How to use herbs

Herbs are quite simply, an excellent way to maintain health. My aim with this site is to give you a little bit of basic information about herbs so that you can continue with your own research...
I have noted down the main techniques I use to make the teas/tinctures etc on this page, as well as a few of my favourite herbs. I hope you find it useful

Remember to consult your health professional before using herbs, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any form of illness or condition. These can be potent preparations and can react with medications, so be aware of the power of herbs before using any.

For the following dosages:
baby = child under two years of age
child = two to sixteen years of age

To convert the standard adult dose given in many books (for 75kg adult):
Children = quarter to half the recommended dose depending on weight of child
Babies = a maximum of 5ml tea/infusion or a tenth of the tincture dose

Note: 1ml = around 16 - 25 drops I've found, depending on the dropper, test with water first

ALWAYS IDENTIFY HERBS BEFORE YOU BEGIN USING THEM

Tinctures
Some herb properties need to be extracted with alcohol rather than water. A lot of people ask me for a non-alcoholic alternative, and while a better tasting glycetract (a liquid made with glycerine & water instead of alcohol) or vinegar-based can be substituted, it may be hard to find a commercial brand. And the tea version may not extract all the necessary components of the herb's medicinal qualities required

And so alcohol is used to make tinctures commercially. In the herbal industry a common alcohol used is 95% ethyl alcohol which is diluted with pure water to the required strength (often 45% but anywhere from 25-90%). Each herb or herb part (leaf, root, flower) has a specific alcohol to water ratio which has proved ideal for extraction. This will be on the label of every bottle of tincture purchased. Tinctures have been made for centuries, but now things have become a whole lot more scientific, with a lot more paperwork and regulations

Tinctures are generally made commercially by either maceration or percolation:

Maceration the herb is weighed into a container and then the alcohol is measured and added and the brew stirred. This is left to macerate (soak)for up to one month, with frequent stirring. The only drawback with this method is that only tinctures of a certain strength can be made. For example, a 1:5 tincture (one part herb to 5 parts alcohol) can be made by maceration, but the commonly used 1:2 tincture would usually be made by percolation due to the larger amount of herb in relation to the alcohol as it is a better production method for this strength tincture

Percolation the herb is weighed into a percolator, alcohol is added and this is left to macerate for 24hours. Alcohol is then dripped through the herb for up to one month, with it dripping out the bottom of the percolator at the same rate. This produces a more concentrated tincture and is usually used for 1:2 tinctures (incidentally, in general a tincture is the term used when 1:2 or weaker, while an extract is the term used for a product made at 1:1)

To make a herbal tincture at home you only need some clean jars, fresh or dried herbs in good condition and alcohol (vodka [30% minimum] is a useful alternative to ethyl alcohol) or vinegar (preferably certified organic apple cider vinegar). I tend to do most of my herb work around full moon, whether it be making the tinctures/oils/blends or filtering them at the end. I find these products to be more potent and to have better effects. This is personal choice however. It's up to you.

To make a 1:5 tincture, add 100g finely chopped dried herb into the jar and add 500ml alcohol or vinegar. Or for a fresh herb tincture, fill the jar with herb and top up with alcohol. Cap tightly
Leave for 4-6 weeks, checking the tincture weekly and topping it up with alcohol as necessary. I give them a 'swirl' every few days when I can
Filter with muslin, filter paper or a strainer/seive and bottle. Label well with the name of the herb, date it was made, parts of plant used, alcohol used (and where the herb came from if needed)

DOSAGE Check a good herb reference book such as David Hoffman's Holistic Herbal for dosages as they differ. To convert the adult dose: if dosage is say 10 drops for an adult, use 2-4 drops for children and 1 drop for babies

You can leave the tincture in some warm water on the bench for an hour or so to help remove the alcohol if desired. Or you can rub it into the skin if the baby has a weak digestive system. Another option is to add it to the bath at 10-20 times the normal dose

Teas, Infusions & Decoctions

A popular way to enjoy herbs, teas are used for many things by an awful lot of people these days (seen the tea section in the supermarket lately?). They can be refreshing and cooling, warming and healing, soothing headaches, easing digestive problems, aiding menstrual problems... the list goes on…

My definitions of the herb-water preparations (there are many versions of these):

Tea 1 teaspoon of dried herb infused in a cup of boiling water for two to ten minutes depending on the herb. Or a plunger filled with a fresh herb such as lemon balm and infused for five to ten minutes. Three other herbs I would make as a tea would be chamomile, peppermint and nettle. This is more a tonic than a medicinal preparation. Dosage is one cup for adults. Use quarter to half a cup for children or a maximum of 5ml (one teaspoon) for babies

