There are many types of herbal medicine known throughout the world. In fact, the commonly known types of herbal medicine are not the only ones that exist. There are others that many people do not consider as types of herbal medicine but also deal with herbs and other medicinal sources. Other uniquely belong to one culture while other sare known worldwide.
 
Common Types Of Herbal Medicine
 
Herbal teas are common and easy to use of all the types of herbal medicine. This is because it can be bought in almost any store and you can even make some for yourself. Herbal tea can be made using several leaves, stems or flowers of different herbal plants. Each of the herbal plants integrated into the tea have different functions. Before you try to make your own herbal tea, get to know the function of the plants that you intend to use because you might mix plants with conflicting functions.
 
Another of the many types of herbal medicine is the herbal tincture. This is a liquid solution where the herbal plant is steeped in alcohol to extract the herbal effects of the plants. The amount of concentration of the alcohol used will affect the efficacy of the tincture.
 
Other types of herbal medicine are fluid and solid extracts. Fluid herbal extracts are usually stronger than tinctures but very similar to them. They are concentrated forms of tinctures. Solid extracts on the other hand are similar to tinctures and liquid extracts but they may have been dried up to preserve the potency. You can usually dissolve the dried up herb to get more from it.
 
Poultices are the types of herbal medicine that needs to be made fresh for every use. These are made of herb that is ground to a paste or mixed with water. Poultices are usually used for injuries such as bruises, sprains, scrapes etc. Herbal ointments are types of herbal medicine that are in a semi solid state. The herbal medicines is extracted into the oils (usually vegetable oils) and steeped there for some time before they are then made into ointments.
 
Essential oils are extracts from herbal plants of their volatile liquid and aromatic compounds. These types of herbal medicines are usually used for aromatherapy and for fragrances of soaps, perfumes, shampoos, lotion and other products. Herbal supplements are types of herbal medicine that are packaged as capsules or tablets by companies to meet the demand for herbs in an easy to get form. They are available in many stores and their potency is somewhat called into question.