Of the forty or so different vitamins, the human body absolutely requires sufficient intake of about a dozen them in or order to prevent such debilitating conditions as Beriberi, Pellagra, Scurvy, and Rickets and it requires the intake of certain minerals to enable the body to continue functioning properly. Fortunately, Vitamin D (prevents rickets) is synthesized whenever the skin is exposed to sunlight and Vitamin K (contracts muscles) can be synthesized by bacteria in the digestive tract. But, the other essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A (necessary for eye health) must be obtained from the foods we eat.

• Beriberi is caused by a lack of thiamine (aka vitamin B1)
• Pellagra is caused by a lack of niacin (aka vitamin B3)
• Scurvy is caused by a lack of ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C)
• Rickets are caused by a lack of calciferol (aka vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (aka vitamin D3)

Vitamins -

Vitamins are chemical compounds that are essential to the proper functioning of the human body and preventing illness and there are about a dozen which are essential to good health in humans.

Minerals -

Minerals are elements such as iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iodine that the human body requires to function properly. For instance, calcium is needed to create, repair, and strengthen bones and teeth, potassium is needed to contract muscles (including your heart), and iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones for healthy growth and development.

Plant Preparations -

It should be noted that the plants used for herbal medicine are generally most potent when in flower and thus, it is best to harvest them at this time. Also, it should be noted that herbal plants are generally prepared in one of five different ways consisting of expressed juices, poultices, splinting agents, infusions, and decoctions. However, it should also be noted that often times, different parts of a plant are used for different purposes. For instance, infusions are usually made from leaves or flowers and decoctions are usually made from the roots. In addition, you should always prepare poultices, infusions, and decoctions from raw materials immediately prior to use and never keep them for more than 12 hours.

• Expressed Juices are used to treat abrasions, cuts, and rashes and are made by crushing the stems and leaves of a plant to a juicy pulp and then applying only the juice to a wound and the pulp to the infected area around the wound.
• Poultices are used to treat bruises, sprains, rashes, abrasions, and cuts, and are made by crushing the entire plant into a juicy pulp and then forming it into a flat pad which is then placed directly on the injury and covered with a large leaf or two and then bound into place.
• Tisanes (aka infusions) are used to treat ailments internally and are made by crushing the leaves and/or flowers into a juicy pulp (or by drying and grinding them) and then pouring approximately 20 ounces of boiling water over approximately one ounce of herb to create a tisane which is then consumed orally once it has cooled.
• Tinctures (aka decoctions) are used to treat ailments internally and are made by cutting, scraping, and crushing the roots of a plant into a pulp (or by drying and grinding them) and then pouring approximately 1 1/2 pints of boiling water over approximately two ounces of herb to create a tisane which is then boiled until the volume has been reduced by one third.
• Extracts are merely tinctures that have been reduced to either an essential oil or a dried powder and thus, they are a more concentrated form than tinctures.
• Salves are used to treat bruises, sprains, rashes, abrasions, and cuts, and are made by mixing either the dried and powdered form of the plant or the extract with a combination of heated olive oil, beeswax, and vitamin E (acts as a preservative) to create a remedy for topical use.
• Drying & Powdering - Because most herbal remedies are best prepared immediately prior to use, a common way to store and transport them is to harvest them when they are in bloom (when they are the most potent) and then dry and crush them into a powder which can later be used to create poultices, tisanes, tinctures, extracts, and salves.
• Splinting Agents are plants that contains so much starch that they will form a hard shell when properly prepared and allowed to dry. Thus, they are also used to hold poultices in place as well as to help immobilize splinted limbs. They are made by crushing, boiling, and reducing the roots of the Comfrey plant or Solomon's Seal and the resultant is allowed to cool and then packed around the injury.

Note:

• Drying & Powdering - Because most herbal remedies are best prepared immediately prior to use, a common way to store and transport them is to harvest them when they are in bloom (when they are the most potent) and then dry and crush them into a powder which can later be used to create poultices, tisanes, tinctures, extracts, and salves.
• Splinting Agents are plants that contains so much starch that they will form a hard shell when properly prepared and allowed to dry. Thus, they are also used to hold poultices in place as well as to help immobilize splinted limbs. They are made by crushing, boiling, and reducing the roots of the Comfrey plant or Solomon's Seal and the resultant is allowed to cool and then packed around the injury.