How To

Preparing Poultices and Compresses

A poultice is a mass of warm, wet plant matter applied directly to the skin or a wound. A compress is simply a tea-soaked cloth or bandage applied similarly. Used for similar functions as a bath or soak, these can be applied to a specific area more easily and precisely.

Administration and Dosage Guidelines

Once you have the poultice or compress in place, keep it there for 5 to 20 minutes. Repeat 1 to 3 times per day.

Shelf Life and Storage Guidelines

Poultices and compresses are made on as-needed basis. They are not stored. However, dry herbs that you might want to use in poultices or compresses can keep for years if they’re stored in airtight containers.

Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients
  • Herbs
  • Water
  • Washcloth, rag, bandanna, etc
  • Cheesecloth or gauze bandage
Preparing Remedies – Step by Step

Start by gently cleaning the affected area.

  • For A Poultice:

Place 4 to 6 tablespoons of the herb mixture in a heat-proof dish.

Pour boiling water over the herbs, just enough to fully saturate them – not enough so they’re swimming. Let the herbs soak for about 5 minutes.

Scoop the herbs out of the dish onto a piece of cheese cloth or a gauze bandage and give it a squeeze (like you would a teabag when you take it out of the water).

Apply the mass of herbs, warm and wet, to the affected area. You may prefer to wrap the herbs in a layer or two of cheesecloth or gauze to keep them contained.

Cover with a cloth and keep in place for 5 to 20 minutes, then gently dry the area.

Clean the area again, and bandage or cover if appropriate.

  • For A Compress:

Prepare the infusion or decoction of the herbs you’ll be working with and strain.

Soak a cloth in the hot tea, holding it by a dry spot and allowing the cloth to cool in the air until hot but comfortable to the touch.

Lay the wet cloth over the affected area. Cover with a dry cloth

Get comfortable and let it oak in for 20 to 20 minutes.

Clean the area again, and bandage or cover if appropriate.

Pros
  • Delivers the medicine where it’s needed.

Poultices and compresses can be used to deliver herbal medicines to areas that are hard to soak. They work quickly for topical issues where internal use would be very slow or ineffective.

  • Soothing and stimulating.

These preparations stimulate local circulation in the skin and underlying tissues, which helps speed healing. At the same time, they relax tension that prevents healthy, fluid movement.

Cons
  • Messy.

It’s easy to get herbs or tea all over yourself and your furniture when applying a poultice or compress. Lots of towels and secure wrapping help.

  • Takes Time.

Between preparation and execution, it can take at least 30 minutes to prepare and administer a poultice or compress.

  • Not portable.

Because they are messy and time consuming, poultices and compresses are usually only done at home.

Additional Considerations

Don’t use the same compress cloth twice in one sitting – use a new cloth for each tip into the infusion or decoction. This is most critical when dealing with infected wounds, but make a habit of it in all situations.

You may want to prepare a hot water bottle when setting up your poultice or compress to lay on top and keep the application warm for a longer period of time.

Be sure to clean the affected area both before and after using your compress and especially when using a poultice. Don’t leave any little bits of herbal material on the irritated skin or in the wound.

Source: Herbal Medicine for Beginners

Preparing An Herbal Bath or Soak

Bathing or soaking part of the body in an herbal tea is a great way to get the herbs in contact with the affected part. These are good for infected skin or wounds, burns, rashes, and all manner of topical troubles.

Administration and Dosage Guidelines

You might make a whole-body bath with herbs, or you may just soak a particular part (as with a foot bath or sitz bath). Keeping the water as hot as tolerable is best, as this facilitates absorption of the herbal medicines.

For most issues, it’s effective to soak for 15 to 20 minutes, 1 to 3 times per day.

Shelf Life and Storage Guidelines

Baths and soaks are made on as-needed basis. They are not stored. Dry herbs blended for a herbal bath or soak formula can keep for years if they’re stored in airtight containers.

Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients
  • Herbs
  • Water
  • Salt (optional)
  • Vinegar (optional)
  • Bathtub, dish basin, or other soaking vessel
Preparing Remedies – Step by Step

Prepare an appropriate herbal tea. This can be either an infusion, a decoction, or a combination of both.

Pour the tea into a dish basin or similar container. For a whole-body bath, fill the bathtub with hot water, and pour in the herbal tea (at least one full quart).

If using vinegar, salt, or additional water, add it now. Stir to incorporate and dissolve. Test the heat with your hand, and submerge the affected body part.

Soak for a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes.

Pros

The benefit of an herbal bath or soak is that it delivers the medicine where it’s needed.

Baths and soaks are great for skin conditions and wounds. They work quickly for topical issues where internal use would be very slow or ineffective.

