dark bottle, label it with the name and date of the oil, and store in a cool dark place to retain its therapeutic value for a maximum length of time.
Herbal Baths
A fragrant hot bath makes a very pleasant and simple way to take herbs. There are various ways of adding herbs to bath water; you can use dilute essential oils (1 drop of essential oil per drop of base oil such as sesame oil) and add them to the bath water; hang a muslin bag containing fresh or dried aromatic herbs under the hot tap as you draw the bath; or pour a pint (600ml) of a strong herbal infusion (double the standard dose described on page 79) into the water. Soak in the warm bath for 10-20 minutes.
When herbs are used in this way, the essential oils from the plants are taken in via the pores of the skin which are opened up by the warmth of the water. The oils are also carried on the steam which is simultaneously inhaled via nose and mouth into the lungs, and from there into the bloodstream. From the nose messages are carried from the oils via nerve pathways to the brain. In this way herbal medicines are assimilated quickly and directly, bypassing the lengthy process of digestion involved when herbs are taken by mouth. They are particularly useful for relaxing and soothing the nervous system and for easing mental and emotional strain.
Lavender, lemon balm, basil, holy basil, rose and chamomile are not only wonderfully fragrant but also relaxing, calming tension and anxiety and helping to ensure restful sleep. Chamomile is excellent for fractious children, particularly when they are unwell, for not only does it possess antimicrobial properties but also it helps induce sleep – nature's best way to ward off infection and enable self-healing. Rosemary baths, while also relaxing, have a stimulating edge as they enhance blood flow to the head and promote alertness and concentration.
Herbal sitz baths can be very useful for soothing the pain and irritation of cystitis, vaginal infections or haemorrhoids. Simply fill a large, shallow bowl with about a litre (1.75 pints) of strained, strong infusion, enough to reach the necessary areas, sit in it and relax for 10–15 minutes!
Hand and Foot Baths
Mustard foot baths were used historically for all afflictions of cold and damp climates, from colds and flu to poor circulation and arthritis. The ancient tradition of hand and foot baths was made popular by the famous French herbalist, Maurice Messegue, who has written several books on herbal therapy based simply on this form of treatment. He recommends foot baths for 8 minutes in the evening and hand baths for 8 minutes in the morning. According to Messegue, the hands and feet are highly sensitive areas of the skin, rich in nerve endings and, despite some thickening of the skin from use, the constituents pass easily from the skin into the body. To try this, add 1tablespoon of mustard powder to a bowl of hot water, test the temperature and then sit with your feet in it for 8–10 minutes.
Shelf Life
The way herbs are prepared and stored is important as it will affect the length of time that plants will maintain their therapeutic components and therefore their beneficial effects. Powders have the shortest “shelf life,” which means the amount of time they can be stored on your shelves, and generally should be kept in dark, air tight containers and for no more than 6–9 months. Because they tend to oxidise and thereby deteriorate relatively rapidly, powders are often made into capsules and tablets to extend their shelf life; some are given protective coatings. Powders can also be combined with pastes and herbal extracts to extend their shelf life. Tablets will keep for longer, although they should be stored similarly away from direct sunlight. Herbal tinctures and glycerites will keep up to 3 years.
Stored properly, herbal tinctures will keep up to 3 years.
The Materia Medica
A Materia Medica is a compendium of medicinal herbs used for their theraputic effects, and traditionally describes each herb's pharmacological properties and medicinal actions. The first such collection of knowledge on healing plants appeared in India around 700 BCE, compiled by the scholar Charaka, and a similar manual was assembled in China around 1000 CE. The term Materia Medica is Latin and has been around since Roman times when Dioscorides wrote a five-volume in Greek, De Materia Medica, which was subsequently translated into Latin around 60 CE. Dioscorides' book was a commentary on around 500 medicinal plants.
How to Use the Materia Medica
The Materia Medica is the heart of this book. It is a comprehensive directory of the 150 herbs most commonly used by modern Western herbalists. They are all easily available from most herbal suppliers, and because this book is intended for use by lay people as well as students and practitioners of herbal medicine, none of them is a “Schedule 3” herb, that is herbs whose dosage is restricted by law due to the presence of powerful constituents, often alkaloids, that require caution in their use.
The Materia Medica is a detailed herb directory, organised alphabetically by Latin name. Each entry includes the common name, family, parts used, major constituents and the actions of the plants. It then lists the herb's indications for use in treatment according to the systems of the body, including recent cross-reference to the Treating Common Ailments chapter (see pages 275–353) so that you can be informed about the herbs that you choose.
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM: YARROW
Family Asterceae/Compositae
Parts Used Aerial parts
Constituents
Volatile oil (azulene, borneol, camphor, linalool, pinene, thujone), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin), sesquiterpenes, silica, sterols, bitters, tannins, salicylic acid, amino acids (lysine), coumarins, fatty acids (linoleic, palmitic, oleic), vitamins (B, C, E), minerals.
Actions
Diaphoretic, diuretic, astringent, digestive, bitter tonic, hepatic, antimicrobial, alterative, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, vasodilator, analgesic, antihistamine, emmenagogue, expectorant, haemostatic, styptic, vulnerary.
Growing wild in hedgerows and meadows in the Northern hemisphere, yarrow has been valued as a first aid remedy since the time of the ancient Greeks, for staunching bleeding and healing cuts and wounds.
Digestion
• Yarrow stimulates the appetite, and enhances digestion and absorption of nutrients.
• It can be used to treat wind, spasm, IBS and indigestion.
• Its astringent tannins protect the gut from irritation and infection, helpful in diarrhoea and inflammatory problems including gastritis and colitis.
Circulation
• Taken in hot tea, yarrow promotes sweating,
