Herbal preparations- ageless remedies.
In the past, when medicine didn’t know the contemporary methods of treatment, people had to manage their ailments on their own. That is why their knowledge about various herbal preparations was very broad, much broader than the contemporary people have. Making natural medicines using various plants was (and still is) cheap and easy. The majority of herbal preparations is prepared today by herbalists and can be obtained in herbalist’s shops, but non- professionals can make them, too.
The plants that are necessary for herbal preparations can be either picked up in meadows, forests or anywhere (like nettles or chamomile) or planted in flower pots(sweet balm, basil)/ our gardens(e.g. lavender). Such herb gardens are very fashionable nowadays. The goal of the preparations is to activate all the healing substances that a herb contains.
The most popular home remedies are various teas. We can divide herbal teas into decoctions and infusions. Roots and seeds are usually used for decoctions as these hard, woody materials need some boiling to take healing elements out of them. Infusions, on the other hand, are teas made by pouring boiled (not actively boiling) water over fresh or dried herbs.
Another common herbal preparation is a steam inhalant for colds or asthma. A steam inhalant means putting several tablespoons of dried herbs into a bowl and pouring boiling water over them. Then, one drapes a towel over his head and breathes in the steam for approximately fifteen minutes.
Another example herbal preparation for colds and asthma could be Pulmobon and Bonimel which can be bought in Bonimed.co.uk shop.
Compresses are herbal remedies as well. They can be put onto wounds or the areas on the body where we feel pain. Compresses are widely use by people suffering from migraines and aching joints.
Face masks can be prepared not only with the help of herbs. They can consist of cottage cheese or fruits as well. Their greatest advantage is that unlike cosmetics sold in the shops, they do not contain chemicals which are not good for your skin and, as a result, do not cause allergies.
The subject of herbal preparations is very broad and only the most popular ones have been described here. Other types of herbal preparations are: tinctures, oils, syrups, poultices, ointments and salves. Preparing natural medicines, one has to stick to the recipes and, in the case of doubts, always ask a herbalist for advice.