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| tion. Examples: Cayenne, ginger, mustard, prickly ash bark, rosemary. |
| Tonic herbs restore and strengthen the entire system or specific organs, restoring normal tone. Heart tonic herbs include cayenne, hawthorn berry and motherwort. |
| Herbal Preparations |
| There are many ways to take herbs: as fresh plants in salads; fresh or dried in cooking; fresh or dried in teas; dried herbs in capsules or tablets; and fresh or dried herbs in syrups, lozenges and tinctures not to mention their external applications, such as compresses, poultices, washes and steam inhalations. |
| For best results, use herbs that were grown organically or wildcrafted, then dried at low temperature to maintain their flavor, color, essential oils and other properties. See the Appendix for a list of herbal tea companies that specialize in high-quality medicinal herbs. |
| If you are new to herbal medicine, remember that the recipes given here and in herbal reference books are flexible and forgiving. If you can't obtain an ingredient, ask an herbalist to suggest an appropriate substitute. Quantities are flexible, too. As you gain experience, you will be able to develop your own recipes. As you do so, be sure to refer to two or three different herbal references for information about each |
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