds that only they can get and don't want to stand around for the hydrogen peroxide.

Peppermint

Peppermint acts as the mildest of sedatives, and works very well on children.

Some great uses:

  • It can help settle the stomach even after the most filling of meals
  • For young teething babies, peppermint oil is a nice alternative to clove oil.
  • For colds and flues-- great for young children.

Valerian

Valerian is very effective for insomnia, or to promote a restful night's sleep. It is often used as a tranquilizer, and leaves no sluggish effects on the user. You can use it for nervous tension, pain relieving, and for muscle spasms. However, valerian is very bitter, and can be too strong for young children and pets. I suggest either chamomile or peppermint when dealing with children.

When using valerian in an infusion, tea, or decoction, use it in conjuction with other herbs (such as chamomile ,peppermint, or any other sweet herb) to mask the bitter taste. I also suggest the use of honey.