Roots – the best time to gather roots is before the sap rises in the spring, but they may be taken after the
leaves have dried in the fall.
Barks – gather in the fall or early spring and after, removing the outside portion of the bark, cut and place in a
dry place.
Berries and fruits – hang in a cool, dry place or spread on tables or shelves to dry.
Seeds and flowers – when they have fully ripened, place to dry in a shady place.
Medical herbs – gather any time while blooming, before the autumn frosts and dry in the shade.
Leaves – should be collected when the bloom is on the plant and hang or spread in a current of air to hastily
dry.
Tin cans are the best to keep powers, roots in wooden boxes, extracts and tinctures in jar and bottles,
preferably amber, away from light.
Infusions – are made by adding a pint of boiling water to an ounce of the plant, previously bruised and
mashed. After standing for 2 or 3 hours in a covered vessel, strain the mixture. Most infusions exert a greater
effect when taken warm.
Decoctions – are made by adding a pint and half of water to an ounce of a bruised plant, boiling down to one
pint and strained. Decoctions are preferred to infusions as a mode of extracting the virtues of plants when the
call for the remedy is urgent and the greatest possible activity in the preparation is desirable.
The boiling should not be long to prevent destroying its active principle. Glass or earthenware vessels are
preferred. Decoctions should be prepared only when needed for use.
Extracts – are made by adding a small amount of drinking alcohol to the bruised leaves or other parts of the
plant. The juice is thus extracted and is placed in a warm place to evaporate until it becomes as thick as
honey.
Tinctures – are made by taking 2 ounces of the powdered article and adding a quart of alcohol and let stand for
2 weeks. In the preparation of the tinctures, the medicine should be in a dry state and properly pulverized,
preferably in a coarse texture. If mixing several substances, they should be added singularly to the mixture.
Tinctures should be kept in well-stoppered bottles to prevent evaporation.
Formentations – are the applications of cloths or bags of herbs, which have been previously dipped in hot water
and wrong out or in some medical decoction. They act mainly by their virtue of warmth and moisture, except in
the case of narcotic fomentation, where some additional effect is obtained. The purpose of fomentation is to
reduce swelling and inflammation.
To make a compress: fold pieces of gauze or bandages to make due pressure upon any body part, according
to shape. The compress is well wetted with cold water, applied to the surface near the supposed seat of
disease, securely covered with a dry cloth and changed as often as it becomes dry.
Cerates – are ointments containing 30% beeswax to 70% parts of lanolin or some other substance to make
them harder for use.
Ointments – are made without beeswax and are softer than cerates and are good for local application. The
base is vaseline or lanolin. The medicine is rubbed into the base. Ointments dissolve readily.
Syrups – To make a syrup of plants, add simple syrup to the infusion when hot and somewhat evaporated and
bottle while hot.
Powders – barks or dried herbs are finely broken up or pulverized to make powders. They should be kept in
airtight bottles or cans and some need to be from protected from light.
Suppositories – are small masses made into a cone shape. The medicine is usually mixed with cocoa butter
and they are designed for use in the rectum or vagina.
Poultices – are applied soft and moist and renewed before they become cool or dry. They are used to scatter
tumors, stimulate, lessen inflammation, hasten the formation of pus or drawing poison from wounds.
| PREPARATION OF HERBS |