SIMPLE MEDICINAL HERBAL TEAS,INFUSIONS OR TISANES
Teas or tisanes are hot water extracts of herbs, such as catnip. Normally an herbal tea is the combination of boiling water and dried flowers, fruits, or herbs. Herbal teas have been used since the beginning of history. These teas can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, usually by pouring the boiling water over the herb of choice and steeping them for a few minutes. Seeds and roots and tougher parts are usually boiled. The tea is strained and sweetened if preferred and served.
The Native Americans used simple teas to instill the body with Herbal medicines. You can find man different varieties of herbal teas in many different stores. You can also find bulk herbs that are ready for steeping. There are many pre-made herbal formulas on the market. There are herbal formulas that are packaged for particular ailments. Most of these come in the form of pre-packaged teas. Some are just for sipping. Since the simplest way to use herbs is in the form of teas I have paid a little more attention to the information on “Simple Medicinal Herbal Teas”.
Your first step will be to decide how much tea you will be making. Medicinal herbal teas are not made in the same way that you make a “beverage tea”. Medicinal herbal teas are steeped or infused longer. You must keep the tea covered while steeping to preserve the medicinal qualities of the tea. Generally, leaves, flowers and berries are usually steeped or infused. Roots, barks, twigs, and seeds are decocted.
Two cups should be the smallest amount you will make. Less than two cups you run into the problem of possibly boiling your pot dry. Place the pot or tea kettle on the stove and bring the water to the boiling point.
Pre-warm your teapot and tea cups run your tap water until it is as hot as it possibly can get. Then fill your teapot and tea cups to the brim with “Hot” water. Place lids on both the teapot and the cups to maintain the heat.
When you heat the cups and pot your tea will remain warm longer and reduce the danger of the tea cup or pot shattering.
Once the water is boiling empty the hot water from the teapot; place the herbal tea leaves/flowers or tea bags in your pot.
The general rule of thumb when making a Medicinal Herbal infusion or tea is as follows: Dried Herbs: 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water Fresh Herbs: 1 handful to 2 cups of water Roots/ Barks Twig/ Seeds: 1 handful to 2 cups water
For an Infusion steep the tea for at least 10-20 minutes Steeping a beverage tea too long can bring out the bitter tannins. However, medicinal herbal teas are different.
Medicinal herbal teas should be steeped from 10-20 minutes. Strain if needed When using loose tea leaves pour the hot tea through the strainer into each cup. (Do not use an aluminum strainer) Sweeten to taste. NATURAL HONEY should be used with nearly all medicinal her preparations when a sweeter taste is wanted. Some medicinal herbal tea formulas are innately sweet. Try tasting each tea first before deciding if a sweetener is needed.
St. John’s Wort a product of Mother Nature has been discovered by the Medical World and has been in the news almost daily. I thought it might be helpful if we took a good look at St. John’s Wort and see what it does for the body.
The main actions of St. John’s Wort are cited as being an anti-viral (inhibits viruses in the body), analgesic (stops pain), anti-inflammatory (stops inflammation), ant-bacterial (inhibits bacterial growth in the body), anti- cancer (inhibits the growth of brain tumors, lung cancer and skin cancer in laboratory tests) and as an anti-depressant. The antidepressant or sedative effects of St. John’s Wort were initially thought to be due to the hypericin in St John’s Wort. It is now known that the biflavones and hyperforin are involved and experimental studies have shown that St. John's Wort may have monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition activity and also that it exhibits serotonin reuptake inhibition. The following is a summary of the scientific studies that have been performed on St. John’s Wort:
•St. John's Wort has a serotonin reuptake inhibiting effect.
•St. John's Wort inhibits stress-induced cortisol secretion.
•St. John's Wort may also be an MAO inhibitor.
•St. John's Wort increased nocturnal melatonin blood level in healthy human volunteers.
•St. John's Wort increased urinary neurotransmitter metabolites of serotonin and norepinephrine.
•St. John's Wort increases production of dopamine.
•St. John's Wort potentiates binding to benzodiazepine receptors.
•St. John's Wort does not impair cognitive functions or the ability to drive or work.
•St. John's Wort has a long-term effect on anxiety comparable to Valium.
St. John's Wort is the most extensively researched & used herbal antidepressant. This herbal anti-depressant produces very few side effects and those that were found have been documented as follows:
St. John’s Wort has been found to be safer than aspirin, no deaths reported in over 2400 years of use; It Has minimal side effects- only 2.4% of people in studies experienced any side effects; The side effects that were found are: Gastrointestinal upset- 0.6%; Allergic reactions-0.5%; Tiredness/Fatigue- 0.4%; Restlessness-0.3%
All side effects are completely reversible- stop taking the St. John's Wort and side effects go away.
