Herbal Medicines

“One of my students asked me if Herbalism was arcane in nature, and I responded rather matter-of-factly, 'Not at all, child!' It is often boggling how often people explain away that which they do not understand as sheer magic. Herbalism, and Herbal Healing, are natural in their essences and from nature's blessing they provide us with the rejuvenation of life, or the ability to take it with poisons. Yet the Basics of Herbal Healing begin with knowing that the practitioner does no harm, and bears no ill will towards the patient. It is more than a privilege; it is a sacred trust to heal others.” -Lady Thani, Master Herbalist, “Journal Entry”

(From the Journal of Theraz Goldrose, Herbalist.)

The purpose of this guidebook is to act as a supplement to the Healer Training Manual (Book 1) and Healing Guide (Book 2). Detailed within are herb safety and the known curable aliments and injuries able to be treated by herbal medicines within the healing profession. This guidebook deals with herbal remedies only without specialization.

Herb Safety
Herbs Are Medicine
They should be treated with the very same respect that most of us give to magic potions or medicines formed by other methods. Many herbs can be harmful in large or prolonged dosages. Many herbs can be addictive after long-term improper use. Some are poisonous. Some can have toxic side effects if not properly balanced with herbs that counteract those effects. They should not ever be used indiscriminately without the proper guidance of a health care professional. They should not ever be used on a daily basis without the proper guidance of a health care professional. Many people feel that just because herbs are natural, they can't be hurt by them. Nothing can be further from the truth.

More Is Not Better
Many people feel that if a little makes me feel better, a lot will make me feel fantastic. This is not the case with herbs. Dosages need to be carefully controlled, as with any medicine. You wouldn't swallow a whole pouch of cleansers (antibiotics) at one time to kill a bacterial infection. Apply the same caution to herbal medicines. It is possible to overdose! Herbs work slowly, with the body and its own natural defenses. You must give herbs time to work before changing your dosages. This is not a modern world of a "pill for everything", where you expect instant cures, or instant relief. You should note that with chronic illness, even strong medicines take time to work. The same applies with herbal medicines. Give them time to work. Support them with a proper diet, with exercise, and with proper attention to yourself. If the herbs aren't working for you, then you either have the wrong combinations, the wrong dosages, or you aren't adhering to a proper healing regimen. Ask a healer for guidance as to what works for you.

One Dose Does Not Fit All
You wouldn't give a small child the same amount of a medicine you give an adult. The same applies with herbal medicines. The dose must fit the individual. The dosages need to be based on the illness treated, your past and present medical history, your age, your weight, and several other factors. Combinations must be chosen so as not to interfere with any specifics with your particular body, and so as not to further aggravate that which is being treated. A healer can help you choose the proper combinations and dosages for your unique body and health concerns.

Tell Your Healer What You Are Taking
You wouldn't hide the fact that you are a smoker or a drinker or have a heart condition from your healer. You shouldn't hide the fact that you are using herbal medicines, either. Some herbs can have serious adverse reactions when improperly mixed with other drugs. Just because they are natural doesn't mean there can't be reactions! Many chemical drugs are derived from healing plant constituents. So you could be causing a serious problem for yourself if you are getting far too much of something that is supposed to be helping you. There is no reason to hide. Herbal healing is the main healing source to-date, and many healers are learning about herbs as medicine. Most communities have herbal healers that are trained in the proper uses of the healing herbs. Seek one out before you make some major mistakes with your precious body.

But I Can Get My Own Herbs
Indeed, there are growing numbers of people that are gaining some basic knowledge of herbs. However, this does not give you license to just use whatever you see or can pick yourself in hopes that it will improve your condition. Again, most herbs should not be used on a daily basis over the long term. That can actually do more harm than not using an herb at all. Educate yourself before reaching for that one-a-day herb. You may not need it for what you think you do. Just because it has a "name" behind it does not make it safe for continued daily use. Seek guidance if you are confused or unsure of what to do with these new herbs.

Following these guidelines will help you to get the most from your herbal treatments. You will be healthier and happier if you don't take it upon yourself without the proper knowledge. Stick to what is known. Don't indiscriminately choose an herb without knowing exactly what to expect from it, good and bad. Always treat your herbal medicines with respect, and they will do the same for you.

