Begin Working with Herbs (Part 1)
Edited by Nuance, Inukshuk, Eng
7 Parts:
Contents
Herbs Put The Body In Tune With Nature As The Gods Intended
Although Medicinal Herbs are usually not as potent, risky nor as dangerous as pharmaceuticals, they should never be considered 'safe'. Two nutmegs can kill a grown man! And although oregano really spices up Italian food, oregano oil should never be taken if you're pregnant, as it's a uterine stimulant, among other things, and can start labour prematurely. Many people have allergies to herbs, and just like conventional medicines, herbal remedies can be contraindicated with other herbs or medicines you're taking. The side effects of herbs are way easier on the body compared to pharmaceuticals, but herbs should never be taken lightly.
If you begin working with herbs having respect for the power of herbs, and the potential dangers developing a kind of Herbal Philosophy, you will be starting out on the right path, and hopefully, you'll avoid making mistakes that can be very costly.
The History Of Herbalism
The use of plants for medicinal purposes is as old as civilization. Archaeologists believe that prehistoric people used herbal concoctions to treat physical complaints long before the dawn of written history. The first known written record of curative plants was from a Sumerian herbal dating back to 2200 BCE. Today, most of the world's people continue to use herbs to the benefit their bodies.
The origins of Western Herbalism come to us in an interesting route from the Greeks. Because of this, it's good to have basic knowledge of Herbology's origins. Although Hippocrates is known as The Father of Medicine, it was Galen, a 2nd Century physician named Galen, who wrote at length about the Doctrine of Humors.
This Doctrine maintained the essence of matter was found in the four primary elements; Air, Fire, Water, Earth. These elements related to the Seasons, age, and region. Also, they were connected to four fundamental qualities; Moist, Dry, Hot, Cold, four bodily fluids; Blood, Yellow Bile, Black Bile, and Phlegm, and four temperaments; Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic. Each individual was ascribed a particular humor consisting of two fundamental qualities believed to dominate personality and perspective health problems. For example: An asthmatic person would be Phlegmatic (cold & moist). To balance the Humor, the patient would be encouraged to eat foods, and consume liquids that are hot and dry in nature (Indian spicy foods, teas brewed with hot herbs, red wine), and to stay away from cold and moist foods (dairy products, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, bananas and white wine).
The Four Humors That Exist In The Human Body, Plants, Food And Drink
- 1Blood. Hot & Moist, ruled by Air (Gemini, Libra Aquarius), Childhood and Spring. ~East~ According to Galen, the Sanguine individual was ideal. Good-humored and clever, but prone to overindulgence.SANGUINE:
- 2Yellow Bile. Hot & Dry, ruled by Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Youth and Summer. ~South~ The Choleric personality is full of hot wind. Bad tempered or perhaps overly passionate.CHOLERIC:
- 3Black Bile. Cold & Dry, ruled by Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), Maturity and Autumn. ~West~ By the Middle Ages, a Choleric Humor was the Medieval Ideal. The personality is a bit gloomy and sad introspective.MELANCHOLIC:
- 4Phlegm. Cold and Moist, rule by Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), Old Age and Winter. ~North~. The temperament of a Phlegmatic person is meek, introverted and somewhat submissive. They strive to please others.PHLEGMATIC:
Things You'll Need To Get Started
Once you begin working with herbs, there are things you should always have on hand.
- 1You'll need a variety of oils to use as carriers, and a base for creams and salves. Here are three you should have in stock.Oils.
- Olive Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Almond Oil
- 2Beeswax works perfectly to make a salve or cream a little thicker. For example, if you're making a cream by heating certain herbs in olive oil, you'd strain the mixture using cheesecloth, and re-heat, adding shavings of beeswax to make it the right consistency.Beeswax.
