Herbal preparations External use
Wash
How herbs have been prepared at home for generations.
A herbal wash is an infusion or decoction used on the outside of the body instead of being drunk: poured over the skin, dabbed on with a cloth, or added to a bath. It is the gentlest external preparation and the one to start with. Washes are used for skin that is irritated, itchy or slow to settle, for rinsing minor grazes, and as a soak for tired feet. A wash is also the basis of a herbal hair rinse: a strong infusion of rosemary, nettle, chamomile or calendula poured through the hair after washing.
