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Herbal Medicine Making
Things to always remember when making herbal medicines:
• Never use aluminum, plastic or iron in your preparation.
• Always label and date your medicine and include where the herb came from.
• Children’s doses should be determined as such:165 divided by the child's weight. All of the doses listed are adult.
• Avoid heat or direct sun when not necessary for preparation.
Infusions:
Simply refers to a medicinal strength tea that is steeped in water (just taken off of a boil) for approximately 10-20 minutes. This method is appropriate for the herb a, or top part of the plant including the leaves, flowers and buds. If the plant is rich in essential oils, make sure the infusion is covered. Infusions can be strained and drank warm or cold; add honey if desired. Infusions can be stored for up to three days in the refrigerator. Typical doses range from a tablespoon of dried herb to one cup of water taken 3-5 times daily or one ounce of dried herb (usually a combination of three to five herbs) to four cups of water taken throughout the day. It is wise to suggest pleasant tasting herbs for this application.
Decoction:
When your botanicals are tougher in nature, such as roots, barks, leathery leaves or seeds, you will want to simmer them on very low heat for 10-20 minutes in water. Always cover decoctions and start herbs in cold water and then bring to a simmer (don’t throw herbs into boiling water). Dosages are typically the same as for infusions.
Maceration:
Simply an infusion without using heat. In this method you would bruise or chop the leaves and flowers and let steep in tepid water over night. This is appropriate for plants high in essential oil that you want to preserve or plants high in tannins that you don’t want to draw out. If this is done in the sun it is called a sun infusion. It is also fun to do a moon infusion around the time of a full moon. Dosages are the same as with an infusion. Always store refrigerated after the initial infusion.
Herb Vinegars:
Botanical constituents can be extracted into vinegar if the active ingredients are not alkaloids or resins. Therefore, many of the nutritive herbs that are rich in minerals would be appropriate for this application. Simply cover fresh or dried herbs with apple cider vinegar. Shake daily for two weeks and strain. This vinegar can be used by itself or added to foods.
Tincture:
A preparation made with alcohol and water (called the menstrum) which is suitable for most botanicals. Herbs are finely cut and put into a glass jar for two weeks. This preparation should be shook for one minute daily. After two weeks, the herbs are strained and you end up with a very potent medicine. Tinctures retain their potency for many years and are a convenient way of storing medicine.
• The percentage of alcohol can be measured as half the proof Example: 80 Proof vodka contains 40% alcohol. A tincture made from dried herbs needs at least 25% alcohol to stay stable. A tincture made from fresh herbs needs at least 50% alcohol to stay stable because fresh herbs already have water in their cells. For more specific amounts, check the solvency range chart.
• Solvency rates refer to the percentage of alcohol needed to maximize the amount of medicine that is extracted from a plant. These rates refer to dry herbs and should be doubled for fresh herbs.
• 1:5 ratio of a tincture means: 1 part dry herb(in weight) to: 5 parts(in weight) menstrum. This is a typical ratio for medicinal herbs. Strong or toxic herbs are usually tinctured at a 1:10 ratio. Fresh herbs are typically tinctured at a 1:1 ratio. (It is difficult to achieve this ratio and you will have to chop the herb to fit it into the menstrum.)
• Alcoholics or those sensitive to alcohol should never take an alcohol tincture.
• The standard dose for a 160 lb. adult is usually 2 ml. three to five times daily. This can vary greatly depending on the strength of the herb and duration of use. Tincture should be diluted in water or juice.
• Pouring boiling water over tincture can reduce the amount of alcohol by around 70%. This will also reduce amounts of essential oils if they are present.
Glycerite:
Made with vegetable glycerin, the preparation is similar to making a tincture. Using a 1:5 ratio with dried herbs, your menstrum should be 60% glycerin and 40% purified water. For fresh herbs using a 1:1 ratio,your menstrum should be 90% glycerin and 10% water. An adult dosage should be around 2 teaspoons 3-5 times daily. This is very sweet and can be taken directly under the tongue. Although this is a stable mixture, it should only be stored for 6 months to one year. There is a higher risk of your glycerite molding than with an alcohol tincture, so take care to cover all herbs with the menstrum.
Capsules:
Some herbs are difficult to consume as a tea or tincture. Herbs such as cayenne may be more appealing in a gelatin capsule. Many health food stores carry empty gelatin capsules that can be filled with powdered herbs
Tablets:
Combine one cup of powdered herbs and 1/4 cup flour. Add water until the paste is the consistency of pie crust dough. Roll out balls of herb/flour mixture and place on a paper towel. Put tablets in a dry dark place to dry; store in a dark jar after drying completely.
Syrups:
These are sweet liquids that are easy to administer to children or adults who are having problems with tinctures or the taste of infusions. The honey or glycerin acts as a preservative to extend the life of the product.
• Juice Syrup: In your electric juicer, juice the leaves of medicinal herbs. Add an equal amount of honey to your juice. The typical dose is around 1 teaspoon three to five times daily. Store refrigerated 3-6 months.
• Cordial Syrup: Combine one part alcohol tincture with two parts of honey. Take approximately one tablespoon three times daily; stores for 6 months un-refrigerated.
• Fluid Extract Syrup: Extract is a confusing term that is used for many types of herb medicine. For our purposes, this means a concentrate made from an infusion or decoction. Use one ounce of dry herb for every cup of water. After making the infusion or decoction, reduce the liquid on very low heat for a number of hours to half of the original volume. Add an equal part of honey or a little more than half glycerin to the liquid reduction. Refrigerate this and it should keep 3-6 months. Take 1-2 tablespoons three times daily or as needed.
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The statements made have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Herbal formulas, natural remedies, and aromatherapy products related to alternative health products on this site have not been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The statements on this website are based principally on traditional knowledge accumulated over thousands of years of Chinese medical practices. The content provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information on this site to diagnose or treat any health issues. As always, you should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, beginning an exercise program, using herbs or other supplementation programs, before taking any pharmaceutical medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Unless specifically mentioned in the product label, our herbal supplements, natural remedies, and alternative health products are not intended for children under the age of 18, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. Ingredients and dosage recommendations may change - see product label for current information. Please refer to our policy/FAQ’s page before making a purchase.
