Using Medicinal Plants & Harvesting Herbs
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Using Medicinal Plants: Before we get into the many helpful, healing herbs out there, a good place to start with using herbs at home is by learning their universal uses first. There are a number of methods that apply to most, if not all, plants for using them in healing at home—and this helps as a first step before approaching each individual healing plant.
Unlike modern medicine’s pills, cough syrups or creams, herbs are perishable and natural. You must think of them more like healing foods that could possibly go bad, in a way.
But unlike most foods, you’ll want to hold on to them longer—maximizing their storage capacity while being able to use them as quickly, easily, and conveniently as possible, when you need them.
Some herbs you’ll want to purchase at your natural foods or health store, which makes storage easier (most herbal products are retailed for easier storage—such as supplements). But what about when you want to harvest herbs from the wild, in the case of “wildcrafting”—or use them from your garden or backyard?
Herbalists over millennial have perfected these techniques: whether that be the harvesting, storing, or preparation of herbs in order to make the most of their application and perishability. In the following sections, we’ll find those techniques and explore the basics of how to harness nature’s plant miracles.
Harvesting Herbs: What kind of plant are you wishing to harvest? Depending on the plant you’re targeting, it has various parts of value that you will want to take and use at home. Each part is harvested differently, and thus must be approached differently.
Maybe it’s the stems, or just the leaves of a plant, with reported healing abilities that you want to use.
You could be the buds or flowers—or perhaps you’re wanting to employ a plant’s root for a specific issue.
Specific parts require specific harvesting techniques. Here’s the “How-to” on the general approach to each plant part—but if you are wanting to get into detail, I would recommend looking up the unique techniques specific to each medicinal herb in the upcoming sections!
Harvesting Herbs (From Top to Bottom):
Flowers and Buds – In most cases, you can delicately remove flowers, buds, and petals with your fingers. Pinch the “neck” or stem of the flower, where it attaches to its branch, between the thumb and forefinger; gently remove and place in a breathable container, such as a basket, before storage. The best time to harvest is in spring—but certain plants can vary.
If flower or bud stems are too tough, try using a clean pair of scissors or garden snippers.
Berries or Fruits – Like with flowers, fruits can be removed gently with your fingers. Using a canvas bag or metal container (like a bowl) for holding works well, and take special care if fruits “stain” easily (such as Elderberries). Best time to harvest: late summer or fall, though it varies with a plant.
Similar to flowers and buds, use clean scissors/garden snippers of removal of fruits/berries is too difficult.
Stems or Leaves (“Aerial Parts”) – On tender-stemmed plants (such as mint or chamomile, e.g.) stems and leaves can be gently removed with a pinch and snap of the fingers. For tougher plants, use a knife, scissors, or snippers—bundle and tie together in bunches to prepare for hanging and drying, with a rubber band or hair tie. Best to harvest in spring or summer.
With hands or tools, you may also “clear” an entire plant in the case of annual (short-lived) plants or those you don’t want to tend to year after year. Simply cut it at the stem clear to the root, right above where it enters into the ground—but in most cases, don’t expect the plant to grow back!
Twigs and Bark – Some herbs have healing effects found in the “inner” bark, such as on shrubs or trees. Using a specialized knife or clippers, the outermost twigs can be harvested on a living plant, which should hold the same healing properties as the bark. Best to harvest in spring, when the sap flows.
Be careful harvesting actual bark or certain amounts of twigs from living plants, if you don’t want to see them become diseased or die (especially endangered/threatened plants). It is considered more ecological to take bark from trees or shrubs that have just fallen and are expected to be deceased.
Roots – With a spade, shovel or gloves, remove the root from the ground of the desired herb you wish to use. For some plants, you can also dig down and only remove part of the root to keep the plant alive (such as with Echinacea and other endangered plants). Best to harvest in late fall or winter.
Whole Plant – If there are many plants in the area, they are not endangered, and you plan to use all of its parts for medicine at home—use some sturdy gloves and pull it out by the root. Stubborn plant? Use the aid of a shovel or spade if a plant’s roots are too strong for pulling out by hand alone!
Drying Herbs
So you’ve harvested your plants. Now you want to hang onto your plants for long-term use and storage. What’s next?
