Herbal Mixtures

Herbal Mixtures, Species, a pharmaceutical form consisting of a mixture of dried plant parts, sometimes with the addition of chemical medicinal substances. The substances comprising the mixtures must be properly ground; whole flowers of chamomile, lavender, yarrow, rose, elder, and cowslip are included in mixtures. All other substances, according to the Pharmacopoeia, must be ground so that they pass through sieves with openings of a specific size. Small fruits, berries, and seeds, as well as leathery leaves (such as rosemary or bearberry), are converted into coarse powder. Mixing of herbal mixtures is done with a wooden or metal spatula on parchment, paper, or in mortars. On a large (factory) scale, it is performed in rotating drums. A somewhat more complex form are mixtures with chemical processing. As a pharmaceutical form, herbal mixtures suffer from great imprecision in dosing. To ensure as precise dosing as possible, mixtures are sometimes prescribed for dispensing in several separate doses; in this case, the pharmacy must prepare each dose separately, weighing and mixing the ingredients separately for each dose. Herbal mixtures also represent a very imperfect form in another respect: they are an unfinished form; from them, infusions, decoctions, etc. are to be prepared. The advantage of this form, thanks to which it has not disappeared from the medicinal catalog, lies in its cheapness, simplicity of preparation, and great durability compared to ready-made aqueous extracts. Dispensing of herbal mixtures is done in cardboard boxes or paper bags; aromatic mixtures or mixtures containing hygroscopic impurities are dispensed in glass jars with stoppers. Mixtures are also prepared by factories in compressed form. Compressed mixtures are sometimes dispensed in measured doses; for example, the form of A. Weber (see illustration), created after the model of brick teas: a large plate is divided by grooves into pieces, for example, 5 g or 10 g; each piece is intended for one dose or one brewing. Herbal mixtures are prescribed mainly for internal use: they are brewed like tea, or boiled like coffee or soup. Mixtures containing mucilaginous and aromatic plants are also often prescribed for compresses or gargles. Examples of mixtures with chemical processing can be: Saint-Germain laxative mixture (Spec. laxantes St.-Germain) and anti-asthma mixture. Saint-Germain mixture (Austrian Pharmacopoeia prescription): Rx.: Senna leaves without resin 50.0; Linden flowers 25.0; Crushed fennel fruit 15.0; Potassium sodium tartrate 6.0; Tartaric acid 4.0. Dill is moistened with a solution of Rochelle salt, dried, then moistened with a solution of tartaric acid and dried again. The dill is found to be permeated with a mass of small shiny crystals of cream of tartar; in this form it is added to the mixture of linden flowers and senna leaves deprived of resin (by extraction with strong alcohol). Anti-asthma mixture: Rx.: Stramonium leaves 628.0; Lobelia herb 120.0; Potassium nitrate 250.0; Lavender oil 2.0. Previously dried stramonium leaves and lobelia herb (mixture) are impregnated with a solution of saltpeter and dried again, and the ready mixture is evenly sprayed with lavender oil from a sprayer; for better distribution, a solution of the oil in ether or strong alcohol is used. Dieterich (E. Dieterieh) in his manual advises impregnating only the stramonium leaves, and to add to the potassium nitrate 7.5% more hygroscopic sodium nitrate in order to keep the leaves moist and thus prevent them from drying out to brittleness and burning too quickly. In addition, he recommends adding 3 parts of potash per 1,000 parts of the mixture to preserve the green color of the leaves. To the chemical processing can also be attributed the operation itself of extracting resinous substances with strong alcohol, for example, from senna leaves, bearberry, etc., in order to remove ballast substances and facilitate the action of water in preparing extracts. Mixtures intended for seasonings and consisting of aromatic plants are called spices in the food industry. Their composition includes marjoram, red pepper, garlic, onion, caraway, anise, coriander, dill, mustard, etc. In recent decades, with the growth of pharmaceutical technology, herbal mixtures are increasingly falling out of use.

Compressed mixture, divided into doses.

and. Oberhard.