Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 Drink decaffeinated coffee and herbal tea; flavor your food with various herbs, garlic, onions, and lemon juice instead of salt; if you enjoy soup stock made with bones, a little added vinegar will help dissolve the calcium they contain and increase the amount present in the broth itself. We used to think that alcohol also has a negative effect on bone. It does if you're an alcoholic and booze a lot, but social drinkers (women who have eleven drinks or so per week, and men who have sixteen drinks a week) have actually been found to have the thickest bones. |
| Drink decaffeinated coffee and herbal tea; flavor your food with various herbs, garlic, onions, and lemon juice instead of salt; if you enjoy soup stock made with bones, a little added vinegar will help dissolve the calcium they contain and increase the amount present in the broth itself.
Doctors used to think that alcohol had a negative effect on bone. It does if yOu're an alcoholic and booze a lot, but social drinkers (women who have eleven drinks a week, and men who have sixteen drinks a week) apparently have the thickest bones. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 You can also make an herbal tea and add the salt to that. Good candidates include herbs with astringent and anti-inflammatory action, such as eyebright, and those that act as mucous membrane tonics and antimicrobials, such as Oregon graperoot or goldenseal. Put your saline or herb solution into one of the following containers: a creamer with a long spout, an eyedropper, or a neti pot (a small pot designed for this purpose available at yoga equipment stores).
To use, turn your head to one side and lower it over the sink. |
| And don't forget about elder flowers, which have a long tradition of use in herbal tea blends to induce sweating during flu-induced fevers. Typical dosage: up to six 500- to 600-milligram capsules per day,- or up to 40 drops of tincture every 4 hours,- or up to 3 cups of tea per day (simmer 1 tablespoon of dried berries in 2 cups of hot water for 15 minutes, or steep 2 teaspoons of dried flowers in 1 cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes). |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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| There is a naturally occurring enzyme in the brain that breaks down acetylcholine, something we do not want to happen in anyone with Alzheimer's. This herbal tea apparently neutralizes that enzyme, perhaps even more effectively than does tacrine (THA), which is currently being used in the management of Alzheimer's. The active ingredient in club moss is now being tested humans, but I would not rush out to buy this tea until its evaluation has been completed. You are better off, in my opinion, with tacrine whose potential benefits, limitations, and side effects are known. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 Understanding herbal extracts
When an herbal tea bag steeps in hot water, it is actually a type of herbal extract known as an infusion. The water serves as a solvent in removing some of the medicinal properties from the herb. Teas often are better sources of bioavailable compounds than the powdered herb, but are relatively weak in action compared to tinctures, fluid extracts, and solid extracts. Herbal practitioners often use these forms for medicinal effects.
Tinctures are typically made by using an alcohol and water mixture as the solvent. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 One of the most common is herbal tea. Another preparation, a tincture, is a concentrated liquid extract of the herb. There are also herbal tablets and capsules, fresh herbs as food, and, for external use, poultices, compresses, creams, and salves. External preparations often utilize essential oils.
WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?
Medicinal herbs can be taken for any condition, but they're often used in mainstream culture as a supportive treatment, taken in combination with other types of conventional or alternative care. Herbs can reduce the side effects of certain medications, for example. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 But knowing these two basic tea preparations puts all herbal tea remedies within easy reach. The following tricks of the trade will help, too.
Be strong. "Most Americans don't make their teas strong enough," says Dr. Catellani, "so they stop using them for medicine because they don't get results." Remember, medicinal teas usually aren't pleasure teas, and you have to adjust the herb-to-water ratio accordingly. A heaping teaspoon of the cut-up dried herb per cup of water is the low end of the scale. |
Margarita Artschwager Kay
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 For example, Pneumus boldo (boldo) leaves are used in an herbal tea to treat common colds, congestion, and stomach disorders (Dillehay 1987). This plant is employed widely today by Mexican Americans in the American and Mexican West. Lycopodium {licopodio, club moss)—used by people as widely distributed in time and space as ancient Celtic druids and present-day Alaskans—was also well represented in the samples tested. Other common species included plants in the Atriplex, Centaurium, Equisetum, and Mimulus genera, all used medicinally in the American and Mexican West. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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| In that case, you'll want this quick calm-down blend of herbal tea, courtesy of Candis Cantin-Packard, a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and director of the Evergreen Herb Garden and Learning Center in Placerville, California. To make the tea, scoop out 1 teaspoon of the blend and steep in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink one to three cups a day as needed. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| You can buy an already-blended herbal tea, or purchase individual herbs and combine them at home. And if a medicinal tea you've purchased has a taste you dislike, you can add herbs of your own choosing to make it sweeter or spicier.
Remember to steep your tea longer if some of the plant matter is bark, roots, or seeds. If your tea consists completely of bark, roots, or seeds, you'll need to simmer them, because these tough plant parts need a bit more time to release their medicinal compounds.