Gathering, Storing, Using Herbs:
When gathering or harvesting your herbs, first be absolutely sure you know what you are gathering! This is very important when gathering plants from the wild. Be absolutely certain you know what the plant is before you attempt to use it. If you are not sure of a particular plant, or it "looks like" something but could be something else, leave it alone. You would be better off to purchase the herb through a herbalist. The alternative may leave you dead. If you care about our natural plants, you will prefer to purchase or grow what you need. Today's herbal needs are creating quite a strain on the numbers of medicinal plants in the wild. Know what part of the plant you need. Some plants are used in their entirety, others only specific parts. When you are gathering plants from the wild, remember not to take all of a particular species you may find in an area. Leave some to grow and seed and flourish for the next time you need them. Removing all of a group of plants is rude, and the Goddess would not be pleased. Give thanks to the plants you take for your uses. Sprinkle around some of their seeds, to help them propagate. Give them an offering, i.e. some natural fertilizer, a prayer, etc. in return for your uses. When taking leaves or branches of a plant, leave plenty for the plant to survive. You should offer the same respect to those plants you gather from your own gardens. Be kind to the Mother and all She has to offer, and She will reward you for your efforts. The parts of the plant above ground should be harvested in the morning, before the heat of the sun has a chance to wilt them. It is preferable to do so when the dew is still on the plants. Leaves should be harvested before the buds and blooms appear, and flowers should be harvested before the fruits and seeds appear. Bark and roots should be harvested in the early spring, just as the plant is beginning to show its leaf buds, or in the fall, just as the leaves are turning. Don't strip bark from around a tree trunk, as this will kill it. Instead, strip bark from small patches, or particular limbs, to preserve the mother plant for later use, and to preserve its life. When using an entire plant, it is customary to hang the plant upside down in a dry area free from pests to allow the plant to dry. Make sure your herbs have dried thoroughly before storing them for further use, or you may discover that you have a moldy mess instead of a medicinal herb. Roots should be carefully washed, scraped, and chopped into small pieces to be sure they dry uniformly and thoroughly. Bulbs are tied together and strung up to dry. The dried portions can then be stored according to your needs. Roots are usually ground into powder for use, or left in small chunks for uses in decoctions, tinctures, and tonics. Leaves are stored in their entirety, or crumbled for use in teas. The same applies for blossoms. Store your herbs in airtight containers. Store in a dry, cool area, and keep out of the light. Light can often break down the healing properties of your gathered herbs, shortening their shelf life and rendering them nearly useless after a short period of time. If stored properly, the shelf life of dried herbs is approximately one year. Tinctures can be stored for up to two years. Pills should be used within one year. Once an herb has been ground, it shortens the amount of time the herb is effective. So do pay careful attention to when you have purchased or stored an herb, for maximum effectiveness. When you use one of your herbs, whether for healing, cooking, or for magic, you should once again give thanks to the Mother for Her bounty.

Teas
The herbs that will be used for herbal teas are generally the cut and sifted form, or the crumbled dried leaves and/or flowers. Herbs should always be prepared in nonmetallic containers. Steep the herbs in a nonmetallic container with water that has just been brought to a boil. This is an infusion, and is used for the more delicate herbs to prevent destroying their healing agents. A decoction is used to extract the healing agents from herbs that are roots and barks. The herbs are simmered in a nonmetallic cooking container for about one hour. Simmer uncovered until the amount of water is reduced by one half. Those herbs that contain important volatile oils should be simmered in a tightly- covered pot. Don't add table sugar to herbal teas. If a sweetener is needed, use pure, unmolested honey for its nutritional benefits.

Oils
Oil extracts are made from fresh herbs that contain volatile oils used for healing. Fresh herbs are necessary for the extraction of the oils. The fresh herbs are crushed with a mortar and pestle. Olive or sesame oil is then added, at the ratio of one pint of oil for every two ounces of herbs. The mixture is allowed to stand in a warm place, out of direct light, for three days. The oils are stored in dark, glass containers.


Pills
Pills are the best way to take herbs that do not taste good. They are also the best way to take herbs that need to be ingested over a long period of time, or for those of us who don't have time at work to make herbal teas. It is best to purchase finely powdered herbs for this purpose. The powdered herbs are blended together, if an herbal combination is desired. Take according to the needs of the treatment.

Rum Herbs
Rum Herbs are easy to make, and a very convenient way to make use of the healing herbs. They are made with the more potent herbs that are generally not taken as herbal teas.
Rum Herbs are made by combining 1 to 4 ounces of a powdered or thoroughly crushed herb with one pint of alcohol. The alcohol most often used is rum. The amount of liquid should be more than the herbs can absorb, so you may need to add more as the days go by. It is shaken daily and allowed to stand in a warm place, out of direct light, for two weeks. The liquid is poured through a cloth, such as layers of cheesecloth. The herbs that remain are squeezed thoroughly to remove as much of the liquid from them as possible. Keep the rum herb stored in a dark glass bottle or jar. Don't be afraid of the alcohol content - if you want to be sure the alcohol won't affect you, or you are a recovering alcoholic, drop the recommended number of rum drops into a cup of hot water, wait a few moments, and then drink. The alcohol will evaporate. Rum herbs can be made of single herbs, or herbal combinations, depending upon your needs.

Creams (Ointmnts & Salves)
Creams are used to treat skin conditions of all kinds. They can be made by melting lard and adding the herbs, although that is rather messy. A better method is to boil
approximately 1 cup of the herb(s) to be used in 3 to 4 cups of water, in a non-metallic container, for about 15 minutes for leafy herbs and 30 minutes for root herbs to extract the volatile oils. You can then strain the herbs out, or leave them in if you so desire, depending on the cream you are making. Add 5 ounces of sesame or olive oil to the water remaining and continue to simmer over low heat until all of the water has evaporated. Pour into containers and allow cooling completely. Most creams will keep for up to one year.

DOSES
Most herbs are listed with a dosage. No standard unit of measure is commonly used thus each herb describes the container to be used to administer the dose. Each dose is automatically measured to suit any being around the size of an average human. For any being greatly smaller than an average human, the dose should be halved. For beings larger than average human, the dose should be doubled. “DOSE” is mainly used to measure teas and other liquids, or a speciafic number of an herb (like a berry). “DOSE” does not apply to medicines such as ointments, salves, liniments/oils, and poultice unless special care is needed for application. In that case a dose is listed. Most recipes of doses for ointments, salves, etc., are created to cover an area the size of a human hand (unless otherwise stated). “COST” refers to the stated dose thus halved or doubled doses (according to the patient) DO affect price.