2. Infusions are made in a similar fashion like one makes a cup of tea the normal way. The doses are 1 ounce or 25 grams of dried herbs, or 2 ounce or 50 grams of fresh herbs, should be added to 1pint or 600 ml of water, which is at boiling point. You can make adjustments in the measurement to suit your taste buds so that you make it a regular habit to drink the tea. You can put herbs in a warm teapot, add boiling water, cover for ten minutes, and strain and drink it. If the person is suffering from any chronic disease, then one cup of tea should be consumed three times a day and if the condition is quite acute, then one cup of tea should be consumed 6 times a day. An infusion can be stored in the fridge till about two days maximum. . Infusions are mostly taken hot but only in cases like treating urinary system, the infusion should be drunk lukewarm to cold.
3. Decoctions Decoctions are preparations from hard woody parts of plants like barks, roots, seeds and nuts. They are quite similar to infusions and require more heat in preparing it and imparting their constituents into the water. To prepare decoctions, you have to break or hammer barks, roots, etc. with a mortar and pestle. You could also chop them if they are fresh, and put them in a pan of water and start boiling, cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes and then strain. The measurement of the water can go over a pint per ounce of herb, in case some of the liquid is evaporated during simmering. The measurements of decoctions and infusions are the same.
4. Poultice A dampened mixture, which is applied on the part of the body, which needs the remedy. Fresh or dried herbs are used as poultice. They are placed between two pieces of gauze and applied on the area, which is to be cured .If you are using fresh leaves, stems or roots, then you should break them or crush them before utilizing them. If dried herbs are being used, then a little warm water can be added to the herbs, which are either finely chopped or powdered. After the mixture is ready to use, and then spread the paste into gauze.Bind the gauze poultice to the area which is affected, a light cotton bandage can be used for this purpose and after binding it to the affected area, you can keep it warm with a hot water bottle.
5. Tinctures Tinctures are extracted from herbs, which are very concentrated, and they are mostly used in mixture of water and alcohol, so that their constituents are extracted for various remedies and they also act as preservatives.
6. Liniments Liniments are oils for rubbing on the body to relieve any muscular pain, they are used for massage, for the stimulation of the muscles and ligaments of the body and they can cure any pain, which is caused by inflammation, or any other injury. The mixture is an extract of herbs with an oil base or alcohol base, or they could be a mixture of herbal oils and alcohol tinctures. They can be easily absorbed into the skin and get transferred into the affected part of the body.
9. Uses & Preparation: Asthma, Cough & Fever - Decoction ( Boil raw fruits or leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes) Dysentery, Colds & Pain - Decoction ( Boil a handful of leaves & flowers in water to produce a glass, three times a day) Skin diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, eczema) - Wash & clean the skin/wound with the decoction Headache - Crush leaves may be applied on the forehead Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites - Pound the leaves and apply on affected area
11. Uses & Preparation Anti-edema, diuretic, anti-urolithiasis – Boil chopped leaves in a glass of water for 15 minutes until one glassful remains. Divide decoction into 3 parts, drink one part 3 times a day.Diarrhea – Chopped leaves and boil in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Drink one part every 3 hours.
13. Uses & Preparation Pain (headache, stomachache) – Boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 2 parts, drink one part every 3 hours.Rheumatism, arthritis and headache – Crush the fresh leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptusCough & Cold – Soak 10 fresh leaves in a glass of hot water, drink as tea. (expectorant)Swollen gums – Steep 6 g. of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use as a gargle solution
14. Toothache – Cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and insert this in aching tooth cavityMenstrual & gas pain – Soak a handful of leaves in a lass of boiling water. Drink infusion.Nausea & Fainting – Crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patientsInsect bites – Crush leaves and apply juice on affected area or pound leaves until like a paste, rub on affected areaPruritis– Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on affected area.
16. Uses & Preparation Diarrhea - Boil chopped leaves into 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 4 parts. Drink 1 part every 3 hoursStomachache – Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain.
18. Uses & Preparation Anti-helmintic - The seeds are taken 2 hours after supper. If no worms are expelled, the dose may be repeated after one week. (Caution: Not to be given to children below 4 years old)
20. Uses & Preparation For washing wounds - Maybe use twice a dayDiarrhea - May be taken 3-4 times a dayAs gargle and for toothache - Warm decoction is used for gargle. Freshly pounded leaves are used for toothache. Boil chopped leaves for 15 minutes at low fire. Do not cover and then let it cool and strain
22. Uses & Preparation Anti-fungal (tinea flava, ringworm, athlete’s foot and scabies) - Fresh, matured leaves are pounded. Apply soap to the affected area 1-2 times a day
24. Uses & Preparation Lowers uric acid (rheumatism and gout) – One a half cup leaves are boiled in two glass of water over low fire. Do not cover pot. Divide into 3 parts and drink one part 3 times a day.
26. Uses & Preparation Hypertension - Maybe fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in boiled water for 15 minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 times a day after meals.Toothache - Pound a small piece and apply to affected area
28. Uses & Preparation Diabetes Mellitus (Mild non-insulin dependent) - Chopped leaves then boil in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Do not cover. Cool and strain. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals
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30. Medicinal parts of plants are best harvested on sunny mornings. Avoid picking leaves, fruits or nuts during and after heavy rainfall.
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33. Do not use stainless steel utensils when boiling decoctions. Only use earthen, enamelled, glass or alike utensils.
