Get your Self-RealizationPreparing herbal teas and cold treatment formulae
Herbal tea preparation is very easy, however it is important to strictly follow the method because the correct preparation method enhances the effectiveness of herbal teas. There are various preparation methods:
Infusion
1 – Boiling water is poured over grinded herbs and the mixture is boiled on slow fire for 5 min while stirring all the time.
2 – Cold water is poured over grinded herbs, then it is brought to boil. Then the fire is put off and, after the tea cools down, it can be sieved.
3 – Boiling water is poured over grinded herbs, wait for 15 min then sieve.
Decoction
Cold water is poured over grinded herbs, then it should be boiled on slow fire for 30 min while stirring. Then sieve while hot.
Maceration
Preparation is done in cold water. The herbs are kept in cold water for several days then sieved.
The above preparation methods should be selected according to the part of the herb used for the tea preparation:
Infusion: flowers, leaves, seeds
Decoction: Hard parts like wood, crust, roots
Maceration: Mucilage containing medicines (it is a sticky substance having laxative properties that can be found in some mosses and salep) and Valeriana based medicines.
Infusion-Maceration: medicines containing volatile oils (sage, melissa, basil, fennel).
Maceration-Decoction: roots, crust, wood (cinnamon, ginger).
Rules:
The effect of herbal medicines is connected with the substances they contain, a herb has effect of the main substance it contains.
1. Maximum 2-3 herbs can be used in the mixture, if possible, only one herb should be used.
2. Only one or maximum two supplementary herbs can be added.
3. Some herbs can be used to make the taste better, e.g. mint, fennel. One can also add sugar or honey.
4. The dosage should be complete. For one glass of water 1-3 dessert spoons of herbs are needed. One should drink 1-2 cups of herbal tea a day.
An example of herbal tea for the treatment of cold:
The best is to drink hot teas that cause perspiration.
Linden flowers cause perspiration, soften the barest, have a diuretic effect and enhance the immune system.
They contain volatile oil, Mucilage, tannin, hasperidene
Tea prepared via infusion should be drunk 2 or 3 times a day until the cold is cured.
Elderberry flowers cause perspiration and enhance the immune system.
Ingredients: volatile oil, Mucilage, tannin and sambunigrin.
4-8 % tea prepared via infusion should be drunk 2-3 times a day.
For the treatment of colds one can use tea prepared of linden, elderberry or ox-eye daisy flowers taken in equal proportions or just one of them. The tea should be prepared via infusion.
Herbal tea for coughing
Herbal tea used for coughing should have the following qualities:
• Reduces irritation (Mucilage containing medicines)
• Secretion (dissolves and extracts phlegm and other body liquids)
• Spasmolytic (relaxes all muscles in the respiratory tract, especially the bronchial muscles)
• Antibacterial effect
Coughing can be caused by irritation, infection or allergy in the bronchial mucosa that can occur due to various reasons like smoking, contamination in the air, etc.)
Expectorant (phlegm extractor).
Generally is taken via inhalation.
Formula 1:
Ox-eye daisy flowers
Thymus
Half liter of boiling water is poured over one table spoon of the herbal mixture and the steam should be inhaled. To
ensure that the volatile oil gets better into the respiratory tract, one can cover one’s head with a towel.
Formula 2:
Thymus oil
Rosemary oil
Eucalyptus oil
Camphor oil
The above mixture should be smeared on the breast, neck or back using a towel or a woolen cloth.
Formula 3:
Mint oil
Pine tree oil
Eucalyptus oil
The usage is the same as for the formula 2.
The herbs used in the three formulae above can also be used separately in the same way.