Many herbalists dry their herbs before using them at all. Especially if you are wanting to store them in “raw” form, drying is almost always necessary. Storing herbs “fresh” requires several special preparation methods—you can do that too, but we’ll get to that later!
As with harvesting, each plant part you’ll want to dry a little differently. Certain parts need more time than others. For each separate part, here’s how.
Drying Herbs (From Top to Bottom):
Flowers and Buds – Spread these evenly on an open basket or screen in one layer, with the edges of flowers barely touching (never piling up). Leave to dry for just a few days to a week in an area that is dark and dry, getting adequate air circulation—flowers mold especially easily, so this is essential!
Berries or Fruits – Dry these similar to flowers or buds, laying them out in a single layer. Leave to dry somewhere with little moisture and some air circulation, such as near a fan, for a few days to a week. Some fruits can be sun-dried, others should not be. If you have a food dehydrator, it works excellently!
Stems or Leaves – After bundling these after harvest, hang bundles upside down on a line (clothesline, e.g.) in a dry area for about a week. Running a fan on low can help. Wrap bundles beforehand in something like a paper bag—this prevents excess wilting, loss of healing properties due to sun damage, and the accumulation of dust or other debris in leaves while drying.
Barks or Twigs – Spread evenly, only one layer thick, on a screen or basket with edges of barks twigs only barely touching. Dry in a dark place with no moisture. Barks and twigs take much longer to dry, sometimes 2 weeks to a month. Running a fan on low can help.
Roots – Using a cutting board and sharp knife beforehand, cut and slice all roots open “length-wise” the entire length of the root to assist with drying. Whole roots are more susceptible to rot or slow drying, if not cut. If you so desire, roots can be “diced and cubed.” Drying takes 2 weeks to a month—store in a dark, dry place until then, running a fan on low can assist with drying times.
Storing Herbs: After the drying process, dried herb parts need to be moved into some sort of storage. That way, they stay dry—or they don’t get so dry and brittle that you simply can’t use them anymore! In that same vein, you also want to prevent your already dry herbs from getting wet again, and possibly experiencing some mold or mildew problems.
You’ll also want to store your herbs in such a way that they’re easy to access, ready to use conveniently, whenever you want.
The following are tried-and-true herbal storing methods. Whether you have dried leaves, stems, roots or twigs, most herbs can simply be broken up by hand and stored in the following containers.
Want great-looking tea blends, herb mixes or powders? Try using a mortar and pestle to grind up your herbs before placing them into your desired container. It’s a lot of work, but makes your dried stores look great!
Also, try sifting leaves and stems through a screen or strainer for a fine-looking tea, or even a powder you can add or mix into foods and soups.
Glass Jars – This is the most popular among herbalists. Dried plant parts of most kids do very well in glass containers (save for flowers and berries), with a lid to screw on and protect from moisture or dust.
Opt for dark colored glass, like amber, green or blue—these also help protect your dried herbs from light damage, which sap away the healing compounds!
Stainless Steel Metal Containers – These work exceptionally well too, and automatically protect plants from sun damage. Berries and some flowers do a little better stored in metal containers than in glass—where they are prone to mold.
Paper Bags – Herb parts that are the most susceptible to mold or mildew fare the best in paper bags, as paper helps naturally wick away damaging moisture. Brown paper bags further assist in protecting from damaging light. Certain herb leaves, flowers, and berries store much better in here than anywhere else.
Plastic Baggies – The use of plastic can, of course, be controversial. If it’s the only thing you have access to, it works pretty well. If you are concerned about harmful plastic substances leeching into your herbs—such as BPA’s and xenoestrogens—then opt for something different, or try as often as possible to store plastic bags of herbs away from sunlight. Kept and stored well, you can hang on to your dried herbs and tea blends for 1-2 years. If herbs are looking brown and dull, with no fresh scent, it’s time to chuck them out and harvest more.
Herbal Preparations: Harvesting, drying, and storing your herbs is really only the first step on a multi-faceted path of using herbs. Of course, the above methods are only the practical part—now it’s time to get into using them for yourself, to boost your health!
