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How to use loose herbs
See also:
The loose herbs in the jars are divided into two sections, culinary
and medicinal. The herbs in the culinary section may be added to soups,
dressings, sauces, stews, curries and numerous other dishes. The use of
herbs adds extra flavour, variety and nutrition to your cooking. Many
of the culinary herbs are also used for healing. These include: thyme,
fenugreek, kudzu (wild arrowroot) fennel seed and celery seed.
| Please remember that all herbs are potent
remedies. Certain herbs are not suitable for pregnant or breast-feeding
women, or for those on long-term medication. If you are unsure ask
staff for advice. It is advised that if you use herbs regularly, that
you refer to a herbalist. See also recommended
reading. |
Internal Use
The way in which you prepare a herb depends largely on the part of the
plant which you are using. Herbs may be leaves, flowers, roots, rhizomes,
barks, stems, berries, seeds or husks. The following table gives a rough
guideline as to how each type of herb may be prepared. If you are making
a blend of herbs try to keep all herbs in the blend to a similar type.
Store herbs in a cool dark place away from strong smells. If the essential
oil content is high, store in glass jars.
| Method |
Part of the plant |
| Infusion |
Leaves, flowers, stems |
| Decoction 15min+ |
Roots, rhizomes, barks |
| Decoction 5-10min |
Seeds, berries, stems |
| Vegi-cap |
Powdered roots and barks |
| Stir with water (hot) |
Powdered roots and barks |
| Stir with water (cold) |
Husks, powders |
NOTE: There are exceptions to the guidelines given in this table.
For example, valerian (a root) may be prepared as an infusion or
left in cold water for 12 hours to steep. Horsetail (leaves and
stems) should be decocted for 5 minutes to destroy toxic constituents.
If you are unsure about preparation, particularly if you take the herb
frequently, it is best to check in the herbal encyclopaedia available
upstairs at the Haelan Centre.
Infusions are the simplest method of preparation. You may use either a
teapot or an individual mug. You will need a strainer or infuser (handy
metal infusers are available by the scales). Add 1 heaped teaspoon per
cup of tea that you would like to make, and then pour on freshly boiling
water. Cover the mug with a saucer, as active essential oils will be lost
through the steam. Leave for around 15 minutes (less or more according
to taste). Then strain, or remove the infuser. For mullein, marigold
and cornsilk, use 2-3 teaspoons per cup.
Decoctions involve cooking the herb for a length of time. You will need
a stainless steel or enamel pot with a lid and a strainer. If you are
decocting seeds, particularly aromatic ones, bruise them with the back
of a spoon before using. If you are using hard berries then crush them
with a mortar and pestle. Most of the roots come already chopped. Add
1 heaped teaspoon per cup of tea, then either add boiling water and simmer;
or add cold water, bring to the boil and then simmer with the lid on.
The simmering time and amount of herb can vary according to the herb you
are using; usually one teaspoon is simmered for between 5 and 20 minutes.
Check in a herbal if you are unsure.
Some of the powdered herbs (e.g. goldenseal, guarana) may
be put into vegi-caps and then taken internally. Simply put the powder
into a bowl and scoop the powder into the capsule. It is not as tedious
as it sounds! This works out a lot cheaper than buying the herb ready
encapsulated.
Some herbal powders are best taken in this way, particularly slippery
elm. To make a slippery elm drink stir boiling water with 1-2 heaped
teaspoons of the herb to make a paste, leave for a couple of minutes.
Then add hot water or hot soya milk and ginger, cinnamon
and honey to taste. You cannot take too much slippery elm - it may be
taken as gruel for convalescents who are unable to eat solid food. To
prepare the gruel mix half and half with a suitable grain (e.g. cornmeal
or oatmeal) and cook gently for half an hour. Goldenseal works
better taken with water, as you experience the bitter taste. Stir ¼ teaspoon
into a small amount of hot water and drink back in a gulp. Remember to
use goldenseal sparingly. It is an endangered herb, hence the price! A
more environmentally conscious choice would be Oregon Grape Root.
Goldenseal should only be taken for a maximum of four weeks, taking it
for longer may affect your ability to absorb nutrients from your food.
Psyllium husks are best taken in a very large glass (1 pint) of
cold water. You can use 1-3 teaspoons. It is important to drink lots of
water with these husks because the husks swell up and absorb the liquid.
They create a gel, which absorbs stuck matter and toxins from the sides
of the intestines. A good mix for constipation would be equal parts of
psyllium husk, psyllium seeds and linseeds. Stir between
2 - 6 teaspoons into a pint of water and drink before breakfast. Drink
plenty of water throughout the day. Guarana, spirulina and
wheatgrass powders can be stirred into fruit juice, fruit smoothies
and shakes (use ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of guarana, use spirulina and wheatgrass
as directed on the label).
External Use
Many herbs may be used therapeutically in the bath. Either run the hot
water through a muslin bag filled with herbs, or make a strong pot of
tea (about a pint) and add this to the bath when it is run. Herbs for
healing include comfrey, St. John's wort and marigold. Herbs
for relaxing include chamomile (German) flowers, lavender flowers
and rosebuds or rose petals.
An eyebright eyebath can be made
by infusion of eyebright herb with purified water. The infusion must be
strained through a fine filter, a coffee filter is ideal, to remove any
irritating bits of leaf. Once cooled the eyebath will keep in a glass
jar in the fridge for three days. Eyebright is used for irritated, sticky
or inflamed eyes, but not where there is dryness.
For information on other external methods of using dried herbs, see recommended
reading.
| Recommended Reading:
An Encyclopaedia of Herbal Medicine, Thomas Bartram,
(Grace Publishers; 1995)
The New Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman, (Element; 1999) |
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