Phytotherapy, also known as herbal medicine, is a practice that is part of the so-called unconventional medicines. Unlike conventional medicine, it does not use chemistry to heal, but rather the natural properties that nature offers us. Medicinal plants are very numerous and can be found everywhere, even in one's own garden, and their therapeutic virtues treat a wide range of pathologies.
In order to carry out a phytotherapeutic treatment, the medicinal plant should not be used in its entirety. In fact, it is only certain parts of the plants that possess the desired benefits. The leaves, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, stem, bulb or buds are therefore separated from the rest to become the basis of a natural treatment.
Les différentes préparations existantes en phytothérapie
Phytotherapy can be used on everyone and administered in many different ways.
As a decoction: boil the roots, bark or seeds in water for ten minutes.
En macérât In oily or glycerine macerate: leave the plants to macerate in a cold liquid (water, oil or glycerine) for about a month.
En teinture mèreIn mother tincture, alcohol: dissolve the fresh plant in alcohol and then filter the solution to preserve only the liquid.
In dyeing: this is the same process as the mother tincture but starting from a dried plant. The properties are therefore less important.
In paste extract: starting from an alcohol or a tincture and allowing the alcohol to evaporate. Paste extracts are used for the preparation of ointments.
In dry extract: this is the same process as for the pasty extract but the process continues until the extract is completely dry. After the extract is ground, the powder obtained is used to make tablets.
In syrup: dissolve the plants in water and then add sugar or honey. Finally, filter the solution and add a little water to obtain the desired mass and volume.
En baume ou crème As a balm or cream: beeswax is heated and a large quantity of oily macerate and essential oils are added.
All of these methods of manufacturing herbal products make it possible to choose a preparation more or less concentrated in active ingredients according to the needs of the user.
Crèmes, onguents et baumes : quelles sont les différences ?
Contrary to what one might think, these three words do not designate the same remedy, even though they are often used as synonyms. Indeed, it is the composition of these three forms that will vary and differentiate them.
Une crème est une pâte composée de cire d’abeille, d’eau ou d’hydrolat (eau aromatique) et de macérât huileux. La présence d’eau dans sa composition la rend moins stable et elle se conserve donc moins longtemps qu’un baume ou un onguent.
An ointment is a combination of three ingredients: vegetable oil, beeswax and a plant. It is greasier, keeps longer and contains a higher concentration of active ingredients than a cream.
A balm is an ointment to which essential oils or aromatic extracts are added. These additional ingredients add further medicinal properties to the preparation. It also has a stronger aromatic odour than an ointment.
Les utilisations des baumes, onguents et crèmes
Balms, creams and ointments are used in everyday life for their therapeutic virtues on the skin to heal it (against bruises, abrasions or burns) or to protect it (from the cold for example).
Due to their very oily nature, ointments and balms do not penetrate the skin as creams do and they deliver the properties of plants on the surface. Ointments are therefore useful for a protective role for the skin.
Creams, on the other hand, contain extra water and are therefore both greasy and moist. Creams have the advantage of penetrating deep down to deliver their therapeutic virtues. They therefore play both a protective and nourishing role for the skin.
Thanks to their relatively simple composition, balms, creams and ointments are easily made at home.