Teas, Infusions, Tisanes, and Compresses – Ever made your very own herbal tea before? How about to promote a little herbal healing in your life? Chances are you already have. Maybe without even really knowing it! Once you have built up your very own stores of dried herbs, you’ll have a wide assortment of loose-leaf teas to choose from. It helps to buy your own tools for making loose leaf tea at home with your own dried herbs, with the help of tea balls, tea strainers or even “infusers.”
“Wait—what are ‘tisanes’ and ‘compresses?’” Yes, we’re getting into some more complex herbalist terminology here. But realize that a “tisane” and a “compress,” even an “infusion,” are all basically just tears. Simply think of them as teas you use in different ways!
Tea – Take 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. of your desired dried herb, and steep in boiled water for 5 minutes. Sip or make multiple cups for mild ailments and symptoms.
Infusion – Take 1 to 5 tbsps. of your desired dried herb, and steep in boiled water for 15-20 minutes. If you so like, you can actually boil the herb for 15-20 minutes in the water itself—before straining off and drinking. Infusions are great for slightly more acute ailments and symptoms.
Tisane – This can also be called a “wash.” Using the exact same methods for making an infusion, use the infusion itself as a topical wash for hair, eyes, and skin. Great for cosmetic uses, or to rinse out the eyes.
Compress – Another topical use of teas and infusions, compresses involve taking a clean cloth, soaking it in the infusion, and applying it to maladies like burns, boils, cuts, bruises, or skin afflictions (such as eczema).
For using teas and infusions for various ailments, typically drink 2-3 cups/per day from about 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp. of the dried plant with most plants—unless otherwise noted with certain plants in the chapters ahead, for safety’s sake.
Oils and Salves – This is where herbal preparations become more elaborate and complicated. But these are also excellent beginning preparations to learn if you are just starting out—and very fun to use!Oils – Take your chosen dried herb, and place it in a jar. Cover the dried herb with a food-safe oil of your choice: safflower, sunflower, and avocado are popular choices (organic and cold pressed or expeller pressed are considered best for the body!)
Place on a windowsill with some exposure to sunlight, and let herbal properties infuse into the oil for about a week. Once done, strain herb matter from oil completely, and store in a bottled/lidded glass jar out of the sunshine.
Or: place oil and herb matter in a small saucepan, and heat up on very low heat until oil changes color (as it absorbs herbs qualities). Only opt for an oil with a high smoke point if using this method. Once infused, let cool, then strain herb matter into bottled/lidded glass jar for storage.
You can also use fresh herbs to infuse into your oil, not just dried. However, if using fresh herbs, avoid consuming/using these oils internally!
With dried herb-infused oils, you can use sprinkled on food, or add it to salad dressings for healing effects. For any infused oil, you can take a teaspoon or two and rub onto (closed) skin for pains, aches, moisturizing, or other benefits!
How long can I store or keep my oil? Kept in a dark, cool place away from sunlight—and made correctly—oils can be fresh at least 1 year. Throw them out if they go rancid—if they suddenly take on a nutty or plastic smell, they’ve gone bad and shouldn’t be used.
Sales – The next step up from oils, salves are a lot easier to make than they might sound. All it involves is heating up an herbal oil, adding beeswax or a vegetable-based wax (such as candelilla or carnauba, for example), and letting that harden into a “balm” you pour out into separate jars.
Simply make your desired oil – when complete, heat oil up in a small saucepan (or the top of a double-burner, if you have one) on low, and only use herbal oils that have a high smoke point.
Add anywhere from 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. of all-natural, clean wax to the oil (I prefer to use a cruelty-free vegetable-based wax). Watch wax melt, stir if you like. Take note that for salves made with candelilla oil, you won’t need to add nearly as much wax.
“Balmy” or “Oily” Salve? Dip in a knife, stick, or small spoon into the heated oil and place in the freezer for a minute. Take it out, and you can gauge the consistency of what the sale will be like when it’s cooled.
Too Oily? Just add more wax. Too Balmy? Is your salve more like a candlestick? You might then have to add more oil—or next time, add less wax and work up to the consistency you want.
Set up several clean, open containers on the side that will hold your salves. Glass or stainless steel work best—and make sure each container has a lid!
