How to Make Herbal Tea

Form: Bulk herbs as teas, also called infusions.
Description: Usually the dried leaves, skins, and flowers of herbs in bulk form. Keep covered when in dried form, as bulk herbs can lose their essential oils rapidly if left open to the elements.
How to Make: Place bulk tea in a metal tea ball or press filter, which are both fairly inexpensive. Or, make sure to have some cheesecloth or coffee filters to strain tea when it is finished. Pour boillng water over herbs, and let sit for about five minutes or longer for a stronger taste. Teas only need a short exposure time to water to extract their oils and medicinal value.
How to Take: Drink right awy or refrigerate for later use. Teas work best on an empty stomacch. Use approximately four tablespoons of herb per cup. If making tea from an encapsulated herb, use two to four capsules per cup. (Capsules are usually more concentrated than the bulk herb, so you will need to utilize more of the loose herb than the powder)

Form: Decoctions.
Description: Usually stronger than teas. Decoctions are usually the twigs, stems, and dried roots of the herbs, which take a longer exposure time in hot water to extract their medicinal properties. Decocions can be used for drinking or as enemas or douches.
How to Make: If your bulk herbs are not already cut into small pieces, slice all herb roots diagonally for maximum exposure to water. Place bulk herb into a pot of water, and bring water to a boil. Use approximately one ounce of heb for every one to two pints of water. Lower heat, and simmer covered for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain herbs before drinking.
How to Take: Treat thre same as a tea and reftigerate if not taken right away. Again, this form of tea works best if your stomach is empty. It should also be drunk unsweetened.

Form: Compress or fomentafion.
Description: For external use for injuries.
How to Make: Prepare decoction, ot ifuion (tea) as above.
How to Take: When decoction or lnfusion is ready, dip a clean rag into the mixture and place on injured area. As cloth cools, re-immerce into solution and re-apply to affected area. Repeat daily, if needed. This cloth may be wrapped with a bandage or esen plastic wrap to keep it in place. A hot compress is also called a fomentation. This means that you apply extra heat on top of the soaked rag. You can place plastic over a soaked rag, then a dry towel, and then a heating pad or hot water bottle. Fomentations (or hot compresses) are best used for spastic or cold conditions such as muscle spasms or tension as they help relax and warm the body. Compresses can also be cold and are mostly used to decongest areas or inflamed conditions cuch as edema constipation, poor urine flow, fevers, and sinus congestion. If you are really feeling energetic, you can also have your partner make you a hot and a cold compress and altenate them. This type of therapy stimulates circulation to the affected area and is hetpful for injuries, sprains, bruising, lumps, bumps, and tumors.

Form: Poultice.
Description: A poultice is a paste made from herbs for an external application for injuries or infections, such as boils. The poultice's value is the rapid absorption of the herb through the skin. A poultice will generally stimulate circulaflon, reduce infection, pull out toxins through skin, reduce inflammation, and relieve irritations.
Haw to Make: Using herb powders is best for making poultices. Capsules can be opened and the powder dumped out, or you can make your own powder from bulk herbs by using a mortar and pestle to crush the herb into powder. If using a freshly cut herb grate, crush or chew it a bit first. Moisten dry powdered herb with a liquid herb, such as aloe vera (we'1l talk about aloe later) until it has a pasty consistency. Other safe options to bind your herbs together with include eggwhites, slippery elm, clay or olive oil.
How to Take: Appty paste to injury, and cover with plastic, cheesecloth, wool, or muslin cloth and wrap with a bandage to hold in place. Change two to four times a day, or as necessary.

Form: Capsules or tablets.
Desciption: Probably the most convenient way to take herbs. Powdered herbs can come in a capsule form (usually made from gelatin or cellulose materials) or tablet form (usually a bit stronger than the capsules and made from a powdered herb that is compressed and coated to form a pill). Make sure that the company you get tablets from uses a natural coating, not plastic or synthetic coatings. All ingredients, including the binding or base materials used to form tablets, should be listed. If not, find out before you buy.
How to Make: If you'd rather swallow your herbs in a capsule, but you bought or grew your own herbs inbulk form, you can purchase empty capsules at your local health food store and encapsulate your herbs yourself. (Nature's Way makes Vegicaps, which are labeled kosher.) Crush your dried herbs into powder form with a mortar and pestle to make it easier to encapulate. You will also get more herb in each capsule this way.
How to Take: Swallow with plenty of water.

Form: Liquid/Tinctures.
Descrition: Liquid herbs, known as tinctures, are concentrated herbal extracts that can be preserved over longer periods of time. They are easier to administer to children, the elderly and pets and are easily absorbed. Liquid herbs require a base, which is usually either glycerin or alcohol, to stabilize them. If an extract has an alcohol base that is disagreeable to taste, the herb can be placed in a small amount of very hot water before drinking. The hot water will vaporate the alcohol. Tinctures are not suited for those who lack tolerance to alcohol.
How to Make: To make your own liquid extracts use one pint of 60-proof or higher alcohol (brandy, gin, and vodka have all been used), glycerin, or apple cider vinegar to four ounces of herb powder. Combine in container with lid for two to six weeks. Vigorously shake the mixture two times per day. You will notice a slow change in the color. Strain tincture through cheesecloth and store in a dark colored bottle (preferably rvith a dropper so that it can be easily administered).
How to Take: Take sublingually with a dropper, or by the teaspoon-usually a few drops will do. Or, place drops in water or iuice, and drink. Tinctures may also be used externally.

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