Healthy Living: Herbs – Terminology and Use Explained

Herbs make your cooking taste better, but they also make you feel better?   Herbs and flowers and their use in food and for medical practice are becoming more common again.  Before discussing individual herbs this short article discusses the various terms and uses.

Tea

Apart from adding it to food, the easiest way to make use of herbs is in a tea or tisane.  Make up an infusion, by boiling water and letting the herb soak in the water for at least five minutes – ten to twenty minutes is optimum.  There are many companies who produce herb and fruit teas.   Try experimenting with combinations.

Decoction

Unlike an infusion which is made by pouring boiling water over your herbs, decoctions are herbs and plants boiled together.  The herbs are placed in water over a slow heat and brought to the boil then simmered for at least twenty minutes. 

Poultice

A poultice is a mash or blend of herbs.  Usually herbs are mixed with water to make a paste and applied in packs to draw pus or foreign bodies from a wound.  A poultice applied to the chest can also be useful to relieve congestion.

Fomentation    

Is a more fluid preparation.  It is used for less severe conditions or for placement on places unsuitable for a poultice. A piece of cloth is soaked in the infusion and applied as hot as is comfortable.

Compresses    

 As above but using cold liquid instead of hot to reduce swelling.

Wound Washes

 An infusion is made up and used to swab wounds.

Tincture           

A tincture is where herbs are combined with an alcohol, glycerine or vinegar base.  To make a tincture, completely cover the herbs and allow the herbs to absorb the liquid.  It will make the herbs swell so you ensure there is about two inches of extra liquid on top.  Do not seal. 

Inhalation

An infusion of herbs is made up and heated to produce a steam that can be inhaled.  Eucalyptus is the herb of choice to clear congestion and ease brea thing.  It can be inhaled by making a tent over your head with a towel.  A minute or two is enough. 

Ointment

 An ointment, balm or salve can be made by adding herbs to a suita ble carrier oil or cream.  A plain vegetable oil can be used, olive oil or jojoba or almond oil.   

Syrups

For medicinal purposes a syrup is a saturated solution of sugar, distilled water and the herb of choice.  It is good for cough preparations but the excess of sugar is not really recommended.

Essential Oils

 Essential oils are premade extractions of herbs and plants.  They always need to be diluted before use. 

Using Herbs

Later articles will deal with some of the most common herbs.  If you are new to using herbs for health and healing I suggest you start simply and buy prepared herbs until you learn how to process your own.  There are any number of good books and website available for information.

try for example: http://theherbwoman.com/