With so many ways to stay natural in your approach to healing, it is sometimes difficult to determine which approach to choose. I’ve noticed some confusion surrounding these commonly used methods: homeopathy, essential oils, and herbal tinctures. Here’s a simple overview of the three, in hopes of guiding you in your healing!
Homeopathy
The concept of homeopathic medicine is fascinating. It was developed by the German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann over 200 years ago. The word ‘homeopathy’ is derived from two Greek words: ‘Homeos’, which means similar, and ‘Pathos’, which means suffering. This speaks to his ‘like cures like’ approach. But what does that mean? In simple terms, homeopathy treats the ailment with plants, minerals and other natural substances that cause a similar reaction in the body as the ailment itself. This may seem confusing. Why would someone prescribe a drug that apparently causes the same symptom you are trying to relieve? The belief is that our body can, naturally and instinctively, respond appropriately, healing itself with very little help from external sources. When your body detects the substance, its natural defenses kick in and the immune system does what it was designed to do.
Homeopathic medicines are very diluted and contain very little of the plants, minerals or other natural substances used. Some remedies are even diluted more than a thousand times. For example, the starting process for the plant sources might start with a dilution of one part plant and nine parts alcohol and water. Then all the potencies are made here, where they are further diluted to a specific amount and then shaken (or shaken) vigorously. The end product is intended to contain enough of a plant source for your body to sense the substance, but not enough to cause an overreaction or toxicity. The dilutions are indicated by a number followed by a letter such as X, C or M. The number refers to the dilution and the letter refers to the ratio.
Homeopathic remedies may not be for everyone, but they have been used safely throughout history and can be a staple for people with plant allergies or pharmaceutical sensitivities. Be sure to consult a doctor when deciding which homeopathic remedy and dilution level is right for you.
Essential oils
Some have argued that essential oils fall into the category of ‘phytopharmaceuticals’. This is because essential oils do not consist of whole plant substances. They are highly concentrated and made by extracting the volatile oils from the plants, leaving the rest of the components behind. Volatile oils are active, fragrant compounds that evaporate easily. These oils are not called ‘volatile’ for nothing. They are very strong, should not be ingested and must be properly diluted when applied to the skin. Some essential oils can even break down skin tissue on contact.
When used properly, essential oils play a wonderful role in aromatherapy, massage therapy and skin care. Essential oils are made by distillation. The process evaporates and collects the volatile oils to create a new liquid containing only that component. The amount of plant material needed to make the oil varies. In most cases, enormous amounts of plants are needed to make oils. On average, it takes 10,000 pounds of rose petals to make 1 pound of essential oil, and 250 pounds of lavender to make 1 pound of essential oil; although some require much less. Because of these large quantities, sustainable sourcing of the plants is even more important, which is also something to keep in mind when choosing a brand. It is important to remember that some oils come in different ‘grades’. These qualities depend on the duration of distillation and play an important role in its quality. When sourced responsibly and used safely, essential oils can be a great plant-based ally.
Liquid herbal tinctures
Herbal tinctures are very simple. They are liquid extracts of medicinal plants, usually extracted in alcohol, but they can also be extracted in vegetable glycerin and water. These liquids act as solvents that extract the active ingredients from plants. Vegetable glycerin and water can be used as a substitute for those who avoid alcohol. You can also use this substitute to dilute alcohol-based tinctures, which will reduce the alcohol content in the final product.
The origins of herbal tinctures are largely disputed, but it is agreed that they have been around for an extremely long time. Some believe that herbal tinctures were invented between 200 and 300 AD. were created by Egyptian alchemists because distillation is one of the seven stages of alchemy. Alchemy is a healing method that became popular in the Victorian era and continues to be used even in the era of modern medicine.
Herbal tinctures are whole plant remedies that retain all the active plant ingredients. These compounds have an incredible ability to communicate with our bodies to promote the healing and health of our various body systems. Tinctures are also a sustainable approach to natural medicine, as long as the herbs and plants are ethically sourced. To give an idea of how much plant material one would normally use at different scales, standard tinctures typically have a weight to volume ratio of 1:5. When preparing a tincture at home, many use the “folklore method,” which is more intuitive and less specific. You would fill a mason jar 1/3 – 1/2 full with medicinal herbs, roots or berries, then pour 80-100 alcohol over the plant(s) and leave for at least 3 weeks. The plant material is sieved and voila, you have yourself an herbal tincture. The tincture can consist of a single plant or a composition of several plants that work together to address a specific condition. Some herbs can be used in a ‘tonic’ way, meaning they work best when used regularly and for long periods of time. Other herbs have a powerful presence, act quickly, and work best in acute situations and for shorter periods of time. Herbal tinctures are safe for many, but if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, be sure to consult a doctor before starting any herbal remedy.
Rebecca Younger strives to spark interest in herbs within her community through education and by integrating herbs into everyday life in exciting and innovative ways. She studied herbal medicine at Herbalism Roots in Denver. She is a Customer Journey Representative at WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
Read further