Home » Herbal Terms Defined: Tincture, Poultices, Liniments, Oils, And More
Herbal Terms Defined: Tincture, Poultices, Liniments, Oils, And More
Posted: Tuesday, August 17, 2010
by Dr. Carla Goddard
In the growing appeal of using alternative medicine and holistic approaches to common medicinal problems a new language has been derived which many have no idea what the terminology actually means. The following is a listing of more common terms used in herbal medicine today.
NOTE: With all herbal mixtures they should not be taken for more than 6 days in a row, taking the 7th day off before resuming the dosage. This will give the body time to begin to develop the healing properties of the herbal extraction within itself.
Preparation Forms
Teas are the most basic of all herbal medicine today. They are easily absorbed by the body and the easiest compound to prepare. They are however, the least concentrated of any herbal compound. There are some herbs that the optimal effectiveness does not come out unless the herb is steeped. The action of hot water boiling can release the herbal potency and provide an simple method of flushing out and removing toxic wastes. Because herbal teas are less potent than other internal methods, it is sometimes wise to begin herbal therapy with teas as a weakened system will be more likely to accept the therapeutic benefits in the milder form.
Infusions are really a tea as well the difference is that it is made from a dried or powdered herb where as herbal teas are made from the fresh herb. Cold infusions can be made by allowing the powdered form of the herb to stand in a glass of cold water for an hour or longer.
This is also a tea, but rather than using the leaves of an herb, the root or bark of the herb is used. When making a decoction it is important that the brewed tea be strained.
As the name suggests, sun tea is an herbal cold infusion were the herbs are put in a covered jar and allowed to stand in the sun for many hours.
Another version of a tea that works well for those who are extremely ill. Grind the herbs to be used in a blender and mix two tablespoons of the dry herbs to 2 cups of hot water. Allow to "bloom" or steep for 5 minutes. Sip the broth over a longer period of time to allow the herbs to have a better opportunity to assimilate in the system.
These are generally found in the natural health stores. A herbal capsule is generally at least four times stronger than a tea and are convenient to take. If you prefer to drink tea, buy the capsules for easy storage and open them into a cup of boiling water. In capsule form the herbs can be kept for six months to a year.
Extracts are up to eight times stronger than capsules. They can be used as drops or sprays and will bypass the digestive systems acid breakdown. These can be the best solution to acute conditions using the drops dosage under the tongue and holding it there as long as possible up to four times a day, especially in the first week of using.
A tincture is also basically an extract that is made using 25% alcohol and water as the solvent. Al most all tinctures are a single herb and not a combination of herbs. Commercial tinctures mostly use ethyl alcohol, however, most home made tinctures use vodka. Since alcohol is used in tinctures they are typically a higher concentration than the extractions.
This is a standard infusion of dried or powdered herb used with wine as the medium rather than water. The reasoning is that the wine acts as a transport medium to go directly into the blood stream.
These are typically made for children to hide the bitter taste of herbs. They are typically made with raw brown sugar.
- Herbal Pastes and Electuaries
These are pastes that mixed in with other foods to become palatable to eat. They can be mixed with honey, syrup, butter or cream cheese. An electuary would be made in fresh bread rolled around the herbal paste or peanut butter.
Typically used when the herb is being used for mouth, gum, or throat remedies. They are also used in remedies for upper respiratory conditions. By using the powdered form of the herb along with sugar and a mucilaginous herb (such as marshmallow).
These are used for topical herbal mediums as well as spiritual, mental and emotional well being. In essence you are soaking your skin in the herbal infusion.
These are used to treat simple vaginal infections.
These are used to treat rectal and vaginal conditions.
- Herbal Ointments or Salves
These are semi-solid preparations that allow the absorption of the herb through the skin. For the most part they are made with Vaseline as the base.
These are compresses that are used to draw out waste or infection from the body such as a cyst or abscess. They can be made as hot or cold compresses depending upon the ailment being treated.
- Herbal Poultices and Plasters
For poultices fresh herbs are needed and are blended in a blender with a little olive oil and water until it is in a paste form. The paste is spread on gauze and bound directly onto the effected area and covered with plastic wrap to keep from soiling anything that comes in contact with the oil.
These are used as warm massage mediums to relieve sore muscles and are for external use only.
Oils are used for external use only and can be for massage, healing ointments or for burns and open wound care.
Dr. Carla Goddard is a contemporary Shaman Medicine Woman. Father was of a small Nation in Maine, trained with a Mohawk Shaman, studied with a Waiest Monk, and academia background in Metaphysical Sciences specializing in Parapsychology.
She draws upon the energetic flow of life to share with people a path to heal their own souls, to find the flow of energy in their own life, and to have profound shifts in awareness. Connecting individuals with their own soul and with other soul’s to create a “tribe"; her own desire to change the world one soul at a time across the globe by envisioning what the world needs next. Believing that the change in the world will happen through active presence, active communication, and active connections to blaze a new path.
Learn More About Carla visit her website at
http://www.shamanmedicinewoman.net/about-dr-carla-goddard.html
Find Carla on Facebook
www.facebook.com/sacredsoulshaman
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
Herb is also a man's name.
But it has no healing potential.
Thanks for the information. I liked your explanations.
I once knew a man named Herb who .... Grins
Thank you for stopping by
mwah
Herbs are plentiful in our house. Always better to use natures remedies than chemicals is our thought. Thank you for explaining the different ways of using them.
Grace
Grace
They are a multitude of ways that are not even listed here. I am by no means an expert; these are the things that I have learned from using herbs in my own life.
mwah
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