When you're buying herbs in bulk for tea, check for freshness first. |
Paul Pitchford
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 Sweating procedure: Drink a cup or more of hot diaphoretic herbal tea, take a hot bath or shower, drink more tea, then cover in blankets and sweat. (See page 70 for ways to prepare tea.) Do not sweat to the point of exhaustion. After sweating, change damp bedding and rest.
Sweating once is sometimes enough; if not, it can be repeated twice daily until exterior signs lift. If baths are inconvenient, drink V2 cup of the tea every half hour until perspiring freely. When diaphoresis does not work, a deeper condition likely exists. |
Michael Tierra
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 A fomentation is prepared by making an herbal tea, dipping a moisture-absorbent towel or cloth into the tea and applying the towel over the affected area as hot as can be tolerated without burning. The towel is covered by dry flannel cloth and a heating pad or hot water bottle is placed on top of this. A plastic covering is used to protect bedding if applied overnight.
To stimulate circulation of blood and lymph, to relieve colic, to reduce internal inflammation and to restore warmth to cold joints, a ginger fomentation is recommended. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 If necessary, it is possible to stimulate bowel movements by drinking warm prune juice, herbal tea, or fruit nectar. Also, bowel movements may be stimulated by digital stimulation, which is performed by inserting a lubricated finger (olive oil or vitamin E oil works well) into the anus and moving it in a circular motion. Be sure your nails are not sharp or jagged, as this can cause irritation. This method stimulates the lower bowel until the sphincter relaxes. The process may require anywhere from one to two minutes. |
| To make a cold compress, dip a piece of cotton gauze or a cotton ball in a cold herbal tea or a mixture made with a dropperful of herb tincture in V* cup, or 60 milliliters, of water, except as otherwise noted in Part Two. (See teas and/or tinctures in Part Three.) Place the soaked cotton between two layers of clean cloth and apply to the affected area. Hold the cloth in place with a long cloth strip or a clean scarf; do not cover the compress with plastic. When the compress warms to body temperature, add a few more drops of the tea or tincture mixture to the cotton and reapply. |
| To make a hot compress, soak a clean towel in hot herbal tea and apply as hot as possible to the affected area. When the compress has cooled to body temperature, the process is repeated and the compress is reapplied as desired. Most of the teas used for compresses can be made from tea bags. For loose teas, specific amounts are given in the appropriate Part Two entries.
Creams
See ointments in Part Three.
Douches
Douches prepared with herbal solutions can help soothe and heal vaginal inflammation and help control vaginal infections. |
| To make a skin wash, prepare an herbal tea or a mixture made with a dropperful of herb tincture in
Vi cup, or 60 milliliters, of warm water. (See TEAS and/or TINCTURES in Part Three.) Bathe the affected area with a cloth, or immerse it in a washbasin filled with the mixture. To treat inflammation, you can make the wash by adding 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to 1 quart of lukewarm water. (See AROMATHERAPY in Part Three for a discussion of essential oils.)
For acne, dip a clean soft cotton cloth in the lukewarm herbal infusion and wash the infected area with light, circular motions. |
| For example, Japanese researchers have found that boiling ephedra with licorice to make an herbal tea releases 50 percent more of the asthma-stopping chemical ephedrine than boiling the same amount of ephedra by itself. Another example of this principle is the chemistry of licorice, which is used in many herbal formulas to treat inflammation. Scientific research has found that the active ingredient in licorice that has the greatest influence on inflammation is glycyrrhetic acid. |
Paul Pitchford
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| For All Meal Plans
A) The Morning Elixir: Soon after rising, quench thirst with water, herbal tea, vegetable broths, green drinks (wheat/barley grass or spirulina drinks), or vegetable or fruit juice. These drinks should be at least slightly warm.
B) Interval between rising and first meal: Wait one to two hours or more before first meal; eat only when hungry—this applies to all meals.
C) Very weak or sick people should eat according to condition and hunger. See Excess and Deficiency, Chapter 6. |
| This can be done with just a small amount of herbal tea or water. If there is a groggy condition, more cleansing fluids can be drunk in order to purify the system at this time. Typical beverages—which we call "elixirs" because of their refreshing and detoxifying qualities—are listed in the following chart according to their cleansing nature. They are best at least slightly warmed in order to add an expansive quality, and in no case should they be served cooler than room temperature.
If one tends toward coldness or weakness, then it is safest to stay near the top of the list. |
Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D.
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 Then add the tamari and enough water (this can be a previously prepared herbal tea) until the liquid's level is halfway up the chicken and carrot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then place the casserole in an oven and bake it for 30 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. Garnish the casserole with finely chopped spring onion. Variations:
• The water can be a strained tea that was previously made with codonopsis, dang gui, ginseng, or dioscorea.
