[expand]The tea infusion extracted water-soluble compounds. The dried herbs were steeped in hot water—the temperature being just below boiling, the steeping time varying by plant from minutes to hours, and the resulting liquid being consumed warm or allowed to cool. The tea preparation was simple technique—requiring only water and heat source, the method being accessible to anyone, and the consistent results making it preferred preparation for most herbs. The tea dosing was approximate—the handful of herb per cup being standard measure, the exact amounts being less critical than for other preparations—though some powerful herbs required careful quantity control.
The tincture preserved herbs in alcohol. The kumis or other alcoholic liquid served as solvent—the alcohol extracting compounds including some that water couldn’t dissolve, the solution preserving herbs indefinitely, and the concentrated form being convenient for storage and transport. The tincture preparation required weeks—the herbs being submerged in alcohol, the container being sealed and occasionally shaken, and the strained liquid being stored in sealed vessels. The tincture dosing was by drops—the concentrated form requiring small amounts, the alcohol vehicle being consumed along with medicinal compounds—making tinctures efficient storage form for valuable herbs.
The poultice applied herbs directly. The fresh or dried herbs were crushed—the mechanical grinding releasing compounds, the resulting paste being spread on cloth, and the cloth being applied to affected area. The poultice treated external conditions—the wounds, burns, joint pain, and skin infections being standard applications—though effectiveness varied by condition and herb. The poultice was kept moist—the reapplication of herb paste or wetting of cloth maintaining contact between therapeutic compounds and skin—until improvement occurred or treatment was judged ineffective.
The salve created transportable ointment. The herbs were infused in animal fat—the heating extracting compounds into fat matrix, the cooled mixture solidifying into spreadable ointment, and the preserved form lasting months without refrigeration. The salve was applied to skin conditions—the dry skin, minor wounds, and inflammation being treated through direct application—with fat vehicle also providing moisturizing benefit. The salve preparation required substantial fat—the rendering and purification being necessary preliminary steps, the herb addition being at proper temperature, and the final product being stored in sealed containers preventing rancidity.
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