Salves, Oils and Tinctures

NATUROPATHIC
MEDICINE 101
Introduction
 Herbal medicines can be as simple as
an herbal tea
 or as complex as herbal lozenges and
tinctures.
Considerations:

 The ailment for which you plan to use the

herb
 The shelf life of the herbal medicine
 The type of herb you are preparing
 The age and preferences of the people taking
the herbal medicine
Infusions and Decoctions as Herbal
Medicine
Infusions and Decoctions
 These are essentially medicinal teas
that are taken orally
 Suitable for all ages
 Quick and easy to prepare
Infusions and Decoctions

 Aerial parts of the plant (above ground)

such as leaves stems and flower are
considered an infusion
 Woody parts of the plant, such as barks,
stems, and roots are considered a
decoction
Preparation
 As a general guideline herbal infusions or
decoctions are made by steeping 1 teaspoon
of dried and ground herb, or 2-3 teaspoons
of fresh herb in boiling water for 15 minutes
 Strain the herb and allow the medicinal tea
to cool before drinking.
 A recipe specific to the herb yields better
results
Preparation
 You can also prepare a cold tea by
allowing the herb to steep in cold water
for a day in the refrigerator
 Herbal infusions and decoctions will last
up to a week when refrigerated.
Preparation
 Topical application of herbs infused in
water, can be made by preparing:

 Herbal Baths

 Compresses
Medicinal Properties
 infusions or decoctions applied
externally for the purpose of external
medicine
 They come in handy for:
 Rashes
 Bites
 Infections
 Cuts
 Headaches
Tinctures as Herbal Medicine
Tinctures
 concentrated herbal medicine that extends
the shelf life of the herb for several years
 Tinctures are prepared using alcohol such
as vodka or everclear
Alternative To using Alcohol
○ Vinegar
 White
 Rice
 Apple Cider
Oil Infusions as Herbal Medicine
Oil Infusions
 infusions of the herb into oil
External medicine
Oil to be consumed as food
Oil to be used as main ingredient for a salve
Preparation
 Whether you are preparing oil for food consumption
or for a topical medicinal application to the skin
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
“Vegetable Oil” (palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil,
pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil,
peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice
oil)

*Lard or “Crisco” oil is not recommended

Preparation
 Herbally infused oils for topical
application are called liniments
 Liniments also serve as the base for a
variety of other topical herbal medicines:
○ Lotions
○ Creams
○ Salves
○ Ointments
○ Balms
Infused Honey as Herbal Medicine
Infused Honey
 Herbally infused honey serves as the
base for:
Lozenges
Syrups

○ This form of herbal medicine is often used

when giving medicinal herbs to children
Comfrey/St. John’s Wort
The “Super Salve” Compound
 This is a very popular "super salve“ for:
Healing damaged skin
Superficial burns
Diaper rash
Cracked hands and heels
Inflammation, and other minor injuries
 It is also popularly used as a vaginal
lubricant for dry or tender skin
 Not to be used on open wounds
Comfrey Identification
St. John’s Wort Identification
Medicinal Herb Reference
 COMFREY ROOT & LEAF - ( Symphytum
officinale )
 Prolific plant that is valuable in the treatment of
all types of skin, bone, and muscle injuries
 Comfrey helps wounds to heal quickly. Use for
burns, blisters , broken bones, and
inflammations.
 Used both internally and externally.
 Soothing effect on any organ it comes in contact
with. Also used for respiratory and digestive
system disorders.
Medicinal Herb Reference
 ST. JOHN'S WORT - ( Hypericum
perforatum )
 Good for burns, wounds, bruises, sores,
insect bites, fungal infections such as
eczema, and itching.
 Is used internally for the treatment of
depression
○ Currently being researched for possible use in
the treatment of AIDS.
Ingredients
 Comfrey Leaves
 St. John’s Wort
 Olive Oil
 Bee’s Wax
 Lavender Essential Oil (fragrance)
Other essential oil may be used, if prefer a
different aroma.
Hippocratic Corpus

-Primum Non Nocere-

First do no harm