Table 2 Common forms of preparation methods for remedies made of medicinal plants.
From: Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: review and perspectives
Preparation method | Description |
|---|---|
Paste | Fresh plant parts are crushed to obtain a paste used externally or internally. |
Poultice | Plant parts are crushed to obtain a soft moist mass generally used externally to treat swellings, pain, inflamed or infected body parts. |
Juice | Obtained by squeezing or crushing plant parts and filtering through cloth. Sometimes requires addition of freshwater or other liquid for dilution. |
Powder | Obtained by crushing dried plant parts. |
Chewing | Fresh plant parts are chewed without prior transformation. |
Infusion | Plant parts are plunged in either hot or cold water for several minutes. If hot water is used infusion is taken as a tea. More than one plant species can be used in conjunction. |
Decoction | Plant parts are boiled in water for several minutes and the extract is used. More than one plant species can be used in conjunction. |