| |
|
An Interesting Herb Fact
First Aid Remedies with the Yarrow Plant
The Yarrow plant, Latin name Achillea millefolium, is one of the most highly valued plants for treating the common cold and influenza. The plant's Latin name is derived from the famous Greek hero Achilles. It is believed that the plant was used during the Trojan wars, where it was used to treat war wounds. Yarrow also has a curious folk name: "nosebleed." This folk nickname is a testimony to its traditional use as a first aid herb. Yarrow has been used in the past as an emergency styptic to...
Making Your Own Herbal Remedies
Making your own herbal
remedies can be a simple and effective way to treat common ailments at
home. There are many ways to prepare herbs and create effective herbal
remedies. The most popular ways to prepare herbal remedies include
infusion, decoction, tincture, and syrup. Here is a brief overview of
the most popular methods of preparing herbal remedies.
Infusion is perhaps the most popular way to prepare herbs into herbal
remedies that can be consumed quickly and easily. Most of the time,
infusion is made in much the same way as hot tea. To create a healing
herbal infusion, simply put the herb (or herbs) that you are working
with in a pot with a closed, tight-fitting lid, and then pour hot water
over the herbs you are working with. Infuse the herbs for at least ten
minutes. To strain your tea, simply pour the infusion through a nylon
sieve or a strainer into a teacup or mug. You can store any leftover of
the infusion in a cool place and then heat it up again later, but avoid
drinking any infusions that are not fresh or almost fresh.
A decoction is a method that has to do with extracting a plant's active
ingredients in a more vigorous manner than an infusion. Most decoctions
are made from the twigs, barks, roots and berries of plants. To make a
decoction, simply heat herb you are working with in cold water. Simmer
it for about an hour. Then strain the bark, twigs, roots or berries
with a strainer. You can take a decoction either hot or cold, but you
should always make sure that it should be consumed fresh.
Making an herbal tincture can be a little more complicated. To make an
herbal tincture requires a little planning. First, put the herb that
you are working with in a large jar and cover the herb with a mixture
of vodka (rum can also be used, although vodka is ideal) and water. The
mixture should contain at least 25 percent alcohol. Then you can seal
the jar and store it in a cool dry place. The tincture should be stored
for up to two weeks, and you should make sure to shake the jar
occasionally. After the two week waiting period, you should press the
mixture through a wine press and collect the tincture in a jug, Then
use a funnel to strain the liquid into a dark bottle.
Many herbs can be prepared into palatable and effective healing syrups.
First, simply heat about two cups of a standard herbal infusion in a
medium-sized saucepan. Then add roughly 500 grams of honey or sugar and
stir until the sweetener has dissolved completely. After the
ingredients have been combined, allow the mixture to sit and cool. Then
simply pour the syrup into a dark bottle and store in a dry and cool
location. Make certain to seal the bottle with a cork stopper. Syrups
ferment quickly enough, so it is particularly important to seal the
bottle with a cork stopper. |
|
|
