Preparations – Module 2 – Class Notes from1/9/13

Herbal Bath: – soaking, provides surface action on skin and muscles AND

your skin can absorb herbs.

Advantage of bath – by getting in thru skin, digestive tract is avoided

Disadvantage of bath – the mess

Directions – Liquefy herb before taking bath.  Infuse herbal tea bag (1 lb. of herb).  Problematic cost-wise.  Make it on your stove & pour tea into bathtub.  Used more in primitive settings where herbs are plentiful & free.  Theoretically, this works well, but it’s tough with compliance.

Bath pouches sold commercially, or use cheesecloth.  Essential oil floats.

Kneipp Herbal Baths – Kneipp was around in late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  He did seminal work on hydrotherapy, and his products are known for their good quality.  Made in Germany & has stood the test of time.  Largely made with essential oils.

Herbal Bath Oils available in US – variable quality, benefit, and intent.  Most US products are wimpy.

Soaking – any part of body can soak – hand, foot, elbow, etc.  (Ex. for an anti-fungal foot bath, add chaparral).

Kneipp hydrotherapy – splash around in H2O that’s up to your knees.  Stimulates the nervous system.

Alcohol will emulsify essential oils.  Also soaps.

BOLUS:

A bolus means a blob or a bowl.  Typically, inserted into the body.

This herbal bulk mass includes SUPPOSITORIES (often made with cocoa butter).  May be infused with herbs such as marigold and thyme.  Cocoa butter will melt at very low temps.

PESSARIES – another name for suppository.

COMPRESS/FOMENTATION:

Liquid herbal preparation (water).  Tea soaked up into a cloth and applied to the body.

HERB JUICE:

Put herb thru a juicer

No loss of constituents, but it is messy.

LINIMENT:

Herbal tincture applied externally – used on outside of body.

Alcohol based.

Big in the Asian population, not so widespread in U.S.

The active herbal ingredient is applied directly to the spot that needs to be treated.

Can be made with things that are not edible.

INFUSED OIL:

Active ingredient of herb is cooked into an oily base.

It’s a liquid/oil based preparation.

Herbs cooked in oil at low temps.  Two methods: 1) with oil only.  Low temp for 24 hours, and   2) with oil and water. (Ayurvedic method).  Have to get rid of the water though.  Remove material and slowly cook it to evaporate the water.

It is very important to get the water out.  Cook it off so that infusion doesn’t spoil.  Water is always on the bottom of an oil & water mix.  Cook in glass so you can see the water at the bottom, or watch the mixture for the last of the steam to come off.  Then you know you’ve got the water out.

St John’s Wort Oil. . .

2 Types of oils need to be extracted differently.  1) Essential Oils – evaporate at lower temps than boiling water and                   2) Fixed Oils – vaporize at higher temp than boiling water.

YOU CANNOT LIBERATE OILS FROM PLANTS WITH COLD INFUSING.  THIS IS AN URBAN MYTH.

Water in the herbs needs to be pressed out.  Presses are easily available.

Herb Pharm uses a 500 gallon tank.  Can’t do this at home or in small batches economically..

AYURVEDA INFUSED OIL INGREDIENTS:

Uses 3 to 50 different ingredients.

Herbs are dried, garbled, and chopped.

ex. Mustard Oil base, milk, etc.  Formulas have been refined over 100’s of years.

Large flat pan is used.  water cooked out so the mixture can be preserved.  It’s not an emulsion because there is no water left.

Infused oils are used internally and externally.  Mostly used in Ayurveda, but western & Chinese use it too.

PLASTER:

Is an herbal mush with a protective cloth or vehicle.

TCM – more likely to use a pre-prepared plaster.

Mustard plaster – leave on for 30 minutes.  Covers area.

Mix up mustard powder.  Spread it on cloth.  Can conveniently lift up corner and check skin for redness.  Can be applied directly to skin or with a thin layer of guaze between skin and mush.

POULTICE:

The chunks of mush tend to be bigger than in a plaster.  ex.  Chop up a comfrey leaf, can apply directly to the skin.  Leave on skin until dry.  Very close to a compress.

POWDER:

We often consume powder in capsules.

Ayurveda likes to administer herbs in powder form.

Usually doesn’t taste good.

SALVE:

Fat soluble only.  Ex. Tiger Balm – menthol & camphor – essential oils that are fat based.

OINTMENT:

Fat and water.  Often thinner consistency than salves.

ENEMA:

Ayurveda loves.  Oil or oil & water or water.

Compliance is terrible.

Licensing issues.

 Vertical Enema:

gravity feeds into large intestine.  made of metal or plastic.  metal is easier to sterilize.

Colema:

colonic & enema.  It’s like getting 10 enemas in a row.  Good alternative.  Aparatus is available on-line.

NETI:

Nasal irrigation

use salt water or herbal decoction

SMOKE:

cubeb (peppercorn for asthsma), knick knick (smoking uva ursi), coltsfoot (European herb with affinity for lungs), turmeric(often smoked for expectoration).

Smoke has a history in every system, but American’s have an attitude about it b/c of nicotine and pot.

To help people quit smoking, try smoking lobelia.  Structurally similar to nicotine.  Will block desire to smoke.

Cubeb cigarettes – for catarrh, hay fever, cold in the head, head ache, asthma, diseases of the throat.

Mullein – is an anti-inflammatory and demulcent, but not that way when smoked.