12 Ways to Use Herbs 

Herbal remedies can be found in a variety of forms, including pills, capsules, liquid breverages, bark pieces, powders, extracts, tinctures, creams, lotions, salves, and oils, in addition to their fresh leaves, bark, and roots. Additonally dried herbs complete leaves, berries, seeds, roots, flowers, and bark are sold to customers. The capacity to separate potent substances and produce them in their purest form was the foundation upon which the pharmaceutical industry was founded. However, herbalists claim that nature balances the more potent component in the same herbs by including other ingredients. The body's healing process therefore makes use of a balance of natural elements when using herbs in their entire form.

1. Compress: A compress is a cloth that has been soaked in a hot or cold herbal solution and is administered directly to the affected region.

2. Decoctions: A tea is produced from the bark, root, seed, or berry of a plant. Decoctions should not be boiled; instead, they should be simmered for around twenty to thirty minutes, unless otherwise specified on the product label.

3. Essential Oils: Essential oils are extracted from herbs or other plants using steam distillation or cold pressing. They are frequently combined with vegetable oil or water. They are used in the mouth, ear, eye wash, inhalant, douche, or tea. Before using essential oils to the body, dilute them with water or oil. Essential oils should not be consumed internally except under the guidance of a health care physician.

4. Extracts: Herbs are extracted by crushing them with a powerful hydraulic press and then soaking them in alcohol or water. Allowing excess alcohol or water to evaporate results in a concentrated extract. Herb extracts are the most effective type of herb, especially for persons suffering from diseases or malabsorption issues. Herbal extracts should be diluted with water before being consumed.

5. Herbal Vinegars: Herbs are steeped for two or three weeks in raw apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or malt vinegar.

6. Infusions: Leaves, flowers, or other delicate parts of the plants are steeped, not boiled, for five or ten minutes in hot water, so that the benefits of the herbs are not destroyed. 

7. Ointments: An herb extract, tea, pressed juice, or powered form is mixed into a salve and administered to the afflicted region.

8. Poultices: A poultice is a heated, soft, wet mass of herbs, flour, mustard, or other ingredients put on muslin or other loosely woven material and applied to a painful, inflamed part of the body for up to twenty-four hours to reduce pain and inflammation. Herbs should be ground or granulated. When the cloth has cooled, it should be replaced.

9. Powder: The herb's beneficial portion is crushed into a powder, which may then be converted into capsules or tablets.

10. Syrup: Herbs are added to a form of sugar then boiled.

11. Salves: Salves, creams, oils, and lotions are commonly used to treat bruises, wounds, and inflammation, as well as for the above-mentioned poultices.

12. Tinctures: Tinctures are a highly concentrated version of previously fresh herbs. Most tinctures include variable levels of alcohol; however, some are available that have less alcohol or are alcohol free.

Have you used herbs in any of these forms? If so feel free to comment below the way you have used them!