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Page 49
| and bringing it to a boil or by bringing the water to a boil and adding the herb afterwards. When the water comes to a slow boil, turn the heat down low, cover and let simmer (decoct) for 10 to 15 minutes. |
| Powder and Capsules |
| Many communities have, health food stores which carry bulk herbs in either cut and sifted form or as powders. Ideally, it is better to buy herbs in their whole form and grind them yourself since whole herbs retain their potency the longest. After you decide which herb or mixture you want, purchase the appropriate amount of herbs along with size 0 or 00 gelatin capsules, depending on how well you do at swallowing capsules (00 is larger). Mix the powders together in the appropriate proportions (how to do this is outlined in many texts) and then fill the capsules either by hand or with one of the little capsule-pressing machines available at health food stores. Store the capsules in a cool, dark area. Properly stored capsules will retain much of their potency for more than a year. When taking them, make sure you drink plenty of water. It is common for them to get somewhat stuck in the throat because the gelatin becomes sticky when it is wet. If you are vegetarian, there are now vegetable-derived capsules on the market. |
| Making Your Own Alcohol Extract |
| To make your own simple alcohol extract, grind 4 to 8 oz. of whole, freshly dried echinacea root into a |
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