- 3This duo has been used to grind, crush and pound herbs, roots and bark since ancient times. The mortar' is basically a bowl, while the pestle is a tool with a rounded end used to grind and crush spices in a mortar. A Mortar & Pestle are typically made of wood, ceramic, marble or stone. Always avoid using anything metal to prepare herbs, and the marble mortar and pestle may look nice, but the inside of the bowl is a bit too smooth and isn't as effective as it should be to grind herbs and spices. A rougher texture is more desirable.Mortar and Pestle.
The Marble Mortar & Pestle (Not the best choice) - 4Get a teapot with either a glass or plastic infuser (stainless steel will work too). Glass the best choice, as you can see how your infusion (tea) is brewing - the color, etc. Put the herbs into the infuser, pour boiled or scalded water over the herbs. With herbs, it's best not to pour boiling water over them, but wait a minute so it's not so hot.Infuser Teapot.
- 5Rather that heating herbal concoctions over the stove, and adding electricity to the fray, there is something to be said for using gentle heat. So look through those unused shower gifts stored in the basement, or pick one up for very little money at a garage sale or thrift shop and you can add another tool to your budding apothecary. Chocolate Fondues are usually a simple ceramic bowl that sits on a base with a tea light for heat. A chocolate fondue will not heat water to a boil, but if you're working with oil, a simple candle will get the mixture hot enough.Chocolate Fondue.
- 6Used to wrap cheese (it's name), in cooking and in this case, for straining herbs after steeping, cheesecloth is loosely woven cotton, resembling gauze. You can also get cheesecloth bags, which often come in very handy.Cheesecloth.
- 7A hand-held strainer will come in handy when cheesecloth won't work. Anything you're making with oil is a good example. These are the small strainers that would fit over the mouth of a cup. Make sure the mesh is either plastic or stainless steel.Strainer.
- 8You'll need a collection of glass jars and bottles. You could go out and buy them, but it's much easier to have family and friends collect interesting jars and bottles for you in various shapes, colours and sizes.Jars and Bottles.
- 9You need to label all your jars of herbs and bottles of whatever concoction you've brewed up.Labels.
- 10Secreted by bees to make their honeycombs, beeswax is also used to make candles and wood polish. In herbology, beeswax is used in a salve or cream, to thicken the consistency, making it easier to apply. It also adds time to the shelf life of your creams and salves.Beeswax.
- 11Again, don't use any metals aside from stainless steel when you're working with herbs.A collection of wooden spoons and wooden chopsticks for stirring your mixtures.
- 12Often, you'll want to strain a mixture through a hand-held strainer, using a funnel.Different sizes of funnels.
What You Need To Know And Do First
- 1You should know the Latin names of the herbs you're working with. Vernacular names change, but the Latin names remain the same. The Latin names also transcend the language barrier.Learn the Latin.
- 2What herb/concoction it is. Dangers and Warnings.Label everything.
- 3Especially look for coloured glass, textured bottles and different shapes and sizes.Collect interesting bottles and jars.
Herbal Methods
- 1Tea steeped for ten minutes. Only good up to 24 hours in the fridge.Infusion.
2
Decoction
. 3
Tincture
. 4
Herbal Wine
. 5
Syrup
. 6
Capsules
. 7
Oil Infusion
. 8
Creams and Salves
. 9
Ointment
. 10
Compress
. 11
Poultice
. 12
Steam and Inhalant
. Storing Herbs
The shelf life of herbal mixtures isn't great, so keep an eye on the label because you've included the date there.
- Store your herbs in glass bottles or jars.
- Use textured glass jars, or jars and bottles with colored glass to store the more volatile (dangerous) herbs in. When you touch the textured glass, or notice the color, you'll be reminded to check the warning on your label.
- Label the jar or bottle with the following:
- Common Name (Sage).
- Latin Name (Salvia officinalis).
- Warning (Do not use any more than cooking during pregnancy. Can trigger seizures in Epileptics.)
- Date of Purchase (D.O.P - June 11 2016), or date you made the mixture.
- Do not keep herbs longer than one year.
