Making Herbal Remedies
- Infusion- (tea) Boil water and pour it over the green perts of the herb that you are using,
Make several cups and keep this infusion in a tight jar.
- Decoction- This method of extraction, which is to remove the medicinefrom roots and
other woody substances, requires boiling the barks, etc., in a glass pot for about ten
minutes, then straining them into a covered jar. If there are green parts with the wood,
boil these starting with cold water. Make about two cups of decoction, and store it and
use it as you would an infusion.
- Extraction- Use about twice as much plant or herb to a few cups of water as you would
infusions. Keep the water cold and in a glass pot. Let the vegetable matter sit in the
water for the day before straining it and using it.
- Juice- This is an easy method where you extract the vital juices from the plant by
squeezing in an orange juice maker. Add water to the juice material an keep pressing
untill it runs dry. Juice should be taken right away so that it doesn't loose its potency.
- Dried Plants- Take the dried herb and crush it with a mortar and pestle intill fine. Take
about an eighth of a teaspoon and take it with water and something sweet if you like
- Ointment- Mix one part of your powder with three parts of petroleum jely after you
have heated and melted it. When thoroughly mixed and cooled, the ointment may be
used on your skin.
- Poultice- Boil herbs or bark. Then either wrap the bark around the spot you are treating,
or dip a cloth in the liquid and put it around the sore. Poultices are good for chest
complaints or sores or bites and other intrusions on the limbs.