By Dawyn Cloud-Alter

This article will discuss the many ways herbalists prepare herbal medicines.

Teas

Teas have the most benefit for chronic aliments.  If they are used for a consistent length of time they work gradually and often have positive results.  The menstrumm (the substance used to extract the plant constituents) in tea is water.  It is easy and simple.

Infusions & Decoctions

Infusion or tisanes is simply the way to remove the vitamins, mucilage, and volatile oils from the herbs.  The herbs are not boiled but steeped for at least 20 minutes. 

Decoction is the method used to extract the material from roots, barks, seeds and nuts.  The herbs are simmered and the volume of water is reduced to about half the amount you initially started out with.

Medicinal Oils

Medicinal oils are used from everything to ear aches to massage oils.  They are used externally.  The second type are essential oils these are distilled and highly concentrated and contain the volatile oils of the plant.  This type should never be ingested.  You should seek the advice of a professional.

Tinctures

Tinctures are highly concentrated liquid extracts of herbs.  There are basically three types of  menstrumm (liquid used to extract the chemical constituents of the herbs ) used for tinctures.  Alcohol, (usually vodka, brandy, grain alcohol)  Glycerine, and Vinegar.  The herbs maturate after a period of 2 weeks or longer depending on the tincture. 

Salves/Ointments

Salves and Ointments are made from a medicinal oil which is used to extract the medicinal properties of the herb.  Beeswax is often use to make the salve/ointments solid.  They are used externally.  Remember things like ben gay and vicks vapor rub as a youngster, they would fall into this category.

Liniments

Basically similar to a tincture and used externally.  A commercial example of this would be ivy dry. 

Pills

Are made with herbs that have been powered and formed into a pill , and are chewed, dissolved sublingually or suckled on.

Capsules

Herbs are powered (as in the above process) and placed into a capsule.  Unlike tincture or teas, capsules need to be digested by the body which can slow down the receiving benefit.  (However, tinctures and teas go directly to the bloodstream)

Suppository/Bolus

Herbs are powered and made into a suppository using oils and coca butter or coconut oil, which renders a product that is solid and which dissolves at body temperature..

Poultice

Herbs are ground, moistened and applied directly to the affected area.

Douche

Herbs are made into teas or tincture, and applied as a douche for aliments like yeast infections.

Enema

Herbs are used in liquid form such as a tea and used as an enema.

Tonics

Tonics are herbs that are also made with a menstrumm and are taken daily.  They are used to tone or correct a specific problem.  Tonics stimulate nutrition by assisting the assimilation of essential nutrients by the organs, and increase systemic tone due to the increase strength and energy to the tissues of either a specific organ/or the whole body.

Remember to create as much balance in your Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional parts of your being.  They are not separate but are connected to one another.  The first part of any significant healing is this realization.

Dawyn Cloud-Alter has been in the field of human services for over twenty years, and a psychotherapist for eleven years.  She has a B.S. degree in Human Services, a Master Of Science Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy,  Certificate in Family Herbalsim from the Clayton College Of natural Health, and a member of the Connecticut Holistic Health Association.  She resides in Sandy Hook Connecticut with her husband Mark and their three children ages Justin age 16, Autumn age 11, and Cameron age 6.