Pour salve (with wax all melted and stirred in) into each jar. Let each jar sit and cool in a place where they cannot be bumped, or stuff can fall into and ruin the salve.
Once oil and wax are solidified, you have jars of salve! Apply it to your skin to moisturize, or to healing wounds or burns once they have closed. Not happy with the consistency? Try adding a different amount of wax next time.
As with oils, well-made salves remain unperishable for at least a year.
Tinctures and Vinegar – In this realm, you’re moving up to the level of more professional, practical herbalists! For both dried and fresh herbs alike, tinctures and vinegar can be excellent for long-term storage—lasting much longer than dried herbs, infusions, salves or oils.
Each of these preparations either incorporates alcohol (tinctures) or vinegar, which prolong preservation…a very old trick learned and passed down among herbalists. This helps the herbs you harvested last longer, and in some ways, makes their use a bit more fast and convenient.
Vinegar – Similar to making an infused oil, fill a clean jar with your choice dry or fresh herb. Cover your herb completely with vinegar—white or apple cider vinegar both work well, then lid the jar.
Store in a dark, cool place for about a week. The refrigerator works quite well. Feel free to shake sporadically, which helps break up the herb matter and impart its qualities into the vinegar better.
If you are using a metal lid, it is wise to add a “liner” of wax paper before screwing it on when infusing vinegar. This is because vinegar slowly eats away at metal over time!
Once “steeped,” strain out the herbal matter and store in the separate glass container in your fridge.
Again—if you’re capping this container with something metal, make sure to line it so the vinegar doesn’t eat the metal away! Use this vinegar in topical applications, like a tincture, or even as a salad dressing.
Tinctures – Like with infusing vinegar, instead, one pours alcohol over their selected herbs. This helps you save your herbs for an extended period of time—some say the herbs stay good up to 10 years. Sometimes even forever!
It is best to select a high-proof alcohol for your tincture, to absorb as many plant constituents as possible. Brandy or Vodka is popular, although “Everclear” is considered the very best. Higher-proof, the better!
Store in a dark, cool place for at least 2 weeks to 2 months. Shake once in a while, like with herbal vinegar. Once time is up, strain out your tincture. Bottle it in smaller containers—or you can even get “dropped” bottles so you can administer your tincture in small doses or drops. Using Your Tincture – For most of the herbs discussed in this book, doses for any illness is 2-3 droppers per day, until issues recede—or follow the specific guidance given for each herb in the next few chapters.
Purchasing Your Herbs: Admittedly, purchasing herbs become necessary in some cases. The adventurous herbalist or first-timer may get more delight out of drying herbs and making their own preparations at home—but it is simply better and more called for sometimes to get to your natural food store, grocer, herbalist or apothecary to see what’s out there. Why, exactly? There are a number of reasons why you should stick to buying certain herbs or herbal preparations:
It is best to take them in supplement or essential oil form. Some teas or tinctures of specific herbs are incredibly bitter, so you have to figure out a pleasant way to get them to you—that’s what supplements are for.
In some instances too, capsuled herbs—usually containing a small bit of the freeze-dried leaves, herbs, roots, or flowers—works better than other preparations (as in the case of Nettle supplements for allergies, or Goldenseal for digestive issues).
Some herbs come commonly, or only in essential oil form (Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are good examples). If you want to work with these herbs, you will have to use them as essential oils—but even further, learn the proper ways of using essential oils for healing.The herbs are rare, endangered, or threatened, and you should not harvest them—but instead seek them out from an ethical, sustainable grower or harvester.
Some good examples include Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Black Cohosh. It’s best you get to the grocer and buy dried or powdered herb, supplements, or tinctures from reputable buyers who can trustingly say they are not damaging the plant’s population permanently.
Buying Essential Oils – Perhaps you are dealing with more of a topical skin issue, such as Athlete’s Foot or a minor wound. Maybe you would like to soothe a headache, or simply have a calming aroma in your home.
In that case, purchasing essential oils could be a perfect fit. Some words of caution, though:
Ensure to only use high-quality essential oils, NOT toxic ‘fragrance’ oils. These cheap imitations are worse than ineffective. They actually fill your body and brain