Table 2

Common forms of preparation methods for remedies made of medicinal plants.

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.

Uprety et al. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2012 8:7   doi:10.1186/1746-4269-8-7