Herbs & Spices

Herbal medicine is one of the most ancient forms of remedial treatment, evolving with humanity. Some cultures, the Hindus, Muslims, Chinese, Japanese, and other societies in the developing world, continue to use herbs as their main source of medicine. With the advent of science, the west looked down upon herbalism with contempt and considered it as a creation of superstition and folklore.

Herbs are thought to possess their own characteristic temperaments, and are therefore prescribed according to their individual characteristics to correct imbalances. There is also a belief that each part of the body is governed by a sign of the zodiac and, each herb, by one of the known planets.

The growing concern about the side effects of drugs has demanded that alternative methods of treatment be reconsidered - herbalism stands out foremost in this race.

Herbalism survives on one important principle - "synergism" - which maintains that the strength of the sum of the parts is greater than the strength of individual parts; therefore, all the plant parts are used in entirety in remedies, rather than isolate the plant's chemically active constituents.

Herbs can cure a range of ailments including allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, headaches, high/ low blood pressure, insomnia, kidney and urinary infections, menopausal problems, menstrual problems and skin diseases.

Herbs, though natural, are powerful healing tools and could be toxic if used in excessive doses. The medications from herbs are available in the following forms:

Infusions

Infusions are prepared by placing the plant part in a china bowl and pouring boiling water to be left to steep (soak) for ten to fifteen minutes. Flowers with leaves and stalks are best suited for this method as they release their active ingredients easily. Infusions are discarded after a few hours.

Decoctions

Woody stems, roots, seeds, and bark are used for decoctions. The chopped or crushed herb is placed in a pan and covered with water. The water is brought to a boil and left simmering for a while with the pan covered for ten to fifteen minutes, when the active ingredients are released into the water. Decoctions are discarded after a few hours.

Tinctures

Tinctures are highly concentrated mixtures of alcoholic spirit and herbs. The ratio of herb to liquid (vodka) is one to five. This mixture is left in a warm place for a couple of days (two weeks) shaking twice daily, and then strained into a fresh, sterilised, well-sealed, dark bottle.

Compresses

A compress is the process of soaking a thick cloth like a bath towel in heated herbal liquid and applying to the affected area. A compress helps the skin at the site of an inflammation to absorb the active ingredients of an herbal infusion or decoction.

Poultices

A poultice is a compress, but with the solid (now soft and mushy) constituents strained from an infusion or a decoction.

See also
Ayurveda and
Standardisation of Herbal Extracts