DeIinitions & Making Herbal Preparations

Compress
Soak a soft cloth in a hot infusion, decoction, or 5-20 ml tincture in 500 ml hot
water. Squeeze out excess water and hold pad against affected area.
Cream
A mixture of fats and water that blends with the skin to strengthen and smooth it.
Use 30 g lanolin, 15 oz beeswax, 100 g. vegetable or fruit oil, and 30 ml herb water.
Melt the lanolin and beeswax in a double boiler, gently stirring in the oil. Remove
from heat and whisk in the herb water. Keep stirring as it cools. Store in wide
mouth jars.
Decoction
Made by simmering larger pieces of the herb, such as bark, roots, or twigs. Use 30 g.
dried or 60 g. fresh herb to 750 ml water; simmer until the water is reduced to 500
ml. Drink 1/2 cup three times a day.
Infused oils
--Hot infusion: 250 g. dried or 500 g. fresh herb to 750 ml Olive or Vegetable Oil.
Heat gently in a double boiler for 3 hours. Strain through cheesecloth into dark
bottles.
--Cold infusion: Pack a large jar with the herb. Cover it with cold-pressed oil and
put the lid on. Let stand in a sunny window sill for 2-3 weeks. Squeeze the oil
through a jelly bag and repeat the process. Store in dark glass bottles.
Infusion
A tea made by pouring boiled (not actively boiling) water over fresh or dried herbs.
Use approximately 30 g. dried or 75 g. fresh herbs to 500 ml water. Drink 1/2 cup
three times a day.
Macerate
To make, pour 500ml of cold water over 25g of herb and leave to stand overnight.
Then strain and use as you would a decoction.
Massage Oils
Use 5 drops essential oil to 20 ml carrier oil. Sweet almond, jojoba, avocado or
grapeseed make good carrier oils. You can also used infused oils.
Ointment
A mixture of oils and fats that forms a protective layer over the skin. Melt 500 g.
petroleum jelly or soft paraffin wax in a double boiler. Add 60 g. dried herb and
simmer gently for 2 hours. Strain through a jelly bag and pour into jars while still
hot.
Plaster
Wrap the chopped or boiled herbs, or a paste made from them, in cheesecloth or
muslin before applying to the affected area. This is good for herbs that might
irritate the skin, such as mustard.
Poultice
Boil herbs in a little water for a hot poultice, or bruise or chop slightly for a cold
one. Smooth a little oil on the skin to keep the herbs from sticking, apply the herb,
and wrap with muslin or gauze strips.
Steam Inhalants
Place a few tablespoons of the dried herb in a bowl and pour boiling water over
them. Drape a towel

HERBAL PREPARATIONS

There are so many ways to heIp cIeanse the
body by stImuIatIng cIrcuIatIon and movement.
HerbaI preparatIons can cause the body to
sweat, therefore excretIng toxIc gunk.
host herbaI remedIes are non-InvasIve,
aIthough some may come In the form of a
boIus, whIch Is Inserted rectaIIy or vagInaIIy
and others may be concocted or extracted and
then Ingested.
Enjoy researchIng herbaI preparatIons and remember to take care of
yourseIf.

HEPAL
PPEPAPATIDNS
A-Z

Bolus
Capsules
Compresses
Decoction
Extracts
InIusion
Ointmints
Oils
Poultice
Powders
Salves
Syrups
Tinctures


DLUS
A boIus Is a supposItory used as an InternaI pouItIce In the vagInaI or rectaI areas. A boIus heIps
draw toxIc poIsons to the boIus ItseIf or It Is the carrIer for heaIIng agents.
The boIus may be made by addIng powdered herbs to cocoa butter untII It forms a compressed and
thIck consIstency. It Is best to refrIgerator the boIus temporarIIy to harden and then before It Is
used, brIng the boIus to room temperature.
The boIus may be Inserted Into the vagIna to treat InfectIons, IrrItatIons or fIbroId tumors or Into
the rectum to treat hemorrhoIds or cysts. It Is best to use the boIus at nIght whIIe sIeepIng when
the cocoa butter wIII meIt wIth the body heat, where the herbs wIII then be reIeased.
The herbs used In the boIus are usuaIIy astrIngents. ThIs means that they have a constrIctIng or
bIndIng affect. They'II have the abIIIty to puII the toxIns out of the body. TypIcaI herbs used In a
boIus wouId be whIte oak or bayberry bark; demuIcent herbs wIII soothe the part or soften the skIn
to the area appIIed. 0emuIcent herbs are comfrey or sIIppery eIm, and antIbIotIc herbs wIII InhIbIt
the growth of or destroy mIcroorganIsms. AntIbIotIc herbs are garIIc, chaparraI or goIden seaI.

