Practical Ways to Use Herbs Every Day
Did you know that herbs and healing foods are an incredibly powerful way to treat common ailments, especially when consumed daily? They create a cumulative effect of good health that ripples throughout our lives. Here are a few different methods for everyday herb use.
Herbal Powders: Pure, raw dried herbs that are milled into a fine powder.
How to use:
Mix in a smoothie. This is a great way to get kids to take herbs because of how easy it is to hide the taste and color.
Mix in juice, water, or applesauce.
Encapsulate the herbal powder. This is an easy way to take herbs with an unpleasant taste or for convenience when traveling.
Teas, Infusions & Decoctions
Herbal Teas: Beverages made from steeping and or boiling herbs in water.
How to use: Combine water and herbal tea in a pot and bring the water to a boil. Cover with a lid, and simmer the tea for the amount of time directed for each herb. Pour the mixture through a strainer, and it’s ready to drink.
Herbal Infusion: A method of extraction where dried or fresh herbs are steeped in hot or freshly boiled water for some time. This method is best with gentle herbs like leaves and flowers.
How to use: Pour hot or freshly boiled water over herbs and steep for at least 15 minutes (sometimes we let these sit overnight). Strain the herbs, out and it’s ready to drink.
Herbal Decoction: A method of extraction where dried herbs are boiled in water for a period of time. This is typically done with stems, bark, and roots.
How to use: Combine water and dried herbs in a pot, and bring the water to a boil. Keep the mixture at a rolling boil for at least 45 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the mixture sit, or pour it through a strainer and consume immediately.
Tips:
Most herbs can be steeped 2-3 times before losing their potency.
For a simple way to steep herbs and avoid straining them, use a tea ball, bombilla, or filtered bamboo straw.
Herbal Salve: A natural healing ointment made from a mixture of herbal infused oils that are thickened with some wax so that it will become solid at room temperature.
How to use: Use topically on the skin for rashes, muscle pain, cuts, burns, stings, bites, inflammation, fungal infections, and so much more!
Herbal Steams: The process of pouring boiling water over a bowl of dried herbs and allowing the herb-infused steam to permeate the face. This is often used for sinus drainage, brain health, and skin & beauty purposes.
How to use: Pour boiling water over dried herbs, place face above the bowl, and cover head with a towel; breathe in the steam. This method traps the herb-infused steam inside the towel and ensures stronger and more potent steam.
Herbal Syrups: Infusions or decoctions that are sweetened, typically with a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. A popular herbal syrup is elderberry syrup.
How to use: Syrups are taken orally. They can be taken regularly as a preventative or in times of sickness.
Cooking: Using herbs to flavor food is probably the most common way people consume herbs. Herbs can be used dried, ground, or fresh for cooking.
How to use: Check out our recipes page to get inspiration for how to add herbs to your favorite meals.
Poultice: Soft, moist herbs covered with cloth and applied hot to the body. A poultice is often used on burns, splinters, cuts, and bruises.
How to use: Crush, chop, and mash herbs with a mortar and pestle, blender, or cutting board. Spread the mixture onto the desired area of the skin. Wrap the area with a layer of gauze or muslin to hold the mixture in place. Cloth can be lightly heated if desired.
Essential Oil: A natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other sources from which it was extracted.
How to use: Essential oils can be used aromatically, topically, or internally on their own or in drinks and recipes. (Not all essential oils can be taken orally. Check the directions before consuming).
Herbal Tinctures: A concentrated liquid herbal extract typically made by soaking herbs and other plant parts in alcohol for weeks to extract the active constituents.
How to use: Use the dropper for the appropriate dosage and drop tincture liquid underneath the tongue. Hold tincture liquid under the tongue for 15-60 seconds for greater potency and stronger effect.
Herb Combinations for Different Conditions:
Cold & Flu:
Stress & Anxiety:
Brain Health & Focus:
Butcher’s Broom