Herbal Drugs - How Is It Taken?

Herbal Drugs - How Is It Taken?

Herbal drugs are taken in a variety of ways. Different methods of preparing them follow.

A decoction is a tea made from boiling the bark, roots, or other woody parts of the plant in water.
An infusion is a tea made by pouring hot water over the dried leaves, flowers, or fruit of the plant and allowing it to steep, or soak. The water is usually boiling, but some infusions use cold water.
A liniment is an extract of an herb added to either alcohol or vinegar and then applied to the skin.
A poultice is a soft, moist mass of plant material that has been wrapped in a fine woven cloth. It is usually applied to burns or other skin wounds.
A tincture is an extract, or the concentrated liquid form, of an herb. Tinctures are made by soaking herbs in glycerinA syrupy form of alcohol., alcohol, or vinegar for several weeks. What remains of the herb after soaking is strained out of the liquid. The resulting tincture contains high levels of the active ingredients in the herb. It can be consumed by the spoonful or mixed with a beverage.