Herbal Medicine I - Forms of herbal medicine Flashcards
Infusion (tea)
Herbal tea is used for preparing delicate and / or aromatic leaves and flowers:
* Place herbs in cup or warmed teapot, add just boiled water, cover, leave 10–15 minutes, strain, drink.
* Adult dose: Two teaspoons herb per cup*, three cups daily.
* Infusions can also be used for washes, foot baths, gargles, eyewashes etc.
* If using tea bags —the medicinal dose is two tea bags per cup.
Decoction
- Used for roots, seeds and barks (harder parts), which need to be ‘cooked’ to extract plant chemicals:
- Place herbs in a pan (steel, enamel, glass to avoid chemical reactions), cover with cold water, bring to boil, cover, turn down heat, simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, strain.
- Adult dose: One teaspoon dried herb per cup, three cups daily.
- Decoctions are also used for washes, foot baths, gargles etc., and are the base for making syrups.
Syrup
- Thick, sweet medicine for cough, throat and children’s remedies:
- Make a decoction, strain, reduce on low heat till half water has evaporated.
- Weigh decoction, add sugar or honey in ratio of two parts to one part decoction, stir until dissolved. Place in sterilised glass jar, label, store in fridge. Keeps for one year.
- Adult dose: Two teaspoons three times daily (children .–1 teaspoon).
- Caution: Sugar (diabetes, candida, teeth).
- Elecampane root syrup is an important treatment for coughs and asthma.
Tincture
- Extraction of plant chemicals in a mixture of alcohol and water:
- Concentrated: Broad spectrum extraction.
- Fast-acting: Phytochemicals are already extracted in the ethanol (alcohol) so can be readily absorbed.
- Good patient compliance: Easy to take.
- Long shelf life (3–5 years) alcohol stops microbes.
- Come in different strengths: 1:1 is strongest (1 kg herbs: 1 litre tincture), 1:2, 1:5 less strong.
- Minimum alcohol content 25%. Some tinctures contain more depending on the plant chemicals being extracted e.g. essential oils extract more efficiently in 45–60% alcohol.
Dosages for Tinctures
- Adult dose: 5 ml/0.17 fl. oz (100 drops) in small glass water 3 xdaily B4 food.
- Some herbs are potent and have lower dosage levels, always check product labels or text books.
- Note: If you are a not qualified herbalist, you must advise patients to follow doses on product labels. If unsure seek the advice of a qualified herbalist.
- Cautions: Tinctures are unsuitable for recovering alcoholics, in some religions, & inflammatory gut conditions e.g. gastritis (alcohol is heating).
Children’s dosages for Tinctures
Tinctures are not suitable for children under two because the liver and immunity are undeveloped. Safe after two years old, but smaller doses must be given. Approx:
Age Dose Drops daily
14 adult dose 100 drops 3 x daily.
12 ¾ adult dose 75 drops 3 x daily.
9 ½ adult dose 50 drops 3 x daily.
6 ¼ adult dose 25 drops 3 x daily.
3 1/8 adult dose 12 drops 3 x daily.
2 1/16 adult dose 6 drops 3 x daily.
Macerated oils
- Macerated oils are extractions of herbs in oil, for external use:
- Oil preserves well (one year stored in fridge).
- Ideal for massage (sprains, strains, cold hands and feet).
- Base ingredient for making skin creams and ointments.
- Note: Oils are excellent for musculoskeletal & dry skin conditions, but unsuitable in hot (inflamed) skin diseases (will aggravate & make worse!).
- Cold pressed olive oil is ideal as it is relatively cheap and easily available.
Cold Macerated Oil
- Made by steeping herbs in oil at room temperature
Cold Macerated Oil: St John’s Wort
St John’s Wort oil (skin healing, nerve pain).
* Roughly chop herb, place in jar, cover with oil, leave in a warm place for 1–2 weeks. Strain, bottle, label. Apply to affected area 2‒3 x daily.
Cold Macerated Oil: Garlic Oil
Garlic oil (fungal infections i.e. ringworm).
* Roughly chop three garlic cloves, place in jar, cover with oil, leave in dark place for three days. Strain, bottle, label. Apply to affected area 2‒3 x daily.
* Store in a cool, dark place. To reduce risk of rancidity add some vitamin E oil or a few drops of rosemary essential oil.
Hot Macerated Oil
- Made by ‘cooking’ herbs in oil at 100°C / 212°F:
- Use a ‘double boiler’, or alternatively place a heat-proof glass bowl into a larger pan of water with room to spare.
- Roughly chop herbs, place in bowl, cover with olive oil. Simmer gently for 1–2 hours, replenishing water if it evaporates.
- Cool, strain, bottle, label. Store in a cool, dark place and use vitamin E or rosemary essential oil to extend shelf-life.
- Note: Never heat oil directly as it will damage the oil and the herbs.
Hot Macerated Oil:
Calendula
Calendula for skin healing.
* ‘Best friend’ to the skin. Has antimicrobial / antifungal properties and promotes tissue healing.
* Apply to affected areas 2–3 x daily.
* For hot, red, inflamed skin avoid oil and use creams / lotions instead.
Hot Macerated Oil:
Comfrey
Comfrey for Musculoskeletal healing.
* Traditionally called ‘knit-bone’ as it speeds fracture healing.
* Apply to sprains, strains, arthritis 2–3 x daily.
* Do not apply to deep wounds.
Poultices
Application of herbs directly to affected areas:
* Place chopped / rehydrated herbs against skin, wrap with cellophane to avoid leakage, hold in place with bandage.
* Keep on for 3–4 hours, or overnight. Repeat daily or as needed.
* Plantain leaf for bruises, bites, stings. Reduces inflammation, soothes and promotes healing.
* Comfrey leaf for sprains, strains, arthritis. Decreases inflammation and increases cell proliferation to promote healing.
Cream, Lotions, Ointments
- Macerated oils are the base for most other skin products:
- Cream nourishing for dry / inflamed skin. Macerated oil + emulsifying wax + water.
- Lotion watery, cool for hot, red, inflamed skin.Macerated oil + emulsifying wax +++ water.
- Ointment thick, oily, warming for dry skin. Macerated oil + melted beeswax.
- A good guide for making skin preparations is Cook, brew and blend your own herbs by Neal’s Yard.
- Calendula (marigold) cream is the best all round treatment for skin conditions such as eczema.
