HERBAL BASICS

Let's go over some basics in herbal uses.

Drying plants and herbs

• Shake and wipe down

• Lay on a cheese sheet or rack in a well ventilated area until dry

• Bundle the plants and hang upside down in a well ventilated window

• Chop up the plant and scatter across a covered baking sheet, place in the oven at 100* Fahrenheit with the door open for an hour or two

Teas

Infusions- leaves or flowers are steeped in boiling hot temperature of water

• Add the herbs needed in a pot, jar, or tea filter

• Poor the boiling hot water over the herbs, and let steep for 30-45 minutes

• Strain & drink or store for later

*For Moon or Sun infusion place herbs and water in a jar and leave in the moon or night, mixing it and praying to it daily.

Decoctions- denser herbal matter that is boiled in water over a stove top for a period of time.

• Place 4-6 tablespoons of herbs in a saucepan

• Add 1 quart of cold water

• Bring to a simmer, stir and place lid on top

• Allow simmer for 25-45 minutes, stirring occasionally

• Strain & drink or store for later

* Both options you can leave the herbs in the water in a jar overnight, for more potency.

Syrups

Basically a cooked down tea mixed with a sweetener.

• 2 ounces of herbs mixed with 1 quart water decoction or infusion

• Simmer until liquid is about half of its original volume

• Strain herbs, measure liquid and place mixture back in the pot

• For every pint add 1 cup of honey, flavor syrup, or sugar.

• On low flame warm mixture and stir until it has thickened and mixed into a syrup

• Remove from heat and allow to cool, you can add actual flavor shots or liquor preservative here if needed

• Place syrup in jars, label, and store in fridge

Oils

When infusing or creating oils there are multiple methods you can use. Oils can be used internally and externally medicinally.

Double Boiler Method

• Chop Herbs and put in the to half of double boiler

• Cover Herbs with a 1-2 inch thick layer of cooking grade oil or fat (OLIVE OIL is oil of choice for medicinal oils and salves)

• Slowly Bring to a simmer for 30- 60 minutes

• Strain Herbs and let oil cool

• Place in jars and LABEL

Sun and Moon Infusion

• Place herbs in a wide mouthed glass jar with 1-2 inch thick of oil coverage

• Cover tightly

• Place the jar in a sunny spot for 2 weeks, Shaking and praying daily

• Strain herbs and bottle oil in a jar, label and store

Liniments

Liquids made the same as tinctures but applied externally on the body using a compress, a hot or cold application of liquid to the body.

• Hot compress draws the blood to skin and helps circulation

• Cool compress reduces inflammation and soothes burns

• Fomentation which is alternating between hot and cool compresses

Salves

Are created by melting beeswax and adding a liquid extract usually an oil, then allowing it to cool, and used externally on the body.

• Add oil and beeswax to pot

-1 cup of oil for every ¼ cup beeswax

• Heat until mixed well

• Remove from heat and immediately place in jar

• Store in a cool dark place for several months

Tinctures

Used internally for medicinal properties.

• Chop herbs finely and place in a jar

• Cover herbs in Alcohol, Vinegar, or Glycerin about 2-3 inches thick

• Cover tightly and place jar in a warm sunny spot for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily

• Strain herbs and pour liquid into jar and store in a cool dark area.

Basic measure: ¼ Teaspoon- 1 dropper- 1 ml

½ Teaspoon- 2 ½ droppers- 2.5 ml

1 Teaspoon- 5 droppers- 5 ml

Herbal Pills

Exactly what it says, herbal pills, take herbs orally for the herbs natural medicinal properties to reach your bloodstream and afflicted parts of the body quicker.

• Place powdered herbs in a bowl and mix honey or syrup and water until it creates a sticky paste, you can also add oils that you created for more potency.

• Next add a sweet powder, like cocoa or carob powder, and knead the mixture until it is as smooth as dough

• Break the dough apart and roll into small pill sized balls

• Dry in a dehydrator or on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees with the door open until dried

Poultices

External application of moist herbs mixed with clay or another absorbent material on the skin

• Mash or grate fresh veggies or herbs and mix with enough boiling water to make a paste or pulp like mixture

• Add powder or clay and mix together until it becomes a thicker paste

• Apply directly to the wound, bite, or gland

Garden Insecticide

Make an extract of either garlic,onion or hot pepper, take 3 tablespoons of the vegetable matter and chop it or purée it, add 2 cups of water to the mixture and allow it to steep overnight or for a full day. Strain it, then dilute the mixture with water till it reaches 1 liter. Pour in spray bottle and test on plant to see if it’s alright to use, then spray on plants/garden when safe to use.

Baths

Put herb mixture in a cloth and tie the cloth to the faucet while the tub is filling up. Once the tub is full, add oils.

• Warm water for soothing & Cold water for stimulating

Soaps

Mix your oil extracts with a base of fats that allow dirt to raise from a surface

Herbal Incense

Add all the herbs and ground up resin and UP TO 3 drops of oil into a jar and shake it up. using self light charcoal rounds upon a heatproof censor with a layer of sand between them, light the round then add the herbal mixture on top and allow to burn

Storage

Short term herbal storage freeze plant or herb in a bag,

For long term herbal storage chop up plants and herbs freeze them individually then place in bag and freeze in the freezer, for cooking you can freeze the amount in ice cube trays then pop em in the bag.

Oils look out for condensation and smells, those are your indicators of spoilage, otherwise they last for about a year.

Syrups placed in a tightly sealed jar can stay refrigerated for about a month.

Salves and Ointments stored in a cool dark place can last for several months.

Tinctures and Liniments made with vinegar last 1-2 years, made with Glycerin lasts 2-3 years, and made with alcohol lasts many years if not indefinitely if stored in a cool dark area.

Poultices are made freshly but can be stored refrigerated for several hours/days.

Herbal Pills can be stored indefinitely encapsulated.