This document provides guidelines for making various herbal preparations, including teas, infusions, decoctions, tinctures, essences, ointments, poultices, syrups, and capsules. It discusses appropriate ingredients, ratios, and methods for each preparation. Cautions are also provided, such as only using fresh or dried herbs, being hygienic, and leaving some plants to propagate naturally when collecting. The document aims to educate on integrating herbal usage safely into daily life.

1. HERBAL
PREPARATIONS
Christen Peattie, HHP
© 2009 Green Heart Health

2. HERBAL
PREPARATIONS
Christen Peattie, HHP
© 2009 Green Heart Health

3. GENERAL
GUIDELINES
Integrate usage into daily life
Use fresh or dried herbs as available
Dry has double the potency as fresh
Be aware of side effects and adverse
reactions
Never use aluminum cookware or utensils
as they have toxic effects
Each method has its qualities, know them
and use to your advantage.
Each form of remedy has a different shelf
life, keep this in mind.
Be extremely hygienic when handling herbal
medicines. Boil and sterilize all bottles and
lids.

4. CAUTIONS WHEN
COLLECTING
Stay far away from roadway pollutants
Beware of pesticide usage
Watch for insects and molds
Always choose from those herbs with
fresh appearance
Never take the whole plant, leave some to
propagate naturally.
Know your herbs, many beneficial plants
are similar in appearance to harmful
ones.

5. TEA
1tsp. herb to 1 Cup
water
Bring water to a
boil and add to tea
Steep for 5-15
minutes
Strain in non-metal
strainer
Use immediately or
within a few hours.

6. INFUSION
1/3 Cup herb to 1
Cup water
(single)
1 oz. herb to 1
pint water
(batch)
Prepare like tea
Steep for 10-20
minutes
Strain
Refrigerate
Use within 24
hours

7. DECOCTIONS
For use with hard
and woody plants
Chop or crush the
herb
1 oz. herb to 1 pint
water
Simmer until
volume is reduced
by 1/4
Strain
Use immediately or
within 24 hours

8. TINCTURES
1 oz. herb to 1 pint Strain through
alcohol muslin or a coffee
Keep a 1:5 ratio if filter
adjusting quantity Store in a sterile
Chop or grind the dark bottle in a cool
herb place
Add to alcohol in Label and date the
sterile glass jar bottle
Leave in a warm Keeps indefinitely
place for 2-3 weeks 2 Tbls. = 1 oz. of
Shake gently 2-3 powdered herb
times a day Just a few drops =
1/2 Cup tea

9. ESSENCES
1 tsp. Essential oil
to 9 tsp. alcohol
(vodka is good)
Add the oil to the
alcohol in a sterile
bottle
Shake thoroughly
Use externally as a
rub
Orally - a few drops
3-4 times a day

10. OINTMENTS
23 oz. anhydrous lanolin, 1 oz. white bees wax & 16
oz. fresh herbs (8 oz. dried)
Melt the lanolin in a double boiler adding the herbs
and simmering gently, for 1/2 hour
Strain through muslin - use caution HOT!
Squeeze out all herbs from lanolin
Add the beeswax, adjusting to desired firmness
Pour into sterile jars and cool before putting the lids
on
Tinctures or essential oils can be added to melted
base
(1 tsp. to 16 oz. lanolin)
Note:
Can use oil instead of lanolin (8 fl. oz. of oil to 1 oz.
beeswax, following the above procedure)

11. POULTICES
Useful for abscesses,
boils, swellings, strains
and bruises.
Bruise the fresh herb
and pour over just
enough hat water to wet
the herb.
Apply to the affected
area.
Place the herb mixture
between 2 layers of
muslin in the skin is
broken or irritated.
Cover with a hot wet
cloth.
Replace poultice every 2
hours

12. SYRUPS
Useful for cough
mixtures
Prepare a decoction
or infusion of your
blend
Strain the herbs
For every 1 pint of
liquid add 1 Cup of
honey
Bottle in sterile jars
and store in a cool
place

13. CAPSULES
Grind herbs to a fine
powder
Use a blender or
food processor
Fill the capsules by
hand using a capsule
filling unit
Useful for herbs that
are distasteful or
harsh
Take with water like
a pill, in therapeutic
doses

14. SOURCES
Alternative Nature Online Herbal;
http://altnature.com; Karen Bergeron;
3/31/06
Nat 201 Certificate in Nutrition, Bodycare
and Herbalism Lesson Manual; Australasian
College of Health Sciences, Inc.; Oregon;
2005; pp 183-187.
Henriette's Herbal Homepage;
http://www.henriettesherbal.com;
4/1/06