Preparations for Internal Herbal Remedies

Around the world there are many different ways in which herbs can be taken to treat physical and emotional complaints. In China, the most common forms of herbal medicine are decoctions, granules, syrups, pills and injections.  Of those, pills have become the most popular in modern Western practices, since many Western patients are not comfortable cooking smelly herbs in their homes and drinking decoctions and granules that taste bitter. Western herbalists use these same methods as well, but also infusions, tinctures and capsules. I would like to take a few posts to describe each of these methods, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.