Natural Herbal Beauty

Plaster

If you think of grandmother’s famous mustard plaster, you’ll see why a plaster is a “sandwich.” Plasters are typically made with strong rubefacient materials that have the potential to redden andirritate the skin.

Prepare the herb parts as for either a steamed or pulpedpoultice, but place the warm mass of pulverized herbs between two layers of cloth before applying to the desired area. Depending on the herbs used, plasters can be left in place for an extended period of time, even overnight. (more…)

Infusion, Cold

Some ingredients lose medicinal properties when heat is applied, but you can make a tea nonetheless. To prepare a cold infusion, measure the recommended quantity of ingredients and soak overnight in cold water. The following morning, you may warm slightly to sipping temperature, if you wish. Strain before using.

Infusion, Hot and Cold

On occasion, you’ll find a plant that contains some elements that are released by heat, and some that are leached out by soaking in cold water overnight. Here’s how to get around that dilemma. (more…)

There are many ways to use nature’s medicinals. No matter what method is employed, the idea is to release, extract, and activate all the useful properties of the plant. For the most part, that’s accomplished with liquid. In other words, even poultices, plasters, and ointments start as teas.

A word of caution. Never use tap water. There are just too many chemicals in tap water that can interact with and alter the working properties of healing teas. Always use bottled water when preparing home remedies. (more…)

To make sure of the highest degree of purity and potency in your herbal ingredients, visit one of the larger herb shops or health-food stores in your area. Pick one with a lot of traffic and a knowledgeable staff, then be guided by staff members’ expertise.

Here’s one more word to the wise: Don’t congratulate yourself on searching out the lowest-priced herbal ingredients to brew your healing teas. This is one instance where quality and care in processing show up in price. Expect to pay a little more for the best. And don’t begrudge it. If you want your teas to be of full benefit, spend for quality ingredients. (more…)

Healing teas have been used with great benefit for millennia. Without the experiences passed down by the master physicians of ages past who both compounded and brewed their own medicinal teas, our knowledge of healing plants would be meager indeed.

Please keep in mind that the physicians of antiquity formulated their healing teas with great care. They were very particular about the apothecary shop they patronized, too. To ensure that the healing brews the doctors personally compounded and dispensed to their patients were biologically active, insisted on herbs that were organically pure, recently dried, and fully potent. That’s what you must do, too. (more…)