Other dosage forms

Gel capsules or tablets
Gel capsules are filled with the powder of the given plant. This powder is made with the plant or parts of the dried plant. Excipients may be added to this plant powder, which allows attaining a given weight per gel capsule or correctly filling the gel capsule while respecting the expected quantities of active ingredient per gel capsule.
Tablets are also made with plant powder or dry extract and excipients. The difference is the production method, since to make a tablet, the ingredients are processed in presses. Tablets are often consolidated by coating agents that keep them from disintegrating. As with gel capsules, tablet production conforms to precise specifications, which permits knowing the exact dosage of active ingredient.

Syrups
This is a somewhat archaic mode of preservation, since it consists of making a decoction or infusion of the given plant and adding sugar in order to preserve it. The part of the plant used will therefore depend on the basic preparation: leaves or blossoms for a syrup from an infusion and bark or roots for a syrup from a decoction. Syrups have the problem of the quality of sugar used (glucose/cane sugar/raw cane sugar syrups, etc.) and the quantity of sugar (1 kg of sugar per 1 kg of plant). However, it allows phytotherapy to be used by children and adolescents.

Essential oils
Essential oil is a substance contained within plant cells. It is reconstituted by distillation of the active parts of the plant that contain this aromatic essence (bark, root, seeds, etc.). Essential oil needs a preservative base. Most often, neutral vegetable oil is used. Other extraction techniques exist, but they all end up by preserving the aromatic essence in an oil. Essential oils are used internally (oral) and/or externally. They are very powerful concentrations of active ingredients that must be used carefully. In fact, some essential oils should not be taken internally, although they are effective for external use. Other essential oils cannot be used in the pure form. Therefore, it is important to consult a qualified health practitioner or to refer to a recognized usage guide to optimize the use of essential oils. Essential oils can be used in diffusion, in massage and friction, in the bath, in cooking, etc.