Some Common Ways of Using Herbs
As An Infusion:
To make an infusion is much like making tea. Put the herb in use in an earthenware container. (a teapot perhaps) Then bring a kettle of water to a rolling boil. Put one pint of the boiling water over each ounce of the herb in use. Allow the mixture (tea) to steep for one half of an hour. Your Infusion is completed. Ingest as indicated.
As An Herbal Wash:
Make a tea just as done in the infusion above only this time use one quarter to one half ounce of the herb recommended, and allow to steep until the wash is room temperature. Wash as indicated.
As An Ointment:
Acume three teaspoons of the herb desired. Add the herb to one cup of vegetable shortening. Heat until it becomes softened to almost a liquid state. Take care not to burn the compound. Allow the compound to solidify. Repeat the heating thrice. Allowing the compound to solidify between each heating. Store ointment in an air tight container in a cool dark place. Apply to skin as indicated.
As A Poultice:
Take four ounces of the herb desired, for example camphor, put the four ounces of camphor into four ounces of boiling water. Allow it to steep. Strain the excess water out and put the remaining substance in gauze. Apply to skin, usually the chest, as indicated.
As Tea:
Usually one teaspoon of the herb needed, chopped or crushed to one cup of water that has been brought to a rolling boil. Steep for 10 minutes, strain, and ingest as indicated.
If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
Kahlil Gibran
North American Indians ate Watercress to dissolve gravel and stones in the bladder.