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- Infusion
- An infusion is like tea. Brew it in a glass, ceramic, or enamel-coated
- container. Most herbs taste best or are at proper strength when 1 tsp
- dried herb or 4 tsp fresh herb are added to 1 cup freshly boiled water.
- Strain the tea drinking or applying to external body parts. Most herbal
- infusions are effective in small quantities -- 1 to 4 cups per day.
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- Oil
- Prepare oils in small quantities. Heat 1 tsp dried herb gently in 1 Tbsp
- salad oil. Oils are primarily for external use.
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- Poultice
- A poultice is used to apply wet warm crushed herbs directly to the skin of
- the affected area. If the herbs have been dried, soak them in warm water.
- If the fresh herbs aren't juicy, add water and if necessary flour or old
- bread crumbs, to make the herbs into a paste. Smear the crushed herbs on a
- wet hot cloth, and wrap the injured body part. The cloth can be made hot
- and wet by dipping it into boiling water, or wetting it and putting it into
- a microwave.
- Fresh Leaves
- Fresh leaves are tastiest if picked in the morning, while the day is still
- cool.
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- Juice
- Fruit, like lemon, can be stabbed at one end with a knife, and then squeezed
- to extract juice. Leafy herbs can be cut into small pieces, wrapped in
- cheese cloth and squeezed by twisting the cloth and kneeding the herb. The
- vitamins in juice are quickly oxidized in the air. So only squeeze what you
- can use, and use it within minutes of squeezing.
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- Capsules
- 00 size gelatin capsules can be purchased at many herbal supply houses. The
- two ends of the capsule come apart and can be used as tiny scoops to collect
- powdered herb, and then reassembled. Bad tasting herbs like golden seal and
- psyllium are easier to take in capsules. Ask your herbal supplier about
- capsule-filling trays that make this job easier.
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- Ointment
- Mix 1 tsp powdered herb with 4 tsp petroleum jelly. For external use only.
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- Powder
- Many herbs, like cayenne, are sold in powdered form. You can grind your own
- in a mortar and pestle, or you can pay $1 extra per pound to the herbal
- supplier. Powdered herbs go rancid more rapidly than cut and sifted.
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