Liquid Herbal Remedies

Herbal medicine, or herbal remedies, places much weight on the natural healing powers of herbs in combating illnesses and maintaining general well-being of both the mind and the body. You can make use of these natural powers into your everyday life by making your own mix of liquid herbal remedies.

The preparation of liquid herbal remedies may take some amount of time and a certain degree of skill. However, even those who are new to natural health can learn many simple liquid herbal remedies without having to go through various medicinal texts focusing on herbology. You can create your liquid herbal remedies, including teas, syrups, and creams. Below are some sample recipes you can follow to make your first mixture. For the herbs mentioned in these recipes, you can buy them at any supermarket or if you have your own garden, get them from there.

Liquid Herbal Remedies: Herbal Teas

Herbal teas are sometimes called herbal infusions or tisanes. It is a type of liquid herbal remedies wherein you simply infuse the aerial parts of herbs, such as flowers, stems, and leaves, in water.

The herbs may be dried or fresh. If you're using dried herbs for your liquid herbal remedies, use 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb for each cup (8 ounces) of water. Let the herbs steep for about 10 minutes in water that has just been boiled. Afterwards, strain the infusion.

Using fresh herbs in liquid herbal remedies has a subtle difference in its preparation. Take 3 teaspoons of fresh plant parts and place it in a pint of water. Again, let it steep for a period of 10 minutes and afterwards, strain the herbs, leaving only the liquid.

Liquid Herbal Remedies: Macerations

Another type of preparing liquid herbal remedies is through maceration. This is essentially an infusion, only that the herbs are soaked in cold water instead of boiled. Herbs, such as marshmallow root and valerian, are much more effective as liquid herbal remedies if macerated.

To prepare, use the same ration of herbs to water, that is, 3:1. Steep the herbs in cold water and leave it in a cool place overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture and consume as you would an infusion.

Liquid Herbal Remedies: Decoctions

Decoctions are yet another type of making liquid herbal remedies. It is somewhat similar to an infusion; however it is most often used if the plants are made of much tougher material. Decoctions are used when trying to make liquid herbal remedies from herbal roots, barks, seeds, berries, and stems.

Chop up the plant material thinly and use 1-2 teaspoons of the dried or fresh herbs. Place in 1 pints of water, then place the ingredients in a saucepan and boil for decoction. Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes or until the volume of liquid is reduced to about a third. Afterwards, strain the mixture.