For many years herbal medicine has been used successfully to treat a number of conditions. There is currently an increasing popularity in the use of herbs as medicine and researches are done daily. The increased popularity of herbal medicine is majorly attributed to their efficiency and minimum side effects. There are millions of herbs people use as medicine and to get the best out of every herb, it is important to prepare them correctly. There are different types of preparations and your choice greatly depends on what you intend to use the herb for.
Infusions
Infusions are the most common and the simplest method of preparing herbs. They are made from the leaves of the plant. You can use both dry and fresh leaves and this varies with the type of herb and what the preparation is going to be used for. If you are using fresh leaves, you will first need to wash them in clean water. Put the required amount in a glass or a stainless pot with water slightly covering them and then cover the pot. Gently heat the mixture until steaming occurs.
In case of heat sensitive constituents, cold infusions are preferred. The fresh or dried leaves of the herbs are soaked in water for some hours and then the cold infusions are drawn from the solution.
Decoction
There is a very thin difference between decoctions and infusions. Unlike infusions that are made from the leaves, decoctions are prepared from harder plant matter like the roots, stems and barks. They also require more heat energy as compared to infusions to a get good concentration of the solution. In decoctions, you can also use fresh or dried plant matter. Put them in a pot, add optimum amount of water and heat the mixture to boil. Once the boiling point has been achieved, cover the pot, turn the heat down and simmer for 20-40 minutes to make the medicine effective.
Tincture
Tinctures are concentrated solutions made by extracting the active compounds of herbs using a mixture of water and alcohol. The role of alcohol in the preparation of tinctures is to help in extracting the medicinal constituents of herbs like resins, volatile oils and alkaloids. It also acts as a preservative thereby increasing the shelf life of the medicine. Since alcohol is easily absorbed in to the bloodstream, it promotes the absorption of herbs after oral administration. Glycerin and vinegar can also be used in this process.
Dry preparations
There are a lot of herbs that are used in dried and powdered forms. The powdered herbs can further be made in to teas or capsules. To make a tea, the powdered herb is put in to a cup, cold or hot water is added depending with the instructions, the mixture is stirred and then a solution is made. To make capsules one needs empty veg-caps which are then separated and the powdered herbs are put in them in the required amounts before they are closed again.
What is Spanish Needle?
Spanish Needle, scientifically known as BidensPilosa, is a medical herb that forms part of the Asteraceae family. The plant is native to South America but has become common in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The annual plant grows to about 2 metres in height and grows aggressively, often times becoming weedy. The Spanish Needle’s leaves are oppositely arranged and the plant may flower at any time of the year. The plant grows freely in Jamaica and is also known by names such as Black Jack, Needle Grass, Broomstick, Beggars Tick and Demon Spike Grass.
How to use Spanish Needle?
Spanish Needle may be used in a number of ways in order to reap the plant’s health benefits. The leaves may be eaten raw like green vegetables or used as a potherb. Spanish Needle may also be boiled and prepared with dishes such as callaloo and cabbage to create a tasty and healthy meal that is loaded with a number of health benefits. The sap obtained from the crushed leaves of the plant can also be used on fresh cutsto aid in speeding up the blood clotting. Spanish Needle is also used in Jamaica and in many other parts of the word to make herbal tea. The herbal tea prepared from the plant is commonly used as a general beverage or as a treatment for worms and flatulence.
Health Benefits of Spanish Needle
The root, leaves and seed of the Spanish Needle have been known to possess anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial and antidysenteric properties. Spanish Needle also serves as a diuretic and contains antimalarial properties, making extracts from the plant a treatment for malaria in certain cultures. Due to the plant’s antiseptic properties, plant extract may also be used as a natural mouthwash to combat odor causing germs along with sore gums and mouth. The herb is also beneficial in treating joint discomfort, swellings, colic, stomach ailments along with the cold and flu.
For many years herbal medicine has been used successfully to treat a number of conditions. There is currently an increasing popularity in the use of herbs as medicine and researches are done daily. The increased popularity of herbal medicine is majorly attributed to their efficiency and minimum side effects. There are millions of herbs people use as medicine and to get the best out of every herb, it is important to prepare them correctly. There are different types of preparations and your choice greatly depends on what you intend to use the herb for.