• Add a whole onion or leek.
• One star anise and 1 onion can be added for a winter warming dish and for lower-back aches. |
Paul Pitchford
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| When water is taken with meals, it is best that it be only a few ounces and warm, possibly in the form of soup or herbal tea at the end of a meal.
The optimal water intake for individuals varies widely, and a person's requirements can be far different from one day to the next. Although thirst is the most important indicator of need, not everyone is in touch with his or her own thirst. Just as our natural instinct to breathe deeply can be blunted by polluted air, many people no longer drink enough water because of its impure nature. This is usually not a conscious choice. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| Once a day, moisten a small amount of either herb or an herbal tea bag and place it on the painful area for 15 minutes; you can use this treatment for up to 3 days.
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: The Toxin Avenger III
Activated charcoal can also help draw out the toxins, says Dr. Hardy. Mix a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with enough water to make a paste. Place some of the paste on a small piece of gauze, put the gauze on the sore area, and bite down so that the paste surrounds your tooth. Leave it on for up to 5 minutes, then remove the gauze and excess paste and rinse your mouth with water. |
Michael Tierra
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| Gelatin capsules may be taken with meals, but if taken between meals at least one-half cup water or herbal tea should be used to wash them down.
Whenever a formula calls for using gelatin capsules, one may alternatively make pills, using twice as many pills as capsules to get about the same dose (see the section on "Pills" in this chapter).
Liniment
Liniments are herbal extracts that are rubbed into the skin for treating strained muscles and ligaments. They are also used for the relief of arthritis and some types of inflammation. |
| To facilitate washing down and dissolving the capsules, either take them with a meal or drink at least one half to one cup of water or herbal tea.
In many cases, it is necessary to purchase the herb already powdered in order to fill the capsules properly. The herb powdered in a blender or spice grinder may not be fine enough for this purpose. Place the powders in a small bowl and blend them well with a spoon. Separate the two parts of the capsule and press each through the powder to the side of the bowl so that some powder is forced into the capsule. |
Paul Pitchford
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| The daily dosage is one tablespoon of honey in one cup of hot water or herbal tea.
• Vitamin E is essential for keeping blood "slippery" and flowing, thus helping reduce blood stagnation and clotting. This vitamin also quells painful inflammations and common breast lumps caused by leukotriene production from arachidonic acid. In this respect, vitamin E has effects similar to the two fatty acids mentioned above. Vitamin E is helpful in the treatment of several menstrual disorders: excess or scanty menses, the hot flashes of menopause, and irregular cycles. |
Frances Darragh and Louise Darragh Law
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 WHAT TO DO
HERBS
Gargle and also use as herbal tea one or more of the following herbs: Myrrh, Golden Seal, Raspberry, Marjoram, or Sage. Teatree oil may be applied directly to the ulcer.
HOMEOPATHIC
Borax 30c: Small ulcers that bleed if touched, or when eating; mouth is hot.
Mercurius 30c: Much saliva with spongy gums, sweet metallic taste and thirst.
Nitric Acid 30c: Ulcers with splinterlike pains, bad breath, and much saliva. Whitish gums.
Calc Phos: Blisters on tip of tongue; cold sores or chapped lips. Kali Mur: Rawness of mouth. Nat Mur: Blisters on tongue. Silica: Ulcers on tongue. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| HERBS: Tea Is a Perfect Toner
"I recommend using a gentle, astringent (pore-tightening) herbal tea, such as yarrow, sage, or peppermint, to remove leftover cleanser and dirt from oily skin," says Stephanie Tourles, a licensed esthetician, reflexologist, and herbalist in West Hyannisport, Massachusetts. Here are her instructions.
Boil 1 cup of water and remove the pan from the heat. Add 1 tablespoon of dried herb or 2 tablespoons of fresh herb, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain the tea and let it cool, then use immediately. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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| To make an herbal tea, just follow this basic recipe. For dried herbs, use 1 teaspoon of either an individual herb or a mixture of equal parts of each herb for each cup of water. If you are using fresh herbs, add 1 tablespoon of fresh herb or herb blend. Put the herbs in a saucepan and pour the water over them, then cover the pan and steep for 20 minutes. "The volatile oils in these herbs help to relax you. That's why it's important to cover the pot as they steep so you don't lose the volatile or aromatic oils," says Reeve. You can add a little honey as sweetener or use a twist of lemon. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 There are several methods of preparation for herbal tea. Infusion, better for delicate leaves and flowers, entails bringing water to a light boil, turning off the heat, and letting the herbs steep in the water. Leaving the crude herbs out in the sun for a couple of hours in a tightly sealed container makes sun tea. Simmering the herbs for anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour (longer is better for the much heavier barks and roots) makes a decoction.
Tinctures are extracts made by soaking herbs in solutions designed to draw out their virtues. |
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