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CAPSULES
CeIatIn capsuIes may provIde a more favorabIe way of IngestIng herbs, especIaIIy when they are
bItter-tastIng or mucIIagInous. hucIIagInous herbs wouId be sIImy or stIcky. Herbs such as
goIdenseaI, IobeIIa, mandrake, and poke shouId best be taken In smaIIer quantItIes and are
typIcaIIy mIxed wIth other herbs.
When purchasIng capsuIes from a superIor herb company they may be depended on to be
uncontamInated, cIean and combIned In the suItabIe proportIons. When they are acquIred through
a reputabIe company, they are usuaIIy arranged and measured by chemIsts who are traIned In
herbaI studIes.
When takIng capsuIes, they may be dIssoIved In or taken whoIe wIth eIght ounces of water or your
favorIte herbaI tea.

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CDhPPESSES
When we thInk of the word compress, It brIngs to mInd pressure to a body part wIth varyIng
pressure to controI a hemorrhage. ut a compress that we are dIscussIng here may be appIIed wIth
IIttIe or no pressure at aII.
Compresses are used to provoke the cIrcuIatIon of the bIood or Iymph In the body and may be
appIIed eIther warm or hot. When appIIed coId they soothe paIn and reduce sweIIIng. They are aIso
used for superfIcIaI affIIctIons that may IncIude aches, coIds, fIu, paIns and sweIIIngs.
HerbaI compresses may accompIIsh the same effect as an oIntment combIned wIth the benefIt of
heat whIch Is a heaIIng actIon. Dne or two heapIng tabIespoons of an herb or herbaI combInatIon
are brought to boII In 1 cup of water. A 100X cotton pad or sterIIe gauze Is Important sInce It Is a
naturaI materIaI and Is dIpped In the straIned IIquId. The excess IIquId Is draIned and the cotton
pad Is then pIaced on the affected area whIIe It Is stIII warm. It Is best covered wIth a pIece of
wooIen materIaI to trap the heat. For smaII chIIdren, bandagIng It In pIace may be approprIate.
When the compress cooIs, It Is tIme to change the pad. Compresses are commonIy used In cases of
contusIons, effusIons, Injury, and IrrItatIons.
A compress Is aIso known as a fomentatIon. A fomentatIon Is a hot, wet appIIcatIon for the reIIef of
paIn or InfIammatIon. These compresses are used when herbs that are too strong to be taken
InternaIIy may be used externaIIy. The herbs wIII then be absorbed In smaII amounts sIowIy Into
the system through the skIn. 0on't forget, our skIn does absorb, breathe, secrete and sweat.
hy favorIte Is a gInger compress whIch may be used by usIng two-ounces of fresh powdered gInger
root In a pInt of hot water untII the water turns yeIIow. The compress Is then appIIed to the
affected area. It Is a good Idea to have an aIternate compress avaIIabIe as soon as one cooIs. y
stImuIatIng the cIrcuIatIon of bIood and Iymph, It may heIp reduce or reIIeve coIIc, aIIevIate
externaI or InternaI InfIammatIon and may aIso restore warmth to coId, sweIIIng joInts typIcaI In
arthrItIs.

