2. Basic Terminology for Herbal Medicine
1. Medicinal Plants: Large groups of plants used in medicine or veterinary practice for
therapeutic or prophylactic purposes due to the presence of active substances in their
organs (alkaloids, phenolics & vitamins) with physiological effects rendering them
biologically active.
2. Herbal Medicines: Finished labeled medicinal products containing herbal material or
herbal preparation(s) of one or more medicinal plant(s) as their active ingredient(s),
usually with other excipients (preservatives, coloring and/or flavoring agents .
3. Herbal Materials:
3.1. Plant part (s): fresh or dried; entire or pulverized plant organ(s).
3.2. Plant product(s): juices, gums, resins, essential oils, fatty oils and/or other substances
of this nature.
3. 4.1. Aqueous extracts: decoctions, infusions & macerates.
- Decoction: A concentrated water extraction of plant material made through boiling or
simmering. A water extraction using a continuous heat supply, usually a long simmer (20-45
minutes). Typically used for denser plant parts such as roots, bark, seeds, berries and
mushrooms. A decoction is more concentrated than an infusion, which is typically made by
simply pouring boiling water over fresh or dried herbs.
- Infusion: A drink, remedy, or extract made by soaking the plant material in boiling water.
Infusions are recommended especially for flowers & leaves, whose volatile oils, vitamins
and enzymes are easily extracted through being submerged in hot water.
- Maceration: Maceration means chopping or grinding the herb, putting it in a jar and
covering with a solvent (usually a combination of alcohol and water). Let it sit for a month,
then strain it out. The liquid leftover is the tincture, having extracted the active constituents
of the plant
4. Herbal Preparations: Considered as the basis for the finished herbal products
(phytopharmaceuticals)
4. 4.2. Alcoholic or Hydro-alcoholic extracts:.
Tincture: An extract of a plant made by soaking herbs in a dark place with a
desired amount of either glycerine, alcohol or vinegar for two to six weeks.
The liquid is strained from the plant material and then the tincture is used
therapeutically
4.3. Acidic extracts: vinegars.
4.4. Oily extracts
5. Different Dosage Forms of Herbal Medicines
Herbal medicines can be administered in 3 forms:
1. Solid dosage forms (herbal teas, capsules & tablets).
2. Semi solid dosage forms (creams & ointments).
3. Liquid dosage forms (syrups, suspensions, Juices, oils & liniments(
Herbal teas: Herbal teas consist of one or more ground or
ungrounded herbal drugs intended for oral aqueous preparations
by means of decoction, infusion or maceration. The preparation
is prepared immediately before use. Herbal-teas are supplied in
bulk form or in sachets.
Ointments and creams: They are obtained simply by addition
of extracts, juices or other herbal material to a suitable base
(mostly Oil, Vaseline, Lanolin or Animal fats). Ointments or
creams are applied topically to the affected areas.
6. Liniments: are emulsions of medicinal herb extracts with oil
and/or alcohol. They are applied topically to the skin by
gentle rubbing allowing the active substances to penetrate
through the skin into deeper tissues. Generally used for
rheumatic and muscular symptoms.
Syrups: Herbal syrups are made by the addition of viscous herbal extracts or
tinctures blended with simple syrup. Simple syrup afford antimicrobial activities as
they contain a (50-85% w/v) of sucrose
