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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. |
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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, 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. |
