DISCLAIMER

Do not treat the information contained here as a prescription, it is intended as a resource of knowledge for you. Do not use any herb that you cannot positively identify, be it from the wild or your garden. When in doubt you should purchase your dried herbs from a reputable herbalist and seek treatment from a qualified practitioner. 

Syrups 

Syrups are generally sugar or honey-based preparations that are used to make herbal medicines more palatable for both adults and children (honey should never be given to a child under the age of 2). 

NEED: 3 pounds brown or raw sugar or honey (use local honey whenever possible) or syrup or glycerin, water or fruit juice, non-aluminum pot, stove, herbs, strainer and jar. 

PREPARE: Honey or syrup or glycerin version: 

Pour honey or syrup into pot and bring to boil. Add herbs and simmer covered for 30-60 minutes over low heat. Strain and jar. Or use 2 pints fruit juice, Or take 2 oz of herbs and boil in 2 pints of water or fruit juice. Boil until only 1 pint is left. Strain and add 1-4 oz honey and/or glycerin. If desired, add a little bit of lemon juice and tiny amount of cayenne powder (helps kick-start the herbal action).

Brown or raw sugar version: Mix 1 pint water and 3 pounds brown or raw sugar. Bring to boil and add medicinal herbs. Simmer covered for 30-60 minutes over low heat, adding more water if necessary. Strain and jar. 

USE: Syrups help make medicine taste good and are a great way of administering herbal remedies to children. Syrups are given by the spoonful and are traditionally used for colds, flu’s and coughs, though they have been used for other problems, as well.

Douches 

A douche is usually a water-based preparation that is considered an external application, even though it is used in the vagina. It is used for cleansing, as well as for treating yeast infections, and other problems. 

*Douches should not be used by pregnant women without a doctor’s permission. 

NEED: An infusion or decoction, a douche kit (available at your local drugstore), and a bathtub. Sometimes a small amount (1 teaspoon –1 tablespoon/quart liquid) of apple cider vinegar is used to maintain the natural acid pH. 

PREPARE: Warm infusion or decoction to around body temperature and prepare douche to directions for douche kit. Laying in the bathtub, insert douche slowly and gently; don’t force it or else it could push the liquid into your uterus, along with any infection you may be trying to treat. Hold the liquid for 5-20 minutes, and then release it.

USE: Antiseptic and astringent herbs are generally used, almost always with a demulcent herb to protect and comfort the sensitive tissues in the vagina. Douches are used to cleanse, treat yeast infections, cysts, remove toxins, and more. Douches should not be used often as they can upset the natural pH balance, as well as the natural bacteria balance in the vagina.

STORAGE: Use immediately.

The interest in herbal remedies and the market for them has exploded in the last few decades. Herbal products in Canada and the United States, once confined to the shelves of health food shops, are now in retail outlets everywhere, including independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies, new-age shops, the internet, discount department stores, supermarkets and even convenience stores. Today it is estimated that the market for herbal dietary supplements is more than $5 billion dollars annually.

With herbal medicines so popular, they are still not well understood by professional healthcare provider or home user alike. Many do not even understand that herbs can be used in different routes of administration, other than just pill form. Listed below are some of the common uses for herb administration for the home herbalist. 

Suppositories 

Suppositories are the same as boluses; they are small “pills” that are inserted into the rectum or vagina to treat hemorrhoids, inflammations, infections, tumors, cysts, etc. They melt or dissolve after insertion to allow the herbs to do their work. 

Note: Some people are allergic to cocoa butter. Test a small amount on your skin before trying it as a bolus!

NEED: Cocoa butter, powdered herbs, bowl -or- powdered slippery elm, water, powdered herbs, bowl and cookie sheet.

PREPARE: Melt the cocoa butter and place the powdered herbs in a bowl. Slowly stir in the cocoa butter until the mixture obtains a dough-like consistency. Refrigerate, and then roll into strips 1/2-3/4 inch thick. Cut strips into 3/4-1 inch long pieces, then refrigerate again until use. Ten to twenty minutes before use remove from fridge and let sit to warm up. Just before using coat with olive oil or warm water to help it slide in.

Place powdered herbs in a bowl. Add slippery elm (1 part slippery elm to 9 parts other herbs or 10% total mixture). Slowly add warm water until mixture reaches a dough-like consistency. Roll into strips 1/2-3/4 inch thick and cut strips into 3/4-1 inch long pieces. Set out in sun on cookie sheet to dry for a day, or in conventional oven at lowest setting (careful not to burn them), or a gas stove using just the pilot light for heat. Once dry, store in airtight container in the refrigerator until use. Ten to twenty minutes before use remove from fridge and let sit to warm up. Just before using coat with olive oil or warm water to help it slide in. 

USE: Some herbalists recommend for vaginal use only if douches aren’t working well. Others recommend using boluses vaginally to support douches in their healing. Other herbalists use suppositories instead of enemas, stating that they are just as effective.

Suppositories can be very messy, so are often used at night when you go to bed or during long periods of rest when you will be laying down, or while using a sanitary napkin to absorb leakage. Be sure to place a towel beneath your behind to minimize cleanup in the morning. If used for vaginal purposes, a warm water douche should be used upon waking to clean out the vagina. Herbs of almost any type can be used, although antiseptic, astringent and demulcent herbs are often used. Suppositories are used to treat hemorrhoids, tumors, infections, irritations, cysts, constipation and more. 

STORAGE: Keep refrigerated in airtight container until use for up to 1 month. 

See you next issue for part four!