Herbal Treatments
*You may wish to patch test for allergies if you have not used the herbs before.
INFUSED HERBAL OIL.
This makes approx 1/2 pint of infused oil.
Ingredients: -
2 - 3 oz dried herbs. OR 3 - 4 oz fresh herbs.
1/2 pint of unblended vegetable oil.
Requirements: -
Large pan with hot water.
An air tight metal container.
Muslin or strainer.
Method: -
1 Chop the herbs and put half the amount into the air tight container add ALL the oil and put the lid on.
2 Put the container into the pan and simmer slowly for 2 hours. DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL DRY. To save time and energy costs 2 - 3 containers can be heated together.
3 After 2 hours allow the mixture to cool slightly and then strain it well. AT THIS STRENGTH IT CAN BE USED FOR INFANTS. Discard the spent herbs (these will make excellent compost once rotted, completing the circle by returning the goodness back to the earth.)
4 Refill the container with the remaining herbs and cover with the strained oil. Put the lid back on the container and return to the pan with hot water. Simmer gently for another 2 hours. DO NOT ALLOW TO BURN DRY. BURNT OIL HAS NO VALUE AT ALL.
5 When the oil has cooled enough to work with pour it through a jelly bag, sieve (strainer) lined with muslin.
If you have used fresh herbs there may be a watery green liquid at the bottom of the oil, this liquid MUST be separated out and thrown away, otherwise it will deteriorate and quickly spoil the oil.
6 Once the oil has been strained, gather up the herbs in a cloth and wring them out to extract every drop of oil. Put the oil into clean bottles and label them clearly with the name and date. Store in a cool, dark place.
This oil will keep fresh for a year but will eventually become rancid.
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TINCTURE.
15G (1/2 oz) dried herbs.
200 ml (7 fl oz) alcohol such as vodka or brandy.
85 ml (3 fl oz) water.
1 Chop or bruise the herbs. Mix together the alcohol and the water.
2 Put the herbs into a large jar and add the alcoholic liquid.
3 Label and date the jar and leave to stand in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. Shake daily.
4 After 2 weeks the liquid will have drawn out the goodness of the herb and change colour. DO NOT ALLOW TO STAND FOR ANY LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS AS THE HERB BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN CHEMICALLY. Strain the liquid through muslin cloth placed in a sieve (strainer). Squeeze the cloth to get out every drop of tincture. Discard the spent herbs on the garden.
5 Pour the tincture into clean glass bottles, amber glass is best. In clean bottles a tincture will keep indefinitely. Don't forget to label the bottles with name, date and usage.
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WATER INFUSIONS (teas)
1 teaspoon of herbs
250 ml (8 fl oz) boiling water.
1 Chop the herbs. Pour over the boiling water and cover with a tight lid.
2 Leave the tea to brew (1 - 3 minutes for flowers 2 - 4 minutes for leaves and 4 - 10 minutes for seeds, bark and hard roots. At this stage it can be drunk as a tea or used in the making of creams and ointments.
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OINTMENTS.
Ingredients to make the ointment: -
300 MLS (1/2 pint) herbal infused oil
25 g (1 oz) beeswax grated or thinly chopped.
Requirements: -
1 large pan
1 heatproof jug.
1 Put the infused oil and beeswax into the heatproof jug and fill the pan with hot water to just below the level of the oil mixture. Bring the water to the boil and then simmer until the beeswax has melted, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon.
2 When the beeswax has melted, remove the jug from the pan and allow the molten ointment to cool a little. Pour the ointment into clean jars before it starts to set. Fill the jars to within 1cm (1/2 inch) of the top and when it is set hard it will be cool enough to put the lids on the jars.
3 Label the jars with the name, date and usage.
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CREAM.
Creams do not keep as well as ointment, but beeswax creams will last for a few months. Creams made with tinctures will keep longer than those made with teas and decoctions, since they have the preserving power of the alcohol.
Ingredients to make the cream: -
50 ml (2 fl oz) herbal infused oil
15 g (1/2 oz beeswax grated or finely cut.
50 ml (2 fl oz) tincture, herbal tea or decoction.
Requirements:-
2 x heatproof bowls
1 roasting tin/dish
1 electric hand whisk
1 mixing bowl
Method: -
1 Put the infused oil and beeswax into one of the small bowls and the decoction, tincture or herbal tea into the other. Stand both bowls in the roasting tin/dish. Fill the roasting tin/dish with hot water to just below the level of the liquids in the bowls. Put the roasting tin/dish on the stove and bring the water to the boil, once the water starts to boil turn down the heat to just below boiling and wait for the beeswax to melt.
2 Remove the roasting tin from the heat & allow to cool for a few moments. Pour the contents of the beeswax and infused oil into the mixing bowl. Using the electric mixer on the slowest speed mix in the decoction, tincture, herbal tea a little at a time. It is important to pour very slowly, only a few drops at a time.
3 When the cream looks like a smooth cake mix then put it into clean jars. Label them with the name, date and usage then store in a cool place.
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Jacq
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