How to Use Herbs for Better Health

First question people should ask is why use herbs? Herbs and plants have been around since the beginning of time, before hospitals, pharmacies, over the counter meds, herbs have helped to heal both the body and the mind in a natural way. Todays society is becoming less reliant on synthetic drugs and searching for a natural and healthier way to cure their various ailments, it is used for cooking and flavoring, it has been used as ingredients in love potions even! Herbs have many uses, all positive. As a sign of the changing times, The Physicians Desk Reference, a guide found in almost any doctors office that describes all the chemical prescription drugs available now also has an herbal medicine edition and guide to natural remedies.

There are many different ways to use herbs. Obviously the best choice of herb is fresh and organically grown, whether from your own backyard or from a local farmers market, however, for some that is not possible and many herbs can be bought pre-packaged over the Internet or at your local grocery store. Herbal teas are abundant on shelves in grocery stores, many foods have herbal supplements added. The first step to using herbs to better your own health is to understand the various ways to use them for your benefit and how easy it is for you to do at home. We go to the store and buy herbal infused teas, lotions, balms and what we do not realize is that you can make these yourself at home naturally! Here are the various and easy ways to make herbal products at home.

Herbal Teas: A warm cup of chamomile tea to help relax you before bed, a warm cup of peppermint tea to settle a stomachache, a ginger infused tea for nausea, there are many different teas for many different uses. Herbal teas are prepared as infusions or decoctions and both are easy to make.

Herbal Infusion (use for making tea from leaves, flowers, berries or seeds, essential oils from the leaves are released when steeped in hot water)

1 cup boiling water (water must be boiling, leaves will lose their value when simmered or placed in warm water)
1 teaspoon dried herb or 1 tablespoon fresh herb

Place herbs in a mug or other heat proof glass, pour the boiling water over and allow to steep for at least 5 minutes, for stronger teas steep for 20 minutes to several hours or even overnight. If you use loose herb remember to strain before drinking so you do not swallow the herbs to (of course if you like it that way go ahead!)

Herbal Decoction (use for making tea from roots of plants or bark)

directions same as above, however steep for at least 20 minutes rather than 5 since the plant parts are tougher

Herbal Tinctures: A tincture has many uses and combines an herb with some sort of agent to preserve and draw out its medicinal qualities. An alcohol base(the drinking kind, NEVER use rubbing alcohol or the like) is the most common and works best however, a glycerin base also works great and is good children or those who do not want to use alcohol. The first step to making a tincture is to process the herbs, for dried herbs, simply grind them to a fine powder or for fresh herbs, mince and chop. this will help release essential oils.

For fresh herbs:
1 part herb chopped or minced
2 parts vodka, brandy, apple cider vinegar or glycerin

For dried herbs:
1 part herb, powdered
3 parts vodka, brandy, apple cider vinegar, or glycerin

1. Put herbs in a jar, I try to fill the jar about 1/4 with herbs, cover with liquid, stir well and seal tightly. Place in a dark location and shake once a day for 2 to 4 weeks.

2. After 2 to 4 weeks, strain the liquid, pour into smaller bottles if desired. Store tincture in dark and cool areas.

When using vinegar, cover the top of jar with plastic wrap before sealing lid, fumes from the vinegar can corrode the cap and make it hard to open later.

Herbal Oils & Salves: Oils & salves can be used for skin irritations, burns, bug bites, bruises and other skin problems and are very easy to make at home

Infused Oil
2 to 3 ounces dried or fresh wilted herb
1 pint of olive oil

Pour oil over herbs, making sure there is a couple of inches of oil covering the herb, cover jar with cheesecloth (I use 2 layers) then seal with a rubber band or the lid of the jar, place jar in a warm spot, like a sunny window for 2 weeks. Strain the oil from the herbs into an air tight container and you have your infused oil, which should be stored in a cool, dark location and can keep for about 6 months.

Salve
1 cup infused oil
1/4 cup grated beeswax (you can find beeswax at Michaels and many craft stores or try health food and natural stores)

Combine oil and beeswax on top of a double boiler, heat until the beeswax is melted, stirring constantly. remove from heat. Take out a small spoonful and place in fridge for about two minutes, if the consistency is to your liking then store your salve in an air tight container and it can be refrigerated. If you find it is to hard, add more oil and heat up again, if it is to think add more beeswax.

Herbal Steams & Compresses: An herbal steam is great when you have a stuffy nose, a congested head or even a headache. It is safer and non-drowsy like most anti-histamine's you buy over the counter. This is also one of the easiest home herbal remedies you can do!

A small handful of dried or fresh herbs
Boiling water

Place the herbs in a heat safe bowl, pir the boiling water over and "tent" a towel over your head and bowl to breathe in the scents. Be cautious not to go to close to the bowl and that the bowl is secure so you do not get burned.

For a compress, simply follow the above and once the water is cool enough to your liking, soak a towel in it and place it on the area to be treated.

The only herbal solution I would say needs to be store bought is essential oils, to get the full effect of an essential oil you need to follow the process of making essential oils which requires thousands of pounds of the particular herb and a still, which the average gardener does not have readily available. Essential oils can be used to create your own relaxing bath. Bath salts are bought and sold all the time, and they are just as easy to make yourself at home as all the above listed herbal concoctions. Simply take equal parts of sea salt, Epsom salt, baking soda and about 10 to 15 drops of essential oil and let dissolve in the tub. A great tip is to make a bath bag, like a giant tea bag, I use cheese cloth, put all the ingredient and tie into a bag, then just toss in to the bath (my giant teapot) or hang the bag so that it is near the water coming out of the faucet, the water runs right over the bag releasing the smell and medicinal properties right into the flow of water filling the tub.