Herb Terms
Abbreviations:
C/S= Cut and Sifted
"Herb" - means a combination of different plant parts, usually the stems/stalks...and/or leaves.
Herbal Terms for Medicinal Remedies and Teas
Infusion: To pour boiling water over a dried herb. (Flowers,leaves,stems and/or barks and roots which may have to be powered first).
Decoction: To boil herb(s) in a covered pot of water for a certain period of time.
Aromatic: Herbs that smell and/or taste good. (Includes spices). Use 1 part Aromatic to 4 parts herbs (by weight) to make unpleasant tasting mixtures, taste better.
Demulcent: Herbs that have mucilaginous, soothing qualities. They help calm any internal irritation that can accompany some herbal mixtures.
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Medicinals are herbs used for specific medical treatments. Headaches, sleeplessness, etc. Consult an Herb book for a list of herbs that help with certain ailments.
Aromatics include Allspice, Anise, Caraway, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Ginger, Lemon and Orange peel, Vanilla bean.
Demulcents include Arrowroot, Borage, Coltsfoot, Comfrey root, Licorice root, Marsh Mallow leaves and root, Oatmeal, Sago root, Sassafras pith, Slippery elm bark, Solomon’s Seal root.
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H erbal Terms for Essential Oils
Steam/Water Distillation and Alcohol distillation:
Distillation means the herb is boiled in either distilled water or deodorized, denatured alcohol. (don’t try using alcohol unless you really know what you are doing, it can explode!) The herb is boiled (in a beaker with a stopper that has a tube hole in it), and the steam is passed through a tube where it condenses on the sides and drips into a receiver vessel. The condensed liquid contains the Essential Oil of the plant/herb. Sometimes it is distilled many times.
Enfleurage; or Maceration; or steeping in oil:
Use petals of flowers or leaves of the herb. Steep or marinate them in an odor less oil for a few days. The oil can be refined olive oil, mineral oil or any unscented oil of your choice. Glycerin works fine too.
A little salt on the flower petals helps to preserve them. You don’t want either herbs or flowers to begin to rot or mold. Change the herbs or flowers every day or two until the oil itself is well scented. This should take 4 – 6 times of changing your ingredients. You should line your container with cheesecloth or perhaps a coffee filter so you can strain out the herbs/flowers every time you change them.
When the oil is ready strain it and bottle it in an air tight, dark colored bottle. Add a few drops of tincture of Benzoin as a fixative. Use it as a perfume now or mix with alcohol to form tinctures and colognes.
You can also extract some flower petal fragrances by placing flowers or petals in a jar of denatured, unscented alcohol and letting it soak for a few months. Don’t open it or change the ingredients but let it set in a cool dark place. Strain and bottle when ready.
Expression or crushing: Used only for fruit
