The Preparation

To get the maximum benefit from herbal remedies, the herbs must be properly prepared. Always determine which herbs should be used for the condition you are treating before beginning the preparation. Pregnant women should always make sure the herbs they are using are safe to take during pregnancy. Please read "Beware" before continuing.

Equipment - When making remedies remember it is best to use cooking utensils made from glass, enamel, pottery, or stainless steel. Use wooden or stainless steel spatulas, plastic, stainless steel or nylon sieves and tea strainers. Do not use aluminum or cast iron pots or pans since herbs absorb these elements, aluminum is potentially toxic. Do not store herbals in plastic for long periods because the plastic will absorb the chemicals from many herbs. Use marble slabs for rolling and cutting they are easier to clean than wood. Glass is best for storage, preferably dark glass ( amber, green or cobalt) but clear may be used if kept away from light. All equipment should be sterilized and kept clean. Always label your bottles and jars with the name of the contents and the date it was prepared and expiration.

A standard infusion is prepared by adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb (or 2 to 4 teaspoons of fresh herb) to a cup of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes before straining. If the herb is left too long, the infusion will become bitter. It's best to use a ceramic pot with a lid. The standard dosage is one cup three times a day. It may be taken hot or cold, but infusions prepared for colds and flu should be taken hot. Never prepare the infusion more than 24 hours in advance.

This is usually the method of choice for bark, roots and seeds. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of cold water. Bring the mixture gently to a boil. Keeping covered, simmer for about 10 minutes.

A tincture is an alcoholic extraction of herbs. Alcohol dissolves the active constituents out of the plant matter and acts as a preservative, allowing the tincture to retain its effectiveness for up to 2 years. Any part of the plant may be used.

For me, the easiest way to strain the herbs out of the tincture is to tightly tie a double layer of clean cheesecloth around the top of the jar and allow the tincture to drain through into another immaculately clean container. Afterwards, remove cheesecloth, and squeeze vodka out of the remaining herbs. (The herbs that are left make excellent compost).

You may remove some of the tincture to a dark dropper jar, and place the larger container, preferably of dark glass, covered, keep tightly closed and away from light and excessive heat. Date and label each bottle.

Dosages for children should be in the percentage ration of the child's weight to 150 pounds, as a general rule. In other words, if a child is 50 pounds, he should receive no more than 1/3 the adult dose.

Use only 1 herb per tincture. However, it is all right to add several drops of different herbal tinctures to 1/2 cup of water when taking as medicine. I would suggest, however, that the total number of drops combined, stay within the maximum limit suggested. Remember...caution first. Pregnant women and people with chronic diseases must follow instructions of their professional health advisors.

Prepare two cups of an infusion or decoction of the required herb. Strain and add 1¾ cup brown sugar or a honey and sugar mixture. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a clean glass bottle and seal. Label and store in the refrigerator.

Oil infusions are for external use only. They can be prepared by hot or cold methods. Always sterilize the jars in boiling hot water. Be certain the jars are completely dry before using as any residual water can cause mold to form, ruining the oil (placing jars in a warm oven works nicely to dry). Clean harvested herbs and discard any diseased or soiled plant parts. Fresh herbs are the preferred choice, however dried herbs, seeds and roots may be used.

For the hot method, fill a jar with fresh whole or macerated herb and cover with olive, sunflower or almond oil. Place the jar up to the neck in a saucepan of water and bring to a medium temperature. Simmer for up to three hours. Strain through filter paper or cloth into a dark glass or repeat this process until desired strength is achieved. Always label and date your jars.

This is a good technique to use if you have access to fresh herbs from your garden or wild herbs you can gather regularly. Store-bought flowers are unfortunately treated with chemical preservatives to retard wilting. You can use fresh store bought herbs, simply make sure that they are in peak condition, have a strong scent and vibrant color.

For the cold method fill a jar with your choice of fresh macerated or whole plant material, pour in enough oil to cover the herbs completely. Use a wooden skewer to free any air bubbles, adding more oil if this causes the herbs to settle and the fluid level to go down. Herbs that are partially exposed may mold, ruining your oil. Tightly cap the jar, label it with name of the contents and the starting date, and keep it in a cool, dark place for three days.

Oil likes to seep and will escape even a well-capped jar, place the jar on a plate to protect the surface it rests on. Shake the bottle each day to ensure that the oil touches all the herbs, if some herbs come above the surface of the oil, poke them back down with a chopstick. On the third day strain the oil, refill the jar with new herbs and pour the same oil back into the jar. Follow the directions as above. Repeat this process several times until the oil is heavily saturated with the fragrance. When the oil has reached this stage, strain it a final time through a paper filter or a piece of fine muslin. Store it in a tightly capped dark glass bottle or jar. You can add a few drops of tincture of Benzoin or Myrrh (3-4 drops per ounce of oil) to act as a preservative, or the contents of one or two 1000 i.u. capsules of Vitamin E which has natural antioxidant properties. This is helpful especially in warm climates where heat may turn oil rancid quickly.

