Glycerite: Herbs extracted into glycerin. An average dose is a quarter teaspoon or half a dropperful. Dilute in water, tea or juice or it may irritate the mouth.

Advantages: Quick & easy to carry, makes instant tea, sweet-tasting, easy method for taking strong-tasting herbs, does not contain alcohol, long shelf life, good base for syrup.

Possible Disadvantage: Not as potent as tincture, relatively expensive, small selection.

Pills (Tablets & Capsules): Powdered herbs enclosed in gelatin or vegetable-based capsules or pressed into tables with sticky binders. The typical capsule is "00" size, roughtly comparable to half a cup of tea or one-sixth of an ounce of herb. Consult the product label for dosage.

Advantages: Fast, convenient, easy to carry, wide selection, no unpleasant taste, no alcohol.

Possible disadvantages: More expensive than tea, can't tatse bitters (which play an important role in healing), uneven quality, short storage life.

Syrup: Sweetened and thickened tea, tincture or glycerin. An average dose is one tablespoon.

Advantages: Sweet taste, easy to take, transportable, makes strong-tasting herbs palatable, no alcohol, coats sore throat, lasts a year.

Possible Disadvantages: Herbs can be over diluted; added sweeteners can pose problems for those who suffer from diabetes, hypoglycemia, and other sugar problems; potential to ferment; very small selection.

Tea: Herbs extracted into water; sold chopped in bulk or in tea bags. Typical dose is one teaspoon of herb for every cup of water, one cup of tea three or four times a day.

Advantages: Inexpensive, relaxing to drink, very wide selection.

Possible Disadvantages: Strong taste with some herbs, does not keep long, does not extract all properties of some herbs, bulky to carry.

Tincture: (also called herbal extract): Herbs extracted into alcohol and water. An average does is about a quarter teaspoon, or half a dropperful. This equals about one cup of tea. Certain tinctures are used externally, mostly as skin antiseptics (the alcohol itself is antiseptic).

Advantages: Concentrated medicine, quick and easy to take even with strong-tasting herbs, makes instant tea, easily carried, pulls out most medicinal properties, quick effect on body, can take larger doses, keeps for years, good antiseptic base, wide selection.

Vinegar: Herbs extracted into vinegar. Dosages vary with application, but one or two teaspoons is typical.

Advantages: Ideal against fungal infections and as a gargle, easy to carry, preferable for some strong-tasting herbs, no alcohol, lasts for years.