Infusion 30g dried herb is put into a large container such as a jar and 500ml boiling water is poured over it. It is covered and left from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the part of the plant used (seeds[bruised] & flowers no more than 30 minutes, leaves up to an hour). I make infusions from raspberry leaf, nettle and motherwort depending on my needs and usually take them in three doses throughout the day

Decoction usually only used for roots and bark which must be cut up very small. 20g dried herb or 40g fresh herb is put in a saucepan with 750ml water and simmered with the lid on for up to one hour, until the liquid has been reduced by about a third. This should also be taken in three doses throughout the day

Another option is to add the herb decoction/infusion to the bath at 10-20 times the normal dose

HERBAL TEAS SHOULD ONLY BE KEPT (REFRIGERATED) FOR UP TO 24 HOURS BEFORE A NEW BATCH NEEDS TO BE MADE

Oils & Balms

If you're going to use oils in the bath, why not make your own with good quality sunflower, olive or sweet almond oil. Add your favourite essential oils and bottle or infuse some herbs and add the oils to your bath or use for massage. Experiment in small batches. Make labels on your computer. Have fun, we do

Herbal (Infused) Oil the herb is infused (steeped) in the oil for a month in a warm place out of the sun. I shake them every few days and then filter and bottle. The filtering is the biggest part of it all. A few of my favourites to make are calendula, chamomile, chickweed and plantain

Balm/Ointment/Salve/Wax beeswax is melted and the herbal oil is added and remelted (6g beeswax:55ml oil). Then it's removed from the heat and the essential oils are added if desired (up to 7 drops - optional). It's then poured into jars or plastic pots and allowed to set

Poultices & Compresses

These can be an excellent treatments and differ as follows:

Poultice the herb strained from an infusion, or crushed or grated fresh herb is either placed directly on the injury or infected area or placed inside a cloth (better for sensitive skin). These are great for first aid situations. Two examples:
Breaks, fractures = comfrey root and leaves (wrap leaves in cloth as they may irritate the skin)
Stiffness and soreness, aches and pains = onion (doesn't smell too bad...... even when on your neck for an hour)

Note: you can keep the area warm with a hot water bottle while applying the treatment

Compress a cloth is soaked in warmed infusion, decoction or diluted tincture and wrung out. This can then be applied directly. Try ginger or rosemary for sprains and strains or aching muscles. Try a cold chamomile compress over your closed eyes for a relaxing yet refreshing experience

Syrups

I add a cup of brown sugar for every cup of decoction occasionally and simmer it until dissolved. This is particularly useful if it's for a child or picky adult (and I know a couple of those)... or you can add a spoonful of honey or two to an infusion or decoction for children over one year of age

The other way I make a syrup is to make the brown sugar syrup with water (550g sugar:250ml water) and then add to a 1:2 tincture blend at one part tinctures to three parts syrup. This can make quite a nice tasting mix and dosage ranges from a few drops for babies over three months to 5ml for adults

Some Of My Favourite Herbs

Catnip may help calm, useful for digestive problems, colic, improves the appetite, high in vitamin C, helps bring down fevers

Chamomile relaxing, may help prevent nightmares, aids digestion, flatulence, headaches and colic

Dandelion a fantastic liver herb, dandelion root can help with jaundice and is a great daily tonic

Dill a standard ingredient of gripe waters, use for all digestive problems and especially colic and flatulence

Elderflower helps induce sleep, excellent for colds and flu, coughs and sore throats, particularly for reducing fever

Lemon Balm for headaches, tension, hyperactivity and nightmares

Lime Flower another excellent calming herb. Also a herb for the immune system and for coughs, colds and the lungs in general. Particularly good with lemon balm and elderflower

Liquorice soothing for throats and colds, for colic and stomach problems. Also improves the taste of formulas in tincture form

Marshmallow a soothing herb, good for a sore throat or cough as a tea. Also a good one to add to tincture blends as it makes them easier to take

Nettle very high in vitamins and minerals, nettle is a great tonic for the whole family

Oats a great relaxant, oats can help calm and soothe. Also a nerve and blood tonic, helping to build strong bones

Peppermint great for nausea, indigestion, any stomach pains or flatulence. Also regulates the digestive system and so aids both diarrhoea and constipation

Sage for coughs and colds and great for fevers and sore throats. I use this one in particular for treating flatulence, constipation and the digestive system in general

Yarrow for fevers in particular, elderflower, yarrow and peppermint is an old remedy for colds. Yarrow helps restore the appetite after illness and is a good tonic herb. To help reduce a fever, give 1ml tincture in warm water every two hours

Herbs can be used in so many ways for so many things and once you introduce them into your life and the lives of your children, you will use them time and time again… enjoy.

Karen Malone

Source: http://www.herbalcreations.co.nz/resources/otherinfo/howtouseherbs.htm