Hello, everybody. In this section that I named “Natural Medicine,” I will write about how to heal a problem you may have with only using herbs. I firmly believe that medicines that you can buy from the pharmacy are not made to treat the problem, they are made the treat the symptoms of that problem. I am sure we all don’t want to keep taking medicines for the recurring symptoms of a disease and still have it; we want to cure that disease. T
his is why I decided to put this section on my blog, to educate you how to use herbs to treat or cure a disease. Today, I will only write about how to work with herbs, because you have to have a basic knowledge of how to use herbs. I will start off with how to make infusions, decoctions and tinctures of herbs.
Infusions
Making infusion is very simple, it is like making tea. Infusions are very useful when you want to use the active constituents of herb that is rich in aromatic oils. You can use a glass te
apot, measure in the requited amount of dried or fresh herbs pour over water, and cover for 10 to 15 mins. You have to bear in mind that 1 part of dried herb is equal to 3 parts fresh. If you want large quantities of an infusion, keep your stock in a jar in the refrigerator.
Decoction
To make a decoction is not as easy as making an infusion. When you choose
a root, bark, wood or nuts ensure that you broke it down so the active ingredients enter the water. If you use fresh herbs, cut them into small pieces. If you use a dried herbs you have to grind them. Measure the requited amount into an enamelled pan and add water. Bring to the boil and cover for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the decoction while still hot.
Tinctures
Tinctures are mixtures of alcohol, water and herbs. They are very concentrated, so the amount you need will be smaller than the infusion or decoction. The ratio between herbs and fluid is 1:5. For example, if you have 200 g herbs you will need 1l of fluid. Measure the requited amount of herb you want into a dark, screw-top jar and cover it with a spirit, like vodka. Keep the tincture tightly covered in a warm place for 14 days, as you have to shake i
t 2 times a day. After 14 days, strain the residue through a muslin cloth and squeeze it well and put it into a dark bottle. If you don’t want to use alcohol you can use cider vinegar. You can take tinctures with water, or added to tea, bath and compresses. You can also use it to make ointments by mixing with beeswax, coconut or cacao butter.