Herbal teas

There are two methods of making herbal teas; by infusion or decoction.

Infusions:

Infusions are hot water extracts made from herbs with medicinal constituents in their flowers, leaves and stems such as chamomile, mint, green and black tea among others.

Decoction:

Decoction is boiling tougher parts of plants, such as roots or bark, for a longer period of time such as ginger or cinnamon tea.

Herbal tinctures

A tincture is made by soaking a plant, or parts of a plant, in alcohol. Alcohol is important in the extraction of an herb's medicinal ingredients, as it helps to stabilize and preserve them. Because these compounds are well-preserved, they have a long shelf life. Herbal constituents in tincture-form are more readily absorbed by the body and have a high degree of bio-availability.

Capsules or Tablets

Capsules are made from dried, powdered herbs that are packed into tablets or gelatin capsules. This is a convenient way to carry herbs, and to take herbs that are unpleasant tasting or smelling.

Fluid extracts

Fluid extracts are stronger than herbal tinctures, are thicker than a liquid, and can be made with alcohol or glycerin. Various types of extracts are available such as solid extracts of licorice and hawthorne.

Juices

Fresh juices of plants/ herbs are simply prepared by crushing the plant into juice. This is an excellent way of getting vitamins and minerals from the plant; but the juice must be taken within a short time after being prepared, since the vitamin content declines rapidly and fermentation sets in.

Herbal poultices

Poultices are used externally to treat affected areas. They are generally prepared fresh for each use by crushing the medicinal parts of the plants to a pulpy mass. If dried herbs are used, they are generally mixed in a substance such as water or vegetable fat before it is applied to the skin. For example, a mustard poultice is a mixture of ground mustard seeds mixed into a paste with flour and water, put on a piece of wet cotton or muslin, and placed over the chest for chronic coughs, chest congestion, bronchitis or pneumonia. A compress is a poultice that uses a piece of cloth soaked in a decoction or an infusion instead of a pulpy mass.

Herbal ointments

An ointment, or salve, is a semi-solid preparation made to be applied to the skin. Depending on the purpose and its method of preparation, the texture can vary from very greasy to a thick paste. The simplest ointments use beeswax, olive oil or vegetable oil as a base.

Essential oils

Essential oils are extractions of volatile liquid plant materials and other aromatic compounds from plants. Most people are familiar with essential oils such as lavender, for relaxation, and eucalyptus, for colds or coughs. Essential oils are used with caution, as this is one of the most concentrated forms of delivering a plant's constituents. They are generally only used externally and diluted in water, ointments, baths or oils.