Types of herbal Products
Medicinal plants can be used by
anyone, for example as part of a salad, a herbal tea or supplement,
although some herbs considered dangerous are restricted from sale to
the public. Western herbalists often purchase their herbs from
specialist suppliers; these herbs are not intended for sale to the
public and are rarely marketed or standardised. Many people in the
developing world still rely on traditional herbal medicine for
everyday healthcare. Traditional healers might not purchase herbal
supplements, but rely on herbs that they have gathered themselves.
Medicinal herbs can be used in various
forms:
Herbal teas
Heating the leaves, roots or flowers of a medicinal
plant in water to make a decoction is the simplest way to use herbal
medicine. Herbal teas are often used as a home remedy, and as an
alternative to tea and coffee.
Herbal tinctures
Steeping a medicinal plant in alcohol
extracts the alcohol-soluble principles into a liquid form that can
be stored for long periods. Herbalists may mix several herbal
tinctures to form an individualised prescription for each patient.
Plant tinctures are also the basis for many homeopathic medicines.
Fluid extracts
Fluid extracts are stronger than herbal tinctures,
and can be made with alcohol or glycerin.
Herbal poultices
Poultices are a solid, vegetable fat
based mixture used externally. They have the shortest life span of
any herbal remedy and must be made fresh for every use.
Powdered herbs and tablets
Herbs that are dried and (sometimes)
certain parts are separated out then diced to powder fine
consistency. Powered matter can then be compressed or put in an
empty pill coating to form a tablet
Herbal creams and ointments
An ointment usually is mixed with
beeswax (or something similar) to make it more applicable to outside
the body, such as on a cut or scrape.
Essential oils
Extraction of volatile liquid plant materials and
other aromatic compounds from plants gives essential oils. These
plant oils may be used internally in some forms of herbal medicine
as well as in aromatherapy and generally for their perfume.
Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements tend to be
commercial products in tablet or capsule form manufactured and
marketed by the health food industry for sale in retail outlets to
the general public, although there are some types that are sold only
to healthcare practitioners for prescription. Herbal supplements are
often standardized to contain stated levels of active phytochemicals.
Some herbalists may not agree with the standardisation of active
ingredients, preferring instead to use the whole plant.
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