The British Medical Journal meta-analysis showed side effect rate of 10.8%, But prescription anti-depressants had a side effect rate of 35.9%. BMJ concluded side effects of St. John's Wort were "rare & mild".
Prescription antidepressants produce side effects such as sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, headache or interaction with other medications or alcohol. These side effects have NOT been reported by people taking St. John's Wort.
No reports of photosensitization at antidepressant dosages. Those who are sun sensitive or on medications that cause photosensitivity (Tetracycline, Chlorpromazine) should use caution in the sun.
The main contraindication for St. John’s Wort was for severe depression (people with suicidal, psychotic, or severe melancholic symptoms) there are no studies with severe depression and due to the slow onset of action of St. John's Wort, those with severe depression may do better with prescription anti-depressants. They need to be under the care of a health care professional.
Most people who take herbal remedies expect immediate miraculous results. They forget that while herbal remedies tend to be more of a permanent nature they also have a slower onset of the desired action. The general rule of thumb (remember, I said general) is one month of treatment for each year that you have had the problem. So if you have had arthritis for 6 years then it will take at least 6 months of treatment before you start seeing results. However, these results from herbal remedies are longer lasting - because herbal medicine treats the problems and the causes - it does not just cover up the symptoms.
St. John’s Wort a miraculous new discovery for the world of medicine. For the world of Herbal medicine St. John’s Wort is a gift that we have had since the beginning of time. A gift from Mother Nature and the Good Earth.
MEDICINAL HERBAL EXTRACTS
Extracts can be made with alcohol, like tinctures or with water. When you buy a liquid herbal extract be sure to read the label to see whether it has been made with alcohol or water. Extracts have the same qualities as tinctures. That being the most concentrated type of herbal medicine and the most economical. Extracts and tinctures are a simple method of giving herbal medicines. However they do usually possess a very strong herbal taste. To cover-up the strong taste add pure natural honey to the mixture.
EXTRACTS consist of both liquid extracts and dry extracts. Liquid extracts are liquids with a lower ethanol percentage than tinctures. They are usually made with tinctures.
Dry extracts are extracts of herbs that have been evaporated into a dry form. Dry extracts are usually further refined into the capsule or tablet form. The greater part of the herbal essence is obtained by extracting the “ESSENTIAL OILS” from the blossoms, fruit, roots, etc., or whole plants, through the following four methods: EXPRESSION: Some oils are easily acquired such as oils from the orange or lemon peel. ABSORPTION: is generally achieved by suffusing the herb or herbs in alcohol such as vanilla beans. MACERATION: is used to produce smaller fragments of a whole herb, as in making coconut extract, etc. DISTILLATION: is used in combination with maceration. However this requires somewhat expert chemical knowledge and a great deal of money to construct a still.
SIMPLE RULE FOR EXTRACTS: 1 part dried plant to 3 parts liquid, (alcohol and water). The ratio for fresh herbs is 1:1.
MEDICINAL HERBAL TINCTURES
Tinctures are the most stable of all herbal medications if stored properly. Place them in tightly capped bottle away from light and heat.
Tinctures are the alcoholic extracts of herbs, such as black walnut extract. Tinctures are generally achieved by mixing 100% pure ethanol with the herb of choice. A finished tincture usually has an ethanol percentage of at least 25%. Some tinctures can be up to 90% ethanol. The name tincture can be used by preparations that use other solvents than ethanol.
Tinctures are a part of our herbal history. Thousands of years ago our ancestors made extracts by combining herbal material with water. The advantages of using herbal extracts are their capability of preserving the active ingredients. Also, they are simple to use and the extended shelf life. Extracts can be easily added to tea, water, and juice, or they can be taken straight.
VINEGARS are prepared the same way as tinctures, with the exception of using an ACETIC ACID (Plain Vinegar) instead of a solvent.
Tinctures are very consistent and dependable. You can make a tincture from most plants. Simply take the part of the herb to be used while it is fresh and green. Crush the herb well. Then cover it with a strong drinking alcohol (I usually use Vodka). Use a jar with a tight fitting lid or a cork and secure tightly. Then let the mixture stand for about two weeks. Then filter the mixture and pour off the liquid from the herbs. The tincture will then be ready to use. Your personally prepared home-made tinctures are much more trustworthy than any of the fluid extracts found in the stores.
(copyright Lelanie Anderson 1991)
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