How to Take Herbal Medicine!

Herbs are taken in Tinctures, Decoctions, Capsules, Powders, Infusions, pills, syrups, ointments, and many more ways too!

Tinctures
Most Herbs recommended throughout this Site can be taken as tinctures. Tinctures are easy to take and powerfully absorbed quickly. Tinctures are very highly concentrated. You can buy them ready made or make them yourself!

To take an Herb TONIC as a tincture that means the dose is between 1/2 teaspoon to a full(1) teaspoon, 3 X day. Start with 1/2 teaspoon for those of you who have known sensitivities or allergy reactions, then if you feel fine increase it to full strength. Tinctures usually taste bad and must be diluted with water, juice or whatever works for you.

Most Herbs that are taken for ongoing conditions (like building bone density, Longetevity, stopping hot flashes)are taken 3-4 times a day, every day. That would be called a tonic. 3 X day or 3-4 X day. In many Cultures everybody over 40 takes daily Beauty and Longetivity Tonics.

When Sally told me how exhausted and fatigued she felt, I suggested Siberian Ginseng(Eleuthrococcus Senticosis),as an Energy Tonic. That means taking a teaspoon of Tincture 3 X DAY,EVERYDAY. Mixing it in water, juice, etc.. and gulping it down.... 3 X DAY! After a week or two, she called to tell me how Great she felt, and that her endurance and stamina were coming back. I wasn't surprised, since Eleuthrococcus well known to boost energy levels. In fact, it was used in Russia by Olympic Athletes, to Cosmonauts, to factory workers. And studied extensively.

Infusions is a fancy way of saying "tea". Just like when you make tea, you pour boiling water over some leaves or flowers. That's what you do to make an infusion. A therapeutic dose will be one teaspoon per cup. and let it stay for 10-15 minutes. Then you can add sweetener,juice or whatever you need to do to make it a Happy part of your routine.

If you are taking Herbs as Teas or infusions, then you should drink 3 cups of very strong tea (1 teaspoon-cup) per day to see solid results.

The traditional TCM way to take herbs is Decoctions. that means boiling Herbs that look like roots and barks for hours. Very few people are able to devote that kind of time, and also it smells and tastes pretty vile!

Another way to take herbs is in capsules, pills and powders. An assumed standard dose would be to take 2- 500-650mg. capsules 3X day or equivalent tablet-of a standard Herb preparation. Unless stated otherwise of course.

Herbal Tinctures
Also called Ethinol Extracts, are a popular way to take herb tonics. Tinctures are easy to take and powerfully absorbed pretty quickly. They highly concentrated.

Herbal Tonics
Most Herbs that are taken for ongoing conditions (like building bone density, Longetivity, strength etc.)are taken as tinctures, powders,capsules or pills 3-4 times a day, every day. That would be called a Tonic.
3 X day or 3-4 X day.

Acute Herb Use If Herbs are taken for an acute situation they are taken more often.To take a fever down you could give a tea of Honeysuckle flowers, every hour or so.

Acute situations need herbs more often for a day or so. Tonics are taken day in and day out.

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