Generally, five to fifteen drops of a tincture is diluted in a cup of hot water, or orange juice, and drunk. Drops of tinctures can also be used in baths or in ointments. Another method of taking herbs that I'm sure you've seen is capsules. Filling them may be a little tedious, but it's very simple. You put the herbs in a shallow bowl, pop the capsule apart, and slide the halves of the capsule through the herb until they are filled, then pop them back together.
Ointments are a way of applying herbal remedies so that they can be absorbed through the skin.
A quick and simple ointment can be made by taking a couple of tablespoonfuls of an herb and gently simmering it in seven ounces of melted Vaseline for ten minutes while stirring. You're right, Vaseline is not organic, but it is easy to work with. As an alternative, you can heat oil, add the herbs, and add beeswax which helps to give it a thicker consistency when cooled. Add the herbal preparation. At this point, watch it carefully to avoid overheating it.