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0ECDCTIDN
A decoctIon Is a IIquId therapeutIc preparatIon made by boIIIng vegetabIe substances wIth water.
When the strength and method of preparatIons are not otherwIse specIfIed, It may be made by
boIIIng fIve parts of the herb wIth enough water to make 100 parts. There are no offIcIaI
decoctIons.
Dften, a decoctIon Is used when a pIant Is not soIubIe In boIIIng hot or coId water, but wIII often
produce Its soIubIe IngredIents by sImmerIng In water fIve to twenty mInutes. FIve mInutes Is
enough If the herbaI preparatIon Is fIneIy shredded. If the herb Is fIrm or woody, such as a bark,
twenty mInutes Is necessary to produce a suffIcIent extract. It may be usefuI If the herbs or pIants
are InItIaIIy soaked In coId water and then brought to a boII.
A teaspoon of the drIed herb Is typIcaIIy pIaced In a gIass or enameI contaIner wIth one cup of
water. It Is a good Idea to straIn decoctIons whIIe they are stIII hot so the IngredIents that separate
when cooIed may be mIxed agaIn wIth the fIuId by shakIng when the remedy Is used. ThIs Is a good
method for drawIng out the essentIaI aIkaIoIds and mIneraI saIts from the herbs.

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EXTPACTS
An extract Is a soIId or semI-soIId preparatIon made by extractIng the soIubIe portIon of a
compound by usIng water or aIcohoI and evaporatIng the soIutIon.
Some herbaI extracts are rubbed Into the skIn for treatIng straIned muscIes and spraIned
IIgaments. Some are used for the reIIef of InfIammatory processes such as arthrItIs, bursItIs or
tendonItIs. Extracts usuaIIy contaIn herbs that are stImuIatIng, such as cayenne or the antI-
spasmodIc herb, IobeIIa.
Extracts may be made by puttIng four ounces of drIed herbs or eIght ounces of fresh crushed herbs
Into a jar. Dne pInt of vInegar, aIcohoI or massage oII Is then added and aIIowed to extract. The jar
Is shaken, not stIrred, one to two tImes per day. The extract Is produced after about four days If
the herbs are powdered and about fIfteen days If the herbs are whoIe or cut.
If an oII such as aImond, castor, jojoba, mIneraI or oIIve Is used, a IIttIe VItamIn E may be added as
a preservatIve. ThIs oII may then be appIIed wherever a massage oII Is typIcaIIy used.
As a chIId, my mom sometImes used an aIcohoI extract wIth Vodka CIn, or rubbIng aIcohoI. These
extracts were for externaI use onIy and had a somewhat cooIIng effect. ThIs aIIowed the IIquId to
evaporate more quIckIy and Ieft the herbs on the skIn to perform theIr therapeutIc duty.
Extracts may aIso be purchased from a reputabIe company.

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INFUSIDN
An InfusIon Is made by steepIng a substance In eIther hot or coId water In order to obtaIn Its actIve
prIncIpIe part.
InfusIons are made by pourIng the hot IIquId over the raw or powdered herb and steepIng the
preparatIon to extract theIr actIve IngredIents. When usIng the method of InfusIon, It may
mInImIze any Ioss of evaporatIve propertIes. The typIcaI amounts are about to 1 ounce of herbs
to a pInt of water. It Is best to use an enameI, gIass or porceIaIn contaIner to steep the herbs for
about 10 to 20 mInutes. The contaIner Is then covered wIth a fIrm fIttIng IId to avoId any
evaporatIve propertIes.
When drInkIng an InfusIon, fIrst straIn the InfusIon Into a cup or smaII bowI. It Is preferabIe to
drInk an InfusIon eIther Iukewarm or cooI; but If the purpose Is to InstIgate a sweat and to break
up congestIon In the body, then sIppIng It hot Is a better choIce.

