How to use herbs for healing by Liz

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

In another discussion, I listed the 15 most powerful healing herbs and what they do.

 

Here's how to prepare and use them, besides in cooking. The information is taken right from the book "The Herb Book" by John Lust. When I started to get into herbs more, my cousin recomended this book, and I found it to be a very informative resource. I do recomend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the healing ways of herbs.

Let me start this off by saying there are many ways to prepear herbs to use for healing. I'll list a few internal methods and the meaning, then go on to the herbs listed in the other discussion.

 

Infusion~a beverage much like tea, It's made by steeping the herb (usually the green parts or flowers) in boiling water, usually about 1/2 to 1 oz of herb to a pint of water for about 10 minutes.

 

Decoction~boiling about 1/2 oz of plant parts (usually the root, bark, wood, seeds) per cup of wter. These parts of the plants are harder and will take longer to extract. this method is used to extract the bitter principles and mineral salts rather than the vitamins as an infusion does.

 

Tincture~combine 1 to 4 oz powdered herb with 8 to 12 oz of alcohol. Add water to make a 50% alcohol solution. (50% of the proof of the alcohol) Let stand for 2 weeks,, shaking once or twice a day;  then strain the herbs and store in a glass bottle, in fridge. Now I've heard to use the highest proof vodka you can get, then if you use 12 oz of the vodka, dilute it with 6 oz of water.

 

Now the herbs~~

 

BASIL~infusion..steep 1 tsp dried basil in 1/2 cup water. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups a day, a mouthful at a time. Can be sweetened with honey for a cough

 

CAYENNE~infusion..1/2 to 1  tsp powder per cup of boiling water. Take warm, 1 tbsp at a time.

 

CINNAMON~there wasn't anything in this book about cinnamon, which suprised me

 

CLOVE~clove oil will stop the pain of a toothache when dropped right into a cavity. A few drops of the oil in water will stop vomiting and clove tea will relieve nausea.

 

DILL~infusion..steep 2 tsp seeds in 1 cup water for 10-15 min, take 1/2 cup at a time; 1 to 2 cups a day. (I've always heard that you can use the herb the same way)

 

FENNEL~infusion..steep 1 tbsp freshly crushed seeds in 1 cup water for 5 min. sweeten with honey

  decoction..boil 1/2 tsp seed in water, strain, use as an eye wash 3 times a day.

  tincture..take 10 to 30 drops in waer, as required

  FENNEL HONEY~ add 1 to 3 drops fennel oil to 1 tbsp honey and mix, take 1 tsp at a time. this

  is a natural cough remedy.

 

GARLIC~ok so garlic we all love...i think. I use it as much as I can, in any way I can and pray that I don't start smelling like it! This book states that you can juice it, thin it with water and take 1/2 tsp 2 to 3 times a day.

Tincture..1/2 lb peeled cloves, soak in 1 quart brandy for 14 days at a temp of 85 degrees in a bottle with an airtight seal. shake the bottle several times a day, then strain and store, it should last about a year. Take 5 to 25 drops several times a day as needed.

 

GINGER~infusion..mix 1/2 tsp powdered rootstock with 1 tsp (or more) honey,  add 1 cup boiling water, and if desired you can add an ounce of brandy or other liquor.

  Tincture..take 15 or more drops at a time, warm.

So ginger, you make the infusion and take it as a tincture.

 

MINT~in this book, there's like 4 different species of mint. and it's all basically the same. I've always added mint to tea, usually hot.

infusion..2 to 3 tsp leaves in 1 cup water, 1 to 2 cups a day but not more than 10 consecutive days. wait at least a week before taking anymore or heart problems may occur(straight out of the book)

tincture.. 10 to 50 drops, depending on age and severity of the problem..

Oil..3 to 4 drops on a sugar cube with hot tea. For gas pains, take 1 or 2 drops in a half glass of water.

 

OREGANO~sadly, nothing in the book about this either. I just cook with it.

 

PARSLEY~it says that parsley is noot to be used at all if kidney inflamation exists.

   infusion.. steep 1 tbsp leaves in 1 cup water for 20 minutes.

   decoction.. boil 1 level tsp crushed seeds in 1'2 cup water, take 1/2 to 1 cup daily

 

ROSEMARY~there is a caution on rosemary that excessive amounts taken internally can cause fatal poinoning.(?) I don't know what the author consideres excessive, but I use it just about all the time.

  infusion..steep 1 tsp dried flowering tops or leaves in 1/2 cup water, take up to 1 cup a day.

  tincture..a dose is from 5 to 20 drops (that's all it says)

 

SAGE~also a caution on this...excessive or extended use can cause symptoms of poisoning

  infusion..steep 1 tsp leaves in 1/2 cup water for 30 minutes, take 1 cup a day , a tablespoon at a time.

  tincture.. take 15 to 40 drops 2 or 4 times a day.

 

THYME~ another caution..excessive internal use can lead to symptoms of poisoning and to overstimulation of the thyroid gland.

  infusion..steep 1/2 tsp fresh or 1 tsp dried in 1/2 cup water for 3 to 5 min. take 1 to 1 1/2 cups a day, a mouthful at a time.

  oil: take 2 to 3 drops on a sugar cube, 2 or 3 times a day

  tincture or extract// take 10 to 20 drops, 3 times a day.

 Thyme baths are said to be helpful for neurasthenia, rheumatism, paralysis, bruises, swellings and sprains. (in which you would make an infusion and add it to your bath)

 

TUMERIC~ once again, nothing about tumeric.

 

Hope this helps....and if anyone knows anything about the ones that weren't listed in the book I have, please by all means add it :)

I also have some recipes using these herbs, from the book I got the original list from that I will add as soon as I get time.

 

 

Please make sure to ask your doctor before starting any kind of herbal treatment