- Always store herbs out of direct sunlight.
Tips & Warnings
- 2 Nutmegs can kill a grown man. Translation - herbs are not always safe.
- Herbs can be contraindicated.
- People can be allergic to various herbs.
- Never store herbs in direct sunlight.
- Know the dangers of specific herbs.
- Never use metal with herbs (stainless steel is okay). Use wood, ceramic, glass, or plastic instead.
- Label everything.
- Keep a journal of everything you try, how it worked, or when it didn't.
- Sterilize jars and bottles before using.
- When practicing steaming, make sure children are safe from the hot water. Scalding has happened.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
THEN
- 1This comes in three volumes, and used to cost a fortune. Cambridge Press has made it available for a very reasonable price. This was originally compiled in the 10th Century by Cild, but first printed in 1864 by Thomas Oswald Cockayne.Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England (Cambridge University Press).
- 2Consisting Of A Comprehensive Description Of Nearly All Herbs With Their Medicinal Properties And Directions For Compounding The Medicines Extracted From Them, by Nicolas Culpeper (The Wordsworth Collection Reference Library). It was originally published in 1653 under the title: The English Physician. This book is fun to have in your collection. Culpeper added the idea of Astrology to the Humors, but other than that, Culpeper was considered a quack by his contemporaries, and has very little solid herbal knowledge. It's more a curiosity to own this.Culpepper's Complete Herbal:
- 3Clarkson (Dover Publications). This book is an excellent overview of the herbal practices and herbalists over 500 years.The Golden Age of Herbs & Herbalists by Rosetta E.
- 4Tacuinum Sanitatis, translated and adapted by Oscar Ratti & Adele Westbrook (George Braziller Pub). This is an excellent book that incorporates food into the mix, how to choose foods that are right for you and avoid needing an herbal remedy.The Medieval Health Handbook:
NOW
- 1Grieves F.R.H.S. (Tiger Books). This herbal is an interesting collection of Culinary, Cosmetic, Medicinal, Folk-Lore, Cultivation and Economic Properties of Herbs.A Modern Herbal by Mrs.
- 2Like a bird guide, this is great for quick references.The Herb Book by John Lust (Bantam Books).
- 3A Guide to Healing Plants Edited by William A.R. Thomson M.D. (Alfred Van Der Marck Editions). It includes a new forward by Richard Evans Schultes.Medicines from the Earth:
- 4Hutchens (Merco Pub.) This is the ultimate guide to medicinal plants native to North American, and their uses.Indian Herbology of North America by Alma R.
- 5How to use herbs for healing, nutrition, body care and relaxation.The New Age Herbalist edited by Richard Mabey (Simon & Shuster Inc).
- 6Hylton (Rodale Press). This book is a good resource, and self-explanatory.Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs Edited by Claire Kowalchik & William H.
- 7A practical guide to the healing Properties of Herbs with more than 250 remedies to common ailments. Actually, anything by Penelope Ody is great. She has the amazing ability to incorporate the Greek ideas of Herbology, and Medieval Herbology with modern concepts and cautions. If you are lucky enough to live in Southern England, Penelope offers courses in Herbalism. Find out more HERE. She's also written many books, all of which would be a welcome addition to your Herbal Library. Some other titles include:The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody (Key Porter Books).
- The Chinese Medicine Bible. The Definitive Guide to Holistic Healing
- The Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs.
- Home Herbal.
- Practical Chinese Medicine. Understanding the Principles and Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Making them Work for You.
- Healing With Herbs. Simple treatments for more than 100 common ailments.
- Herbs for First Aid. Simple Home Remedies for Minor Ailments and Injuries from Coughs and Colds to Cuts and Bruises.
- Essential Guide to Natural Home Remedies.
- Simple Healing with Herbs.
- Pocket Medicinal Herbs.
- Healing Herbs.
- Herbs for First Aid. Simple Home Remedies for Minor Ailments and Injuries.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
