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Page 74
| spoon to 1 tablespoon herb simmered in 1 cup water for 10 to 15 minutes) while leaves and blossoms should be brewed as infusions (1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon herb per cup of boiling water, steeped for 10 to 15 minutes). A teaspoon of herb makes a beverage strength tea; a tablespoon makes a medicinal strength tea. |
| To make your own effective tincture, cover any or all of the above herbs (any quantity or combination) with alcohol, vegetable glycerine or cider vinegar in a glass jar. Alcohol (vodka, rum, brandy, etc.) is the preferred liquid because it dissolves most plant constituents and the resulting tinctures have an indefinite shelf life, but vegetable glycerine and cider vinegar make effective tinctures for those who prefer not to use alcohol. |
| Leave the glass jar in a warm place for at least a month, shaking it every few days. Strain and store the tincture in amber glass bottles away from heat and light. |
| One of Germany's best selling cures for abdominal distress is a tincture of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis); similar "melissa waters" are popular throughout Europe. To relieve flatulance, take at least 1 teaspoon of any carminative tincture with a glass of water every half hour until symptoms subside. |
| In severe cases, take two capsules containing activated charcoal with a glass of water every 20 minutes until symptoms subside. To prevent flatulence: |
| Take Swedish bitters before eating |
| Eat slowly and chew food well |
| Avoid carbonated beverages and foods that don't agree with you |
| Take hydrochloric acid supplements or digestive enzymes as needed |
| Supplement your diet with acidophilus and other friendly bacteria |
| Avoid stress while eating |
| Gastritis |
| Inflammation of the stomach's lining can cause short-term discomfort or chronic pain. If it doesn't go away quickly in response to the clearing of an infection or reactions to spe- |
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