Massage oils are made from a few drops of essential oil diluted in a carrier oil - sweet almond or wheat germ is best, but sunflower or other vegetable oil may be used. Infused oils are also used as carriers. Once diluted, essential oils soon deteriorate, so it is best to mix small amounts frequently.

Standard quantity in general, use no more than 10% concentration of essential oils. Reduce this to a maximum of 5% for children, the elderly, or those with sensitive skins. Mix oils together into an airtight, dark glass bottle. Shake to mix well.

A cream is a blend of oil, beeswax and water. You can make your own from the recipe below, or purchase an unscented, water based cream. After adding the herb to the purchased cream, simmer in the top of a double boiler for 30 minutes. Strain before it cools, pour into jar and label.

To make your own cream, melt two ounces beeswax in a double boiler. Add one cup olive or other vegetable oil and blend. Add two ounces herb. For lighter cream, add a little water, mixing well. Simmer 20 minutes, mixing well. Add a drop of tincture of Benzoin as a preservative. Strain through a clean cheesecloth in to sterilized jars.

Herbal Salve is an oil-based Herbal, which is applied to the skin for Cosmetic, medical, or other therapeutic reasons. The basic concept is that the oil becomes infused with the specific healing properties of the herb. Usually, the oil that is used also has some therapeutic properties for healing and/or soothing.

If you are using herbs that you have grown yourself, and they are still in your garden, hose them down the day before to clean them of any earth particles and harvest them the next morning, after the dew has dried. Most herbalists harvest the herbs with great respect and thanksgiving. You may also use herbs that you yourself have previously dried or that you've purchased from a reliable source. Make sure to use only those herbs that have not been exposed to toxins such as pesticides or traffic fumes.

Sterilized jars and caps for steeping, waxed paper, immaculate mortar and pestle or bowl and wooden mashing spoon used just for making salves, pre-pasted labels, a sterilized funnel, a sterilized pitcher or pyrex measuring cup with a spout, cooking cheese cloth, cooking string, and small sterilized jars (dry) for storing the salve, indelible marker.

There are a number of formulas for figuring the ration of herb to oil, but most herbalists find the easiest way is to make sure that the herbs are fully saturated with the oil and then covered above the top of the herbs with another inch or two, to begin with. The herbs tend to float around and take up all the space the oil provides. It is recommended using 2 ounces dried herbs or 4 ounces fresh herbs to about 1 cup of Carrier Oil, for those of you who are more comfortable with exact measurements.

Place your herbs in the mortar or bowl, and press/grind with the pestle or wooden spoon to break the plant's oil sacs. Then add some of the carrier oil a little at a time and continue pressing, so your oil starts infusing the plant's cells.

Cover the jar with waxed paper and secure cap tightly. (I find the waxed paper prevents mildes from forming in the cap, which is sometimes a problem, especially in humid weather, oils like to seep and this prevents them from getting on the surface of the shelf or table the jar is sitting upon.)

Now each herbalist has a favorite place for allowing the herbs to steep. Some place the jar on a sunny windowsill, and that works fine. Some place it in a dark place, and that works fine. Turn the jar upside down and back again, gently, every day. Some say a blessing over it every day. I allow the herbs to steep for four weeks from the starting date.

Keep the water in the bottom saucepan just warm enough to heat the oil to about 96 to 100 degrees C. and allow the oil-herb mixture to steep for 3-4 hours, always watching the oil carefully to make sure it doesn't overheat.

This is the best way to strain the salve. If you know another effective way, please let us know, because most methods turn out to be very messy! Once the herbal oil mix is finished steeping, place it in a sterilized jar if it is not already in one, tightly tie, with cooking string, a folded piece of cooking cheesecloth over the top of the jar, and strain the liquid through the cloth, turning the jar back and forth as necessary, into the clean pitcher or spouted Pyrex Measuring Cup.

Note: The oil-saturated herbs that remain can be wrapped in small muslin bags and refrigerated in plastic bags for use as compresses, poultices, or as bathing herbs! It is a bit messy but has wonderful soothing properties, you will be glad you saved them when you reach into the refrigerator and rub a cool, soothing herbal oil bag on an irritation or inflammation.

