Medicinal plants: STEVIA
Scientific name: Stevia rebaudiana Also know as: Candy leaf, herb of Paraguay, honey leaf, sugar leaf, sweet herb, sweetleaf
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Diy Stevia Extract
Harvest fresh leaves and dry them thoroughly in the sun or a home dehydrator. Finely crush enough of the dried leaves to make 1/4 cup. Add the dried, crushed stevia leaf for 1 cup warm water. Stir, cover, and steep for 24 hours. Strain the mixture through fine cheesecloth and refigerate the liquid. Use to taste as a sugar substitute in drinks.
Medicinal plant: CALENDULA
Scientific name: Calendula officinalis Also know as: Pot marigold Fuente: commons.wikimedia.org
Calendula compress
Step 2 teasoons of Calendula flowers in a cup of hot water. Strain, cool, and thenuse the liquid to saturated a cloth to make a compress. Alternatively, the moistened flower material itself can be used as a poultice. Wrapped in gauze to contain the moisture, the poultice can be placed on the skin for 15 minutes. Either a poultice or a compress can be used several times daily, giving calendula's antiinflammatory and antibacterial effect a chance to take effect.
Tinctures
Tinctures are herbal extracts made with alcohol, vegetabe glycerin, or vinegar instead of water. Tinctures are especially useful for extracting resins and oils from plant material, which water doesn't do very well. The liquid used toextract the herbs is knon asthe menstruum. The herbs being tinctures are known as the mark. Prepare the herbs by chopping or grinding them. Put them in a glass jar and cover with the menstruum of your choice, addin enough that there is an extra inch of liquid above the plant material. Store ina cool, fry location. Shake daily. After a month, strain out the herbs, first with a strainer and then through a clean, undyed cloth. Pour the tincture into dark glass bottles, and label and date them. Compost the spent plant material. Store the bottles away from heat and light Alcohol is an ideal menstruum for extracting fats, resins, waxes, and most alkaloids. It is an excellent preservative and is quicky assimilated. It must be at least 50 proof to hav...
