Infused oils, traditionally referred to in Latin as oleum infusum , are preparations made by steeping plant material in a fatty medium in order to extract and preserve the medicinal and functional qualities of the plant. Unlike tinctures, which rely on alcohol, infused oils use lipid solvents and are therefore primarily intended for external use , including massage, skin treatment, and the preparation of ointments, balms, and salves. This method of extraction has been practic

Fumigation is the practice of burning plant materials so that their aromatic and volatile substances are released into the air. This method of preparation relies on smoke as a medium, allowing the properties of herbs, resins, woods, and barks to act upon air, space, and breath  rather than through ingestion or direct contact. Fumigations were used historically for purification, preservation of health, treatment of illness, and ritual observance , and they appear consistently

Water-based herbal preparations form the foundation of traditional herbal medicine. By using water as a solvent, these methods extract the soluble and readily available properties of plants in a form that is accessible, digestible, and adaptable  to daily use. Such preparations have been employed for healing, nourishment, and ritual observance across cultures and historical periods. Because water was universally available and easily heated, decoctions and infusions became the