How to use herbs

Herbs and medicinal plants can be used in many ways for treatment or to enhance the taste of food in cooking.

Here are the main methods and some ways of preparing them

Tea or infusion

Herbs are placed in a suitable container (kettle, cup, it is best if the container is not metal) and poured with freshly boiled water. If the herbs are fresh, they should stay in the water for no more than a minute, and the finished tea should be light yellow or light green. If the herbs are dried, the infusion should be at least 2-3 minutes. There are recipes that require a much longer infusion 10-15-30 minutes, even longer, carefully follow the recommendations described in each specific recipe.

If the tea or infusion is from roots, they should boil with water and then stand for a few more minutes after the water is removed from the stove.

Cold extract

Note that there are herbs whose medicinal properties are lost during heat treatment. Cold soaking is used for such plants - usually for 8-10-12 hours - it is recommended to do this at night. Then the mixture is heated to body temperature - 30-40 degrees.

With these herbs, the combined method is considered to be extremely good, in which, after staying overnight, the herbs are soaked in half of the necessary water are strained. A warm infusion is made from the same herbs with the remaining amount of water, which is mixed with the cold extract.

Juice

Fresh herb juices are suitable for supplementing as drops or applying to the body. The preparation is carried out in a powerful mixer (the so-called Slow Juicer is most suitable). These juices are best made daily and used fresh.

Compresses

A pot of water is brought to a boil, then a sieve or cheesecloth is placed on top, in which the fresh or dried herbs are placed, then it is closed with a lid. After a certain time, the finished softened herbs are taken out, placed on a clean, thin linen or cotton cloth. The herbs placed in this way are applied to the sore spot, after which a towel is placed over them, depending on the application, household foil can be added to hold the compress and steam it. In no case should you feel cold, these compresses are very effective if left overnight.

Tinctures

Тинктурите са спиртни извлеци. Обикновено се използват 40 градусови спиртни напитки – ракия, коняк, водка. Подготовката е следната – в подходящ стъклен съд – шише, буркан се поставят пресните билки, без да се тъпчат. След това съда се допълва със съответния алкохол. Съдът се затваря добре и се оставя за най-малко 2 седмици на топло място, като се разклаща от време на време. След като изтече съответното време, течността се прецежда, билките се изтискват добре. Тинктурите се употребяват вътрешно – на капки или външно за разтривки или компреси.

Extraction of oils

Извличането на билкови и растителни масла става по подобен начин на тинктурите, но не се използва алкохол, а зехтин или друго естествено, задължително студено пресовано и нерафинирано масло.

The herbs are placed in a bottle or jar without crowding them, the container is topped up with olive oil. The bottle or jar should be left for 14 days in the sun. The oil is then strained and used according to the recipe for the respective herb.

Author: Nikola Belopitov