GETTING THE MOST OUT OF 
BOTANICALS 
Many Medicinal Preparations, Flavoring 
Herbs, or Tea Herbs have been wasted or 
spoiled, simply because the user did not 
prepare them, or use them to best ad- 
vantage. This naturally discourages many 
people from trying botanicals again. 
As most botanicals are mild in action 
IT IS. IMPORTANT! THAT “THDY ! BE 
GIVEN SUFFICIENT TRIAL FOR RE- 
Ut Ds. 
See your doctor for conditions which 
logically require his attention. 
Certain botanicals MUST be prepared 
right and administered correctly in order 
to derive benefits. For instance: 
Boneset herb is an old pioneer and In- 
dian medicine for congestion miseries 
colds. A HOT infusion was generally tak- 
en upon retiring to induce perspiration. 
In the morning the COLD ‘infusion . of 
Boneset was taken as mild laxative. 
Powdered Slippery Elm bark is. soothing 
and promotes healing to common irritated -: 
conditions of the bowels when taken as an 
enema. Slippery Elm is useless however, if 
bowels are not flushed before injection of 
botanical solution. 
Chamomile or Sage are prepared like 
Chinese teas when used as a beverage. As 
a medicine they are made into a stronger 
infusion. As a hair application they. must 
be used as strong decoction. 
A weak infusion of Hops removes the 
aromatic properties. A stronger infusion 
of Hops removes the bitter tonie prin- 
ciple—a decoction removes the astringent 
properties. 
TO MAKE MEDICINAL INFUSIONS 
OR DECOCTIONS 
Medicinal botanicals may be prepared 
in several ways, but are generally :takeni’ 
as an infusion or decoction. Infusions (or 
teas) are made by POURING hot water 
over the botanical, and allowing it to 
steep. Leaves, flowers and thin materials 
are prepared as infusions. Decoctions are 
made by BOILING ‘the botanical in water 
until ‘virtues. are extracted.’ Hard mate- 
rials, such as barks, roots, chips, seeds; 
etc., are prepared in decoctions. 
Enamel or glass vessels should be used 
in preparing infusions or decoctions. Keep 
saucer over cup in which infusion is. steep- 
ing: Keep cover over vessel in which de- 
coction is boiling, 
USING POWDERED BOTANICALS 
Macerate or make paste ‘with’ ‘small 
amount of the ingredient (water, milk, oil} 
fat, etc.) in which powder is intended to 
Dee mixed with BEFORE it is added .to 
whole. 
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