Guidelines for The Use of Herbal Medicines in Family Health Care

GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF HERBAL MEDICINES IN FAMILY HEALTH CARE

5. Method

• Boil over low fire.


• Use clean utensils.


• For remedies that need boiling, keep decoction until half of the original fluid remains,
  e.g. 2 glasses become 1 glass.

6. Weight and measurement

Weight and measurement that are known in the household and community level, such as:

 Glass  1 glass = 200 cc

 Cup  Tea cup, 1 cup = 100 cc

 Tablespoon  1 tablespoon = 15 cc

 Teaspoon  1 teaspoon = 5 cc

 Handful  1 handful

 Finger length  1 finger length = the length of forefinger.

 Thumb  as great as the thumb.

 Leave  measuring equal to each leave such as papaya leave,
Erythrina subrubrans.

 Frond  1 frond of aloe has a length of over 10 cm.

 Egg size  usually one should mention the size of a duck egg,
chicken egg or dove egg. If it states the size of an egg,
it means the size of a chicken egg.

 Sufficient amount  according to need, e.g. add sugar, lump sugar, water,
etc.

Important Notes!

1. Select the correct herbs according to the recipe.


2. Before preparing the ingredients, assess their composition in the recipe.


3. Use the right measurement according to the directions. Do not use more or less.


4. In boiling the decoction, use low heat. Use appropriate utensils for boiling using earthen
   ware preferably.


5. Refer to health centre if there is no improvement after the recipe has been consumed as
   prescribed. Remember to always apply the correct dosage.


6. THE HERBAL INGREDIENTS SHOULD HAVE GOOD QUALITY, AND RIPE/MATURE ENOUGH.
   DO NOT USE WHEN ROTTEN, MOLDED OR WITH FUNGUS, WRINKLED OR HAVING SIGNS OF
   INSECTS BITES.