How to Grind Chinese Herbs
After buying Chinese herbs from a Chinese medical practitioner, herb shop or online, it is best to know the specific instructions on how to prepare the herbs for ingestion. Grinding is a popular way for herbs to be consumed. After ground the herbs can be set in topical tinctures or medicinal teas.
Not many people own a working mortar and pestle. The question of how to grind herbs and what to grind them with are on the lips of some people who have just come from a Chinese herbal pharmacy with medicinal herbs in tow.
- Get the tools necessary to do the job. A mortar and pestle is a great addition to a natural pharmacy. It is a great addition to people who have herbs that need to be ground. A muddler like bartenders use can also be useful in herbal medicine.
- Place a small amount of the needed herb in the bottom of the bowl or mortar. Pick up the pestle and lightly, gently but with some pressure press down on the herbs in the mortar.
- Using a rocking, up and down motion of the pestle and the herbs will be ground in no time. Certain herbs do take longer than others because of their natural hardness.
- Grind away. There is an option for an electric grinder instead of a mortar and pestle. Most people want a quick result and that's where the grinder comes in. There are specific grinders for herbs, most are electrical, and most have marks that indicate minimum and maximum levels.
- Pressing buttons is a specialty. Put the lid on the grinder, making sure it is secure and press the grind button. This process should not take very long at all. Once the herbs are ground follow the instructions the Chinese medical practitioner prescribed.
Feel healthy in a few days or a few weeks; this depends on the ailment. Herbs are wonderful things, they can make allergies run amok or make a sick person feel better relatively quickly.