Forms of medication | Herbal medicine

Forms of medication

Teas and tea mixtures (species) These are mixtures of dried and crushed plants. Teas can also be used for envelopes, but must then be specially marked. For tea mixtures that contain mainly leaves, herbs or flowers, use one tablespoon (3g) per 150 ml of water.

For mixtures mainly containing roots, wood or fruits, take one teaspoon (1.5g) per 150 ml. Plant extracts They are obtained by leaching. The drug ingredients are dissolved out by liquids (water, spirit or similar) cold or under the influence of heat.

The extract obtained is sometimes also thickened. A distinction is made between liquid, thin, thick and dry extracts. Infusions These are aqueous extracts of plant parts.

This is the fastest and most common way of preparing drugs. Boiling water is poured over the infusion, left to stand and then poured through a sieve or filter. The rule: 1 g drug/10 g infusion.

Absude Here the crushed plant parts have to boil in the water for a while (usually 15 minutes). The still hot decoction is poured through a cloth and pressed out. As a rule, 1g of drug and 10 parts of water are used.

One does not prepare decoction for stock, but when needed. Tinctures Tinctures are plant extracts that are usually made with 70% alcohol. They are colored differently according to the raw material.

They are used internally (dropwise on sugar or in water) or externally for rinses and compresses. Medicinal wines Medicinal wines are occasionally used in folk medicine. They are obtained from dry wines in which plants (such as rosemary or valerian) are left to grow for a while.

Medicinal oils Medicinal oils are drugs dissolved in vegetable oil that can be used externally and internally. Pills Besides the active ingredients of plants, they contain a number of additives that are necessary to give the pills their shape. These include for example: Sweet powder and liquorice juice, powder of gentian and valerian root, yeast extract, etc.

Medical unctions Medical unctions are liquid, thick or even gelatinous preparations that are applied and rubbed onto the skin. Medicinal aromatic waters Medicinal aromatic waters consist of essential oils from plants in water mixed with alcohol. They are always fresh and have a very limited shelf life.Syrups Syrups are concentrated solutions of sugar in water and plant extracts.

They are used internally and are particularly suitable for children. Tablets They are made from powdered plant drugs (excipients in addition) and are used internally. They have different forms and are often coated with substances so that the active ingredients do not take effect already in the stomach but only in the intestine.

Injections These liquids must be pure and sterile. They are injected under the skin, into the muscle or directly into the bloodstream. Ointments Sei consist of the actual remedy and a fat base (for example, Vaseline, oils, lanolin).

They can be easily rubbed in at normal temperature. Pastes are generally firmer than ointments. Creams, on the other hand, contain more than 10% water and have different consistency.