|
|
Commonly
Used
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.
|