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Confused about the terminology? Don't be, below are all the methods you will need to produce your own herbal healing recipes with confidence.
Herbal Infusions
Infusions are simply made by pouring boiling water over herb leaves or flowers and leaving them to infuse for 15/20 minutes to release the active ingredients. Once the infusion is ready it can be strained ready to use.
For an infusion you generally use 1x teaspoon of dried herbs or 2 x teaspoons fresh herb to 250ml/1 cup water.
Herbal Teas
Teas are made in exactly the same way as an infusion except they are steeped for less time.More details on how to make the perfect cup of herbal tea can be found on our herbal tea recipes page below.
Herbal Decoctions
Decoctions are generally made from the tougher parts of herbs such as the bark, roots and seeds which need to be simmered gently to extract their properties.
To make a decoction use 2 x tablespoons dried herb or 4 x tablespoons fresh herb with 500ml/2 cups water,bring to the boil then simmer for 30 minutes, strain and use.
Herbal Tinctures
Tinctures can be made from alcohol and dried,powdered herbs or oil and dried/fresh herbs depending on the application required.
To make an alcohol tincture put 100g/31/2oz dried herbs or 300g/11oz fresh herbs into a sealable jar.Add 1 cup/250ml/8floz vodka,brandy or rum and infuse(macerate) for 4/5 weeks shaking occasionally.Strain out the herbs and store in a cool,dark place.
The alcohol will act as a preservative and it should keep for about 18 months.To use the tincture, use a dropper and drop 10 drops straight onto your tongue or if you prefer mix them in some water and drink.
To make an oil based tincture, use the same methods and measures as above using a vegetable oil of your choice instead of alcohol but only allow it to infuse for up to two weeks maximum-if you want to make a stronger infusion then replace the herbs again every two weeks then strain and store in a cool dark place.
Your oil based tincture can be used for family first aid,as a luxurious after bath oil or in your home made herbal cream recipes.
Herbal Compress
To use a compress, you will first need to make an infusion or decoction as required.To use a compress,Soak a piece of natural, unbleached material in the warm liquid and lay it onto the affected area. Repeat this treatment until the skin looks flushed.
Compresses are particularly good for treating sprains and circulation disorders and drawing out infection and can be used hot or cold depending of the type of injury.
Herbal Poultices
A poultice is the same principle as a compress except that instead of using an just an infusion the herbs are not strained out but used in the treatment to draw out infection.
To make a poultice mix 2 x tablespoons dried herb or 12 x tablespoons finely chopped fresh herb with 16 x tablespoons of bran(or oatmeal). Mix the herbs and bran together with hot water to make a paste place it directly onto the affected area and cover with a clean natural cloth. Once the poultice has cooled, repeat the process again for up to 30 mins.
I learned to understand the value of herbal poultices early on in life being the proud owner of an accident prone horse! I can vouch that they really do the job well.
Herbal Salves/Ointments
A salve is basically another word for an ointment the main ingredients for which include beeswax and vegetable oil.To alter the consistency of salves/ointments you add more beeswax to make the cream firmer i.e. lip salves or increase the vegetable oil to thin the consistency making it easier to smooth on like a cream.
So there you have it, all the vital information needed to make your own herbal healing recipes at home and to make life easy for you I have provided some recipes below to get you started. | 