Cons
  • Not everything fits. Some body parts don’t fit well into a soaking vessel, or are hard to soak separately (shoulders, for example). Use a compress in those cases.
  • Takes time. Between preparation and execution, it can take at least 30 minutes to conduct an effective soak.
  • Not portable. Baths require space and privacy, so they’re usually done at home.
Additional Considerations

If your town or city chlorinates its tap water it is best to use a chlorine filter on the water you bathe or soak in. Inexpensive filters can be found online. Filters that use vitamin C cartridges or tables are recommended because this takes care of chloramines as well.

Warm, moistened skin is more absorptive after a good soak, follow up with salve or other topical applications. They will work even better than usual.

Source: Herbal Medicine for Beginners

How To Make Herbal Steams

Herbal steams are excellent for addressing issues in the lungs and sinuses, the face, and eyes. The evaporating steam carries light chemicals from the herbs, including some with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, and immune-stimulating effects. These get into direct contact with the respiratory tract and skin, exerting their effects strongly.

Administration and Dosage Guidelines

Administer a steam whenever you want to stimulate the surface or respiratory tissues with moist heat. For acute illness, it’s best to steam at least twice a day. For ongoing skin or respiratory support, once a day is sufficient.

Shelf Life and Storage Guidelines

Steams are made on as-needed basis. They are not stored. Dry herbs blended for an herbal steam formula can keep for years if they’re stored in airtight containers.

Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients
  • Herbs
  • Water
  • Gallon-size or larger pot
  • Towel or blanket
Preparing Remedies – Step by Step
  1. On the stove, boil 1/2 to 1 gallon of water in a covered pot.
  2. Once at a full boil, remove from the heat and place the pot on a heat-proof surface.
  3. Make a tent by draping a blanket or towel over your head.
  4. Remove the lid from the pot and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your herb mixture to the water.
  5. Position your face over the steam and remain there for 5 to 20 minutes, catching the steam with your tent.
  6. For respiratory issues, inhale the steam as deeply as you can so the medicated steam gets deep into your lungs.
  7. Keep a handkerchief nearby – the steam will clear your sinuses and make your nose run.
Pros
  • Delivers the medicine where it’s needed.

Particularly for antimicrobial effects, steam is the most direct method for getting the herbs in contact with the respiratory tract tissues.

  • Stimulating but soothing.

The warmth and moisture of steams help activate immune function in the mucous membranes and at the same time relieve irritation and calm a cough or ease difficult breathing.

Cons
  • Takes time. Between preparation and execution it can take at least 30 minutes to conduct a good effective steam.
  • Not portable. Steams require some space and a stove to make effectively, so they’re mostly done at home.
Additional Considerations

After steaming, you can use the leftover liquid – it is essentially a hot infusion. Drink it, soak your feet in it, soak a cloth and make a compress, or employ it in some other way so nothing is wasted. If nothing else, let it cool and feed it to your garden or houseplants. Plants like tea, too.

You can also make a good steam using essential oils. Simply boil water and set up your steaming station as directed, but instead of adding dry herbs, tap in 10 to 30 drops of essential oil. DO NOT however, drink the leftover liquid when done steaming. It can, however, be used as a foot soak.

Source: Herbal Medicine for Beginners

How To Make A Decoction

Another method of making tea, decoctions are necessary when working with roots, barks, seeds, and other hard or woody plant parts. These require more time exposed to high heat to release their benefits into the water.

Administration and Dosage Guidelines

Like infusions, decoctions are generally drunk as they are. They may also serve as an ingredient in another remedy (bath, soak, compress, syrup, lotion, etc). Each decoction has its own dosage range depending on the herbs used, but in general it is normally recommended that you drink two cups to a quart of decoction daily.

Self Life and Storage Guidelines

Dry herbs blended for a decoction formula can keep for years if they’re stored in airtight containers. Once water is added, decoctions are generally only good for 1 or 2 days at room temperature. If kept refrigerated, this could extend to 3 days. Trust your tongue. If the decoction tastes “skunky” or otherwise off, best to make a new batch.

Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients
  • Herbs
  • Water
  • Quart to gallon size pot
  • Mesh strainer
Preparing Remedies – Step by Step
  1. Unless otherwise specified, use 2 to 4 tablespoons of herbs per quart of water.
  2. Put the herbs and water in a lidded pot on the stove, cover, and bring to a boil.
  3. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally.
  4. Strain the liquid for consumption and compost the leftover herb material. The technical term for this material is marc.
  5. You may also choose to ladle out a teacupful at a time, leaving the water and the herbs in the pot until you strain off the last cup.
Pros
  • Easy to make: A stove, herbs, water, and a good pot are all you need.
  • Versatile: Decoctions can be employed in a variety of ways, depending on need.
  • Potent: Decoctions can be quite potent, as the simmering process extracts a majority of the herbs’ available constituents.
  • Hydrating: Drinking enough water is important for good health; decoctions count as water intake.
Cons
  • Take time to make: Decoctions require a bit of time to prepare, so they’re not great for resolving something quickly like a bee sting or an asthma attack.
  • Taken in quantity: When you drink a decoction, you need at least a teacup or two for beneficial effects. Not all herbs taste good, and decoctions are often quite strong and can be unpleasant to drink in that quantity.
  • Short shelf life: Once made, consume decoctions promptly.
Additional Considerations

Generally, each herb is either infused or decocted, depending on what kind of plant part it is:

  • Leaves, flowers, and stems are usually infused.
  • Roots, seeds, and barks are usually decocted.

If you want to include both types of herb material in one drink, first decoct your hard herb parts. Then strain that liquid while still hot, and add your lighter plant bits to it for infusion. Strain one more time and it’s ready to drink.

Sometimes decoctions are made in an open pot, allowing evaporation to reduce the volume of water. This concentrates the decoction’s strength. In some Syrups, for example, the herbs are first decocted, the liquid is reduced to half, then it is mixed with honey.

Source: Herbal Medicine for Beginners.

How To Make An Infusion

If you think of making tea, you probably picture an infusion. It’s the simplest, most fundamental way to work with herbs, and is a preferred method in most circumstances. Infusions can be prepared in a variety of ways, but the these are the most common:

  • Hot Infusion:

Like using a tea bag, a short, hot infusion means pouring boiling water on your herbs, letting them steep for a few minutes, and drinking as soon as tolerably cool. This method is best for herbs with aromatic, or volatile constituents, which will evaporate if left to infuse for too long.

  • Cold Infusion:

This method is used for demulcent, or mucilaginous herbs, such as marshmallow – those that increase the water’s viscosity as they infuse, rendering it first ‘velvety,’ then slimy. This only happens in cold water, hot water doesn’t release the constituents responsible for this effect.

  • Long Infusion:

Whey trying to extract mineral content from nutritive herbs such as nettle, a long infusion is required. When done in a tightly sealed jar, this method also allows us to combine the quick-release aromatic constituents of one herb with the slow-release mucilage from another, as the initially hot water cools over time.

Administration and Dosage

Infusions are generally drunk as they are. They may also serve as an ingredient an another remedy (bath, soak, compress, syrup, lotion, etc). Each infused herb or formula has its own dosage ranges, but it is normally recommended to drink a quart of infusion daily, sometimes more.

Shelf Life and Storage Guidelines

Dry herbs blended for an infusion can keep for years if they’re stored in airtight containers. Once water is added, infusions are generally only good for 1 or 2 days; if kept refrigerated, this could extend to 3 days. Trust your tongue. If the tea tastes “skunky” or otherwise off, best to make a new batch.

Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients
  • Herbs
  • Water
  • Teacup, teapot, mason jar, French press, or other container
  • Mesh strainer
Preparing The Remedies – Step by Step

Unless otherwise specified, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of herbs per quart of water. If making only a single cup of tea, use 1 to 3 teaspoons of herbs.

Combine the herbs with the water and let it steep:

  • Hot infusion: Pour boiling water over the herbs, cover and steep for 20 minutes or until cool enough to drink.
  • Cold infusion: Pour cold or room temperature water over the herbs and steep for 4 to 8 hours.
  • Long infusion: Pour boiling water over the herbs, cover tightly, and steep for 4 to 8 hours or overnight.

Once the herbs have steeped, you may strain the liquid and compost the leftover herb material. The technical term for this material is marc.

Pros
  • Easy to make: Hot water, herbs, and a container are all you need.
  • Versatile: Infusions can be employed in a variety of ways, depending on need.
  • Potent: Each infusion method extracts a broad spectrum of constituents from the herbs, giving a good reflection of their full potential.
  • Hydrating: Drinking enough water is important for good health; infusions count as water intake.
Cons
  • Taken in quantity: When you drink an infusion, you need at least a teacup or two for beneficial effects. Not all herbs taste good, and some can be unpleasant to drink in that quantity.
  • Short shelf life: Once made, infusions must be consumed promptly.
Additional Considerations

A press pot is a handy way to make infusions – you can steep them inside for a long time while still keeping them hot.

For long infusions, you can also use a drop coffee maker. Put the herbs into the carafe (not the filter basket), turn it on, and let the water drip down onto them. They’ll stay warm on the hot plate, shortening the amount of time you need to infuse them. If it was ever used for coffee, though, this will add a coffee taste to your tea.

Source: Herbal Medicine for Beginners

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