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DINThENTS
An oIntment Is a therapeutIc, fatty, soft substance for externaI appIIcatIon onIy. It typIcaIIy has
antIseptIc, cosmetIc or heaIIng propertIes. It's usuaI base Is petroIeum jeIIy or IanoIIn to whIch the
herbaI preparatIon Is added. EIther form Is not water soIubIe, however some oIntments are
composed of IngredIents whIch are water soIubIe.
DIntments are preferabIy used on the skIn when the actIve prIncIpIes of herbs are needed for
Ionger perIods of tIme whIch wouId then acceIerate the heaIIng process. ThIs may be In the case of
abrasIon, contusIon, effusIon, or Injury.
LanoIIn Is a purIfIed, fatIIke substance that Is naturaI and obtaIned from the wooI of sheep whIch
may be used Instead of petroIeum products.
To make an oIntment, one or two heapIng teaspoons of an herb or herbaI preparatIon Is brought to
boII In the product of choIce. The mIxture Is then stIrred and straIned. When the mIxture cooIs,
the oIntment Is put Into jars and Is ready to use when the tIme Is rIght.

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DILS
An oII Is a greasy IIquId not mIscIbIe wIth water, usuaIIy obtaIned from and cIassIfIed as mIneraI,
vegetabIe or anImaI. AccordIng to character, oIIs are subdIvIded as fIxed or fatty; and eIther
voIatIIe (easIIy evaporated) or essentIaI.
FIxed oIIs e.g. - castor oII, oIIve oII, or coId IIver oII. These oIIs In pIants and anImaIs are gIyceryI
esters of fatty acIds. These oIIs serve as food reserves In anImaIs. They are nonvoIatIIe and contaIn
no acId.
VoIatIIe oIIs e.g. - mustard, peppermInt or rose. These oIIs have an odor and produce taste
sensatIons whIch are obtaIned from certaIn pIants by steam dIstIIIatIon. These oIIs are used In
fIavors, perfumes and heaIIng remedIes. They are usuaIIy compIex chemIcaIs that are dIffIcuIt to
purIfy.
Herb oIIs are usefuI when oIntments or compresses are not practIcaI. It Is Important that herb oIIs
be stored In brown gIass contaIners.
When the maIn property of an herb Is much the same as Its essentIaI oIIs, an oII extract may be the
best way of preparIng a concentrate from fresh herbs.
DIIs are prepared by softenIng and poundIng the fresh, drIed herbs. The oII of choIce Is then
added, approxImateIy 2 ounces of an herb to one pInt of oII. The mIxture Is then put In a warm
pIace around four days. A swIfter process Is to carefuIIy heat the oII and herbs In a pan for about
one hour. The oII Is then straIned and bottIed. A smaII amount of VItamIn E may be added as a
preservatIve.
DIIs are typIcaIIy made from the aromatIc herbs such as eucaIyptus, Iavendar, gInger, peppermInt,
and spearment.

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PDULTICE
A pouItIce may be a hot, moIst mass of oII between two pIeces of musIIn or gauze contaInIng herbs
whIch Is appIIed to the skIn to reIIeve congestIon or paIn. It may stImuIate the absorptIon of
InfIammatory toxIns produced by the body and to act as a counter-IrrItant. AntIseptIc shouId be
used before appIyIng pouItIces.
The pouItIce shouId be a mInImum of to Inch thIck. It may be heId In pIace wIth eIther tape or
an eIastIc bandage and Ieft on for at Ieast three hours. PouItIces can aIso be Ieft on the body
overnIght for deep cIeansIng. host pouItIces are appIIed warm and shouId not be reheated and
then reappIIed as toxIns have aIready been absorbed Into the pouItIce pack. When one pouItIce
cooIs, another may be appIIed at that tIme.
efore appIyIng a pouItIce, the skIn Is fIrst covered wIth oII. The pouItIce may be warm crushed
fresh or ground powdered herbs that have been appIIed dIrectIy to the skIn to reIIeve abscesses,
bIood poIsonIng, bItes and eruptIons, boIIs, decrease tIssue sweIIIng (InfIammatIon) and tensIon,
deodorIze and dIsInfect poIIutants, soften crusted IesIons, encourage the muscIes to reIax,
stImuIate heaIthy skIn, and to promote the purgIng of toxIns and heaIIng of the affected area.
There are many herbaI preparatIons that may be used as a pouItIce; aIoe vera juIce, comfrey, or
goIdenseaI appIIed to bruIses and a bandage put on for a few hours. hany herbs have a naturaI
drawIng power on InfectIons, toxIns and foreIgn bodIes embedded In the skIn tIssue. PIantaIn and
marshmaIIow are exceIIent for reIIevIng paIn and muscIe spasms. If cayenne Is a stImuIant when
added to herbs such as IobeIIa, vaIerIan, catnIp or echInacea. Powdered herbs may be moIstened
wIth appIe cIder vInegar, herbaI teas, hot water, IInIments, or tInctures.
A pIaster may aIso be used as a pouItIce. A potent pIaster for drawIng out fever may be made by
squeezIng out water from tofu and mashIng the tofu wIth pastry fIour and a Iarge pInch of fresh
gInger root.