In the pitcher, you have your salve! To keep the oil from going rancid, add Wheatgerm Oil to the salve, in the ration of 10% Wheatgerm to the amount of salve oil, or squeeze about ½ ounce of Vitamin E oil from capsules into ½ cup of salve as a preservative. At this point, you might choose to add 10 percent of other oils that add to the quality of your salve, such as jojoba oil or lanolin for extra soothing and healing ability.

If you want to turn your salve into a non-liquid ointment, add melted beeswax until it is of the consistency you desire. Always be careful when heating beeswax or any oil, as they are very flammable. You might also choose to add a small amount of Essential Oils for a pleasant aroma.

Pour your finished product into the waiting bottles (liquid) or jars (solid) in small amounts. Dark-colored glass bottles help preserve the medicinal capacity of the oil for the longest time without spoilage. Make sure you clearly label every bottle with all the ingredients, the various uses of the salve, the date prepared, any cautions required, and with the words “For External Use Only!”

Certain herbs go so well together, that I combine them and use them together in making a salve. It is equally acceptable to make the salves with one herb in each, and mix as needed. It is also possible, after a salve is made, to add a purchased Herb Tincture to the Salve for the added medicinal benefit of that herb. You'll get the feel of it once you start. Salve Recipes

Comfrey with Calendula (if there is no pus/infection present...see the pages on Comfrey) for soothing, regenerating cell growth for healing, nourishing the skin. Contains the wonderful skin-healer allantoin. Good for bruises, sprains, chronic arthritis.

St. John's Wort is an excellent addition to the Calendula and Comfrey to relieve nerve pain from sciatica, neuraligia, shingles, etc. Can be made with the Calendula and Comfrey, or added upon completion, as a tincture. (some say might cause photosensitivity so avoid if going out in sun...but I've never had a problem with it.

Rosemary & Peppermint is invigorating and increases circulation and relieves aches and pains. Good on the scalp for reducing hair loss and thought to help improve memory by encouraging circulation in the head. Also good for reducing headache pain.

Note: Adding a drop or two of Tea Tree Oil (external use only) increases a salve's ability to fight infection and fungus and to reduce inflammation. Adding a few grains of dried cayenne powder (chili powder) increases the salves natural medical ability and may help to reduce types of joint and/or muscle discomfort. Both of these, however, must not be used near sensitive tissues or membranes.

These are best made in advance so they will be ready when needed. Blend equal quantities of powdered herbs with cocoa butter. Place the mixture into bullet-shaped molds (if you have them) and refrigerate. You may hand roll and cut if you do not have a mold, make sure hands and boards (marble) are are sanitized. Place in a clean container, label and refrigerate.

Soak a cloth in a hot decoction of herb, squeeze most of the liquid out and apply the hot cloth to the affected area. Once it has cooled, repeat the process. Tinctures of other herbs and essential oils can be added to the liquid.

Poultices or Plasters are effective for boils, abscesses, chest infections and sprains. Mix chopped herb or powdered seeds with boiling water to make a pulp. Place the pulp in a piece of cloth and apply to the affected area while hot. It should be replaced when cool. A thin layer of calendula cream will protect the skin and prevent the poultice from sticking.

Steam inhalations can relieve conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis, or asthma by helping clear the respiratory system of excess mucus. Well diluted infusions or essential oils are used, with active plant ingredients that are antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory. After treatment, stay in a warm room for 30 minutes to give the airways time to readjust.

Standard quantities are to add 2 cups of a standard infusion, 5-10 drops of good quality essential oil, or 2 teaspoons of a tincture to a basin of steaming hot water. Drape a towel over the head and basin to contain the steam, then inhale steadily for 10 minutes. Breathe normally, rather than too deeply. Do this once or twice daily.

Mix herb and spice bits with resin and or clay: Form into a ball for smelling unto. Let dry. May be encased in a wooden or metal case. Or, take a piece of fruit, especially citrus, stud it with cloves, and douse it with a powder of mixed, ground herbs.

A bouquet of herbs and flowers, originally used to avoid breathing noxious odors and pestilent humors. Hence the children's rhyme "Ring Around the Rosy" was a poem referring to the Bubonic Plague or Black Death, "A Pocketful of Posy's" kept the stench of rotting corpses from reaching delicate noses.

To relieve aching feet, ease sprains, or stimulate the circulation the traditional mustard bath, using a heaping teaspoon of powdered mustard to a basin of hot water is still an effective treatment today.

To help reduce bruising and bring some relief for badly sprained ankles put the feet in a basin of hot water containing a large handful of rosemary sprigs for 3-5 minutes and then plunge into a basin of iced water for 1-2 minutes. Repeat as many times as you can stand it.

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