Liquid herbal remedies are the most traditional and possibly most effective way of gaining the health benefits of medicinal plants, according to Gillian Painter, herbalist and author of "A Herbalists Medicine Making Workbook." While many health stores are filled with dried extracts in the forms of pills and capsules, liquid herbal remedies do not have to be broken down like a pill, making them more quickly absorbed and available to the body. They also can be made right in your own home, tailor-made for your needs. No herbal remedy should replace standard medical care, and always check with your doctor before combining herbal medicines with prescribed medications.
Infusions and Decoctions
Infusions and decoctions are methods of making herbal tea; the first method steeps herbs for a few minutes in boiled water, while the second way boils herbs on the stove for at least 10 minutes. You can infuse and drink leaves and flowers with little difficulty, as the plant material is more delicate and yielding. Hardier plant materials including roots, rhizomes, bark, straw and berries need to be boiled to get a full extract; infusing will not be strong enough. Infusions and decoctions are easy for you to make at home, and require the least commitment of time as they are ready for use immediately.
Infused Oils
Many medicinal plants such as rosemary, calendula and mullein have a high content of essential oils, which can be extracted easily into an oil base such as sunflower, linseed, almond or grapeseed oil. According to Zoe Howes, author of "Wild Drugs," you can create an infused oil by filling a sterilized jar full of dried or fresh herbs and cover them with your chosen oil. Cover the jar and leave in the sun for up to two weeks. Infused oils can be taken internally with meals or added to creams and ointments for external usage.
Tinctures
Tinctures are created by extracting herbal principles using a combination of alcohol and water. Creating a tincture can be as simple as covering a jar of herbs with vodka and letting it steep for six weeks, or as complicated as investing in a percolating machine that can create the most potent of all liquid extracts. Professionals trained in herbal medicine can combine different herbal extracts in a tincture customized for your individual needs, making the tincture the strongest and most flexible of all liquid herbal remedies. If you have concerns about the alcohol content of a tincture, heat the tincture in a saucepan to evaporate the alcohol percentage.
Glycetracts
Glycetracts are liquid herbal remedies created from using glycerol and water, instead of alcohol and water. This is very effective in herbs such as marshmallow root and dandelion root, where the active principles are primarily water soluble. According to Kerry Bones, author of "The Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs," glycetracts are less potent and less stable than tinctures, but provide an alcohol-free option if you do not wish to consume alcohol with your herbs. In addition, glycetracts have a sweet flavor that is more pleasant-tasting than other forms of liquid herbs.
References
- "The Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs"; Kerry Bones; 2003
- "Wild Drugs"; Zoe Howes; 2010
- "A Herbalist's Medicine Making Workbook"; Gillian Painter; 1998
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