Phytochemicals with potential or established biological activity have been identified. However, since a single plant contains widely diverse phytochemicals, the effects of using a whole plant as medicine are uncertain

BASIC HERBAL PREPARATIONS
Most people are familiar with herbal teas, but there are actually a number of different ways that herbs are used medicinally, both topically and internally. Not every preparation is used with every herb, but here’s a basic overview of some of the choices available:

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  Fresh/Dried Herbs – Many herbs can be eaten right out in the garden, or added as dried herbs to simmering cook pots in the kitchen.
  
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  Tea – Made by adding herbs to hot water, tea is one of the simplest herbal preparations. 
  
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  Infusion – A strong tea made with either hot or cold water. They’re often allowed to steep for many hours. 
  
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  Decoction – A very strong herbal tea made by reducing the “tea” often by as much as half its original volume to concentrate the medicinal constituents.
  
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  Poultice – Herbs are finely chopped or pulverized completely before topical application. For example, a poultice of plantain herb is often applied for bug bites and stings.
  
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  Tincture – An alcohol extract of fresh or dried herbal material. Most are single extraction tinctures made with just alcohol, but some use a double extraction method that first extracts with alcohol and then water to pull out both the water and alcohol soluble constituents. A reishi mushroom tincture is an example of a double extraction tincture.
  
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  Infused Oil – Dried herbs are infused into a carrier oil, which can be used internally or externally. It’s most commonly applied topically or used to make herbal soaps, salves, or cosmetics.
  
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  Herbal Salve -Made by adding wax to a herbal infused oil to create a semi-solid herbal preparation that’s easy to apply topically.
  
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  Herbal Soap – Often made with herbal infused oil, a herbal soap is used topically to disinfect or treat skin conditions. They can also be made with herbal infusions, fresh herbs, or herbal tinctures like homemade witch hazel extract. This yarrow and witch hazel herbal soap is a good example.
  
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  Infused Vinegar – Vinegar is used to preserve herbal material, and extract its medicinal components similar to a tincture.
  
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  Oxymel – A mixture of herbs, vinegar, and honey that’s taken like a syrup. They’re generally a bit more pleasant than straight herbal vinegar.
  
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