For centuries, medicine has been using herbs to cure ailments, relieve pain, and prevent diseases and deformities of the human body. In fact, pharmaceutical companies get their primary source of elements for their drugs from herbs that are commonly seen and grown both in the wild and at home.

This series aims to present indigenous organic medicinal herbs found in our surroundings, open fields, and in our home and backyard garden. Actual photos of plants will be shown and how to prepare such herbs in different ways to cater to different types of ailments. Some plants or herbs may provide medicinal properties through their leaves, fruits, barks, stalks, stems, and/or roots.

PHOTO CREDIT: DARXXIDE.COM

It is important that we know how to prepare parts of the plants to get the optimum medicinal properties and also to avoid unwanted side effects. As always, when in doubt, consult a doctor. While herbal medicine is one way to self medicate, doctors are well-equipped to know what conditions you may have and how to manage these conditions. However, it doesn't hurt to ask your doctor for alternative solutions to your ailments. The following are general guidelines to keep in mind when acquiring and processing medicinal herbs.

GENERAL GUIDELINES TO REMEMBER

1. When gathering leaves, make sure they are fully developed. Some plants grow mature after a year and leaves have stronger and robust medicinal properties on the second season.
2. Gather flowers before or after they have opened completely. They are best when collected in the morning just after the dew has evaporated and in a clear, dry weather.
3. As in the case of stalks, they are best collected after the fruiting occurs.
4. Gather bulbs when new bulbs appear and completely formed, just before the leaves dry up.
5. Collect seeds when they are fully mature as this will ensure that essential oils are abundantly present.
6. Gathering barks, branches, trunks, or roots are best collected during the time of flowering or when the fruit is ripe.
7. Roots and underground stems or rhizomes are best gathered just before flowering for annual plants. For biennials, gather the materials after the first leaves appear during the first season or at the end of the year. For perennials, materials are best collected either before new leaves begin to appear or after the plant matures and the leaves have all fallen from the plant.
8. When drying the herbal materials, find a shady location when drying leaves and flowers. The quicker the materials dry, the better they retain their medicinal properties. A short sun exposure of about an hour or so will prevent fungal attack. Preserve your dried materials in a cool, dry place to avoid developments of moulds and mildews.
9. Stainless steel, glass or good quality enamelware are best storage units especially in aqueous preparation (hot and cold infusion, decoction) of herbs. Avoid using chlorinated water when processing your herbal materials.

AQUEOUS PREPARATIONS

Hot/cold infusion and decoction are preparations that require water to facilitate the extraction of medicinal properties of the plant.

Hot Infusion

This method requires boiling water to be poured over the collected materials and steep for 15 minutes then strain. This is applicable to flowers or leaves to make tea for immediate use. If you have powdered materials like roots, seed, bark, or resins you can also apply hot infusion. Just make sure your materials are finely ground.

Cold Infusion

Very similar to hot infusion in all aspects except that we use cold water and steep in longer time, like 3 to 5 hours before use.

Decoction

This method applies to parts of the plants that are hard such as branch, roots, some seeds, rhizomes. Gently simmer the materials for 30 minutes to extract and release their medicinal properties. Strain.

DOSAGES

Preparing fresh herb or plant materials will one (1) liter of water to twenty (20) grams of fresh materials. With dried materials, ten (10) grams to one (1) liter of water.

1. Adults - 4 to 5 cups daily.
2. Children - (10 to 15 years: 3 to 4 cups daily); (6 to 9: 2 cups a day); (2 to 5: 1 cup daily); (1 to 2: 1/2 cup daily); (below 1 year old: 1/4 cup or less daily).

JUICING

You can prepare the herb or plant materials as a juice using chopped, minced, or crushed through a blender and squeezing to extract the juice. Straining will separate the juice from the pulp which some people do not want. As with the dosage, adults will have five (5) drops of juice in a tablespoon of water taken every 3 hours; children 10-15, three (3) drops in a tablespoon of water every 3 hours; aged 5-10, two (2) drops in a tablespoon of water every 3 hours; aged 1-2, one (1) drop to a tablespoon of water every 2 hours. IMPORTANT: The younger the children, the lesser the juice. Never prepare juice for use the next day because it oxidizes fast and its medicinal property declines.

POWDERED

If you prefer in powder form, make sure it is very fine. Normal dosage is one-quarter to one-third of a level teaspoon. Place the powder in front of the tongue using a glass of water to wash down. Be careful not to inhale the powder into your lungs. Make your powdered form by grinding the dried materials with a mill or blender or with a pestle in a mortar. Make sure you collect the finest powder then store in a capsule or make a pill out of the powder. You may also add it to your food.

POULTICES

Poultices may take many forms like fresh leaves may be applied directly over the affected areas like wound, inflammation, or a painful area.

Dry herb materials in sachets may be hot or cold are used for cramps, neuralgia, otitis, or insomnia. Formed as a plaster, they may be applied directly on the affected area or using a thin cloth. Dried materials may be used but must be soaked in boiling water then apply.

Cold compress and fomentation. With fomentation (hot), use the decoction of the required herb or plant in a clean cloth and apply in the affected area/s. Cold compress means decoction of the required herb in cold water.

OINTMENT

Using a base like fat or oil, you may add the herbal material directly to the base. A decoction may also be added the oil or fat. Preferred fats are coconut fat, almond oil, or any vegetable oils. Petroleum jelly and lard are not recommended. To prepare, simmer the decoction or plant with the fat base until moisture of herb or decoction evaporates. This could take several hours. While it is still hot but not boiling, strain. Use a hardener like beeswax, the preferred hardener, if ointment is too soft. Place in a suitable container to cool down and use.

CONCLUSION

This post will be used as reference in the upcoming series of posts, especially with regards to preparations and dosages. Additional information may be found in the comment/reply section or in the series of posts.

Remember: When symptoms persist, consult a physician.

DISCLAIMER: All information, practices, and procedures have been PERSONALLY applied to my case. You may have different issues of the same symptoms, therefore, use the information here with caution. I am not a medical doctor nor a herbalist. But most of the applications have worked for me. It may work or may not work in your case. Consult a physician when in doubt.

Come follow @cjclaro for updates in this series of herbal medicine.