HERBAL TERMS

INFUSION - herbal tea made by steeping herbs for 5 to 10 minutes. take lukewarm or cool.

DECOCTION - extracting the mineral salts and bitters from herbs. boil green plants parts for 2 to 4 minutes, roots and bark for 10 minutes.

COLD EXTRACT - preserves the volatile ingredients. let stand for 8 to 12 hours.

JUICE - good for water soluble ingredients ie. vitamin and minerals. put in blender or juicer with small amount of water. strain and drink right away.

POWDER - grind herbs until you have a powder, put into gelatin capsules. #0 hold about 10 grains of powder #15 hold about 15 grains. good for yucky tasting herbs.

SYRUP - good for getting children to take herbs. ie cough a nd colds.

TINCTURE - extract made with a 50% alcohol solution. let stand for two weeks. will keep a very long time. use only a few drop at a time. very strong.

ESSENCE - dissolve a herbs essential oil in alcohol. this is good for preserving a herbs volatile essential oil. ie aromatherapy.

OINTMENT - mix one part remedy in powdered form to hot petroleum jelly, lard or beeswax. slowly melt until completely blended and extracted.

POULTICE OR CATAPLASM - used to get a remedy to the skin with moist heat. good for bruises, rashes, etc.

FOMENTATION - soak a cloth or towel in an infusion or decoction, wring out and apply as hot as possible to the affected area. good for sprains.

COLD COMPRESS - soak cloth or towel in an infusion or decoction that has been cooled, wring out excess. repeat when cloth gets warm, about every 15 to 20 minutes.