The Complete Herbal Tutor. Anne Mcintyre

flora and leaky gut syndrome, which actually lend themselves very well to herbal treatment.

      The risk of adulteration of herbs supplied to herbalists is one that is obviously a concern. Adverse effects have occurred on occasions due to adulteration with toxic herbs, as well as bad labelling. When buying herbs, it is vital that their sources are known, reputable and preferably organic, since adverse reactions to pesticides and preservatives are hard to quantify and could be confused with reactions to a plant itself. Indian and Chinese herbs are considered more of a safety problem than European herbs, although the use of pesticides in Eastern Europe has also attracted negative attention.

       Herb/Drug Interactions

      This is a relatively new science but available information on the subject (much of which may be speculative rather than empirical) is growing all the time. Although herbs have been taken for thousands of years, they have only been used in combination with nutritional supplements and allopathic drugs on a widespread basis for approximately the last forty years or so. The concern is not so much that the reaction between a herb and a drug is toxic, rather that it is possible that certain herbs can affect the bioavailability of drugs and nutrients, and cause an increase or decrease in levels of drugs in the blood. This is important to know, especially if patients are taking specific doses of powerful drugs such as cardiac medication, anti-clotting agents or they may need to have surgery.

      Herbs high in mucilage or fibre, such as slippery elm or psyllium seeds, or herbs rich in tannins which might bind up drugs in the intestines, may inhibit absorption. Warming digestive herbs such as cayenne, long and black pepper can increase absorption of medicines, while herbs that act on liver enzyme systems may affect the break down of certain drugs and inhibit their elimination, effectively raising the drug dosage which could cause side effects. Care needs to be taken with insulin-dependent diabetics as certain herbs lower blood sugar. Interestingly in China, where the herbal tradition has remained unbroken and there is less suspicion about herbs than there is in the West, herbs are often combined with drugs for intentional effects, either to reduce side effects of drugs or to enhance their effects.

      Filipendula, or meadowsweet, is rich in tannins, which may inhibit the absorption of some drugs.

       The Herbal Pharmacy

      There are many ways to prepare herbal remedies so that they will be absorbed by the body and exert their beneficial effects. Depending on the condition being treated, and the health and age of the patient, a herbalist might choose to prescribe an infusion, a powder or a tincture, or a cream to apply to the skin. Here are step-by-step instructions for preparing these remedies and others including decoctions, honeys, elixirs, poultices and fragrant baths. Dosage instructions are included.

      Preparing Herbs

      Collecting wild herbs or growing them in your garden and harvesting them for making medicines can be very rewarding and uplifting. For those who do not have access to fresh plants, dried herbs are available from many suppliers. Try to use organic herbs as pesticides may disrupt the therapeutic effect of your remedies or cause adverse reactions.

      Herbs can be prepared as medicines in a variety of ways. What is important is that they are absorbed into the body so that they can exert their benefit. When internal preparations are swallowed, they pass through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream. Many people are unconsciously taking herbal remedies in their food on a daily basis, for not only do all the culinary herbs and spices add flavour to our diet, but also they contain volatile oils that have digestive and antimicrobial effects among many other benefits. As foods are absorbed from the digestive tract, so the therapeutic constituents of the herbs enter the bloodstream and then circulate around the body.

      When used externally, herbs can be applied to the skin as in an aromatherapy massage or when we rub a dock leaf on to a nettle sting. They can also be used in herbal baths, compresses and poultices. Once in contact with the skin, they are absorbed into tiny capillaries under the surface and then circulated round the body. The conjunctiva of the eye also absorbs herbal preparations. A chamomile eyebath or a marigold compress will relieve sore and inflamed eyes. Inhalations are another very good therapeutic pathway and one that is utilised by aromatherapists. By inhalation into the nose which is lined with nerve endings, the messages from the herbs are carried directly to the brain and also to the lungs, where they are absorbed with oxygen into the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body.

      Grinding herbs ready for use.

      Preparations for Internal Use

       Infusions

      Herbal teas, often known as infusions, are simple water-based preparations that extract the medicinal properties of herbs, used either fresh or dried. They can either be drunk as teas or used externally as skin washes, eyebaths, compresses, douches, or added to baths or sitz baths.

      Infusions are prepared like a normal cup of tea using the soft parts of plants: leaves, stems and flowers.

      1 Take 1oz /25 gms of dried herb per pint of water or a teaspoon of herb per cupful of water. Double the amount of herbs if they are being used fresh.

      2 Place the herbs in a warmed teapot and pour on boiling water. Cover immediately to prevent volatile oils escaping into the atmosphere.

      3 Leave to infuse for 10–15 minutes and then strain.

      Infusions are generally best drunk when still hot, especially when treating fevers, colds and catarrh, but they need to be taken luke warm to cool for problems of the skin and urinary tract. If necessary, they can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to two days. Some herbs need to be prepared as cold infusions as their therapeutic components are likely to be destroyed by high temperatures. These include herbs that have a high proportion of mucilage like marshmallow and plantain leaf. They are prepared in the same way but with cold water and left to infuse for 10–12 hours.

       Dosage

      Infusions are generally taken by the cupful three to six times a day, depending on whether the ailment being treated is chronic or acute. It may come as a surprise to some who are used to the enticing tastes of culinary herbs such as basil and rosemary, that many herbs are found by our pampered palates to taste strange, often even unpleasant. Although the bitters in some herbs need to be tasted to be effective, the bitter taste is generally not something we relish. However, it is possible to combine several herbs together in an infusion so that aromatic, pleasant tasting herbs such as peppermint, fennel, lemon balm and lavender can disguise less palatable herbs while not reducing their effects. Liquorice and aniseed also make excellent herbs for flavouring. Herbal teabags are sold in all high street health food shops and supermarkets (buy organic if you can) and normally comprise the more aromatic, pleasant tasting herbs like lime flower, fennel, peppermint.

      Hot infusions are more effective than tinctures for treating skin complaints, fevers, colds and catarrh.

       Decoctions

      The hard woody parts of plants have tough cell walls that require greater heat to break them down before they will release their constituents into water. Bark, seeds, roots, rhizomes and nuts all need to be prepared as decoctions. Use the same proportion of herbs to water as you do when preparing an infusion, just add a little more water to make up for losses during