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PDW0EPS
A powder Is a coIIectIon of fIne partIcIes of one or more substances that may be passed through
fIne meshes.
Powders are made from fresh parts of pIants whIch are mashed untII there are fIne partIcIes of the
herbaI property. y formIng a powder, the herb can be taken eIther by capsuIe, In water, In herbaI
teas, or sprInkIed onto food.
ThIs Is an terrIfIc method to acquaInt herbs at a IeIsureIy pace to become famIIIar wIth the dosage.
For externaI use, the powdered herbs, are used wIth oII, a petroIeum jeIIy, IanoIIn, water or even
aIoe vera juIce and appIIed to the skIn to treat abrasIons, contusIons, effusIons, InfIammatory
processes, and wounds.

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SALVES
A saIve Is an oIntment that Is appIIed to wounds or abrasIons. A saIve Is typIcaIIy made wIth a base
of fat, oII, petroIeum jeIIy or a resIn. DIIve oII Is usuaIIy the base of choIce.
0rIed or fresh herbs are covered wIth water and brought to a boII, whIch are then sImmered for
approxImateIy 20 - 30 mInutes. The preparatIon Is then straIned and added to an equaI amount of
oIIve oII or the base of choIce. The preparatIon Is sImmered untII the water has evaporated In
steam and onIy the oII remaIns. eeswax Is added to gIve the mIxture saIve consIstency and poured
Into a dark gIass jar wIth a fIrm fIttIng IId. SaIves may Iast up to a year.

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SYPUPS
A syrup that we are most famIIIar wIth Is a concentrated soIutIon of sugar In water wIth specIfIc
heaIIng propertIes added.
A syrup Is cIassIc In treatIng coughs, mucus congestIon, bronchIaI catarrh and sore throats because
It may coat the area and keep the herbs In dIrect contact wIth the affected area. Syrups are
especIaIIy heIpfuI for chIIdren and those wIth a sensItIve paIate.
Syrups may be made by addIng about two ounces of herbs to a quart of water and cautIousIy boIIed
down to one pInt. WhIIe the bIend Is stIII warm, two ounces of honey andlor gIycerIne Is added to
produce the thIckened substance. LIcorIce and wIId cherry bark are popuIar fIavors and
therapeutIc agents In makIng syrups. Dther herbs that are commonIy used are anIse seed, comfrey,
fenneI seed and IrIsh hoss.

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TINCTUPE
TInctures are aIcohoIIc extracts of vegetabIe or anImaI substances. Some popuIar tInctures are
beIIadonna and gInger.
TInctures are soIutIons of a concentrated herbaI extract that can be stored for extended perIods of
tIme because aIcohoI Is an exceIIent preservatIve. TInctures are typIcaIIy made wIth more potent
herbs that are not taken as herbaI teas. TInctures may be made by combInIng four ounces of a
powdered or cut herb wIth one poInt of aIcohoI such as brandy, gIn, rum or vodka. The tInctures Is
shaken daIIy whIch aIIows the herbs to extract for about two weeks. The herbs are then Ieft to
settIe and the tIncture Is then poured off. It Is normaIIy straIned through cheese cIoth. The extract
may aIso be made wIth vInegar.
TInctures are usefuI for herbs that are not so agreeabIe to the tastebuds or If they are to be taken
over a Iong perIod of tIme, and may be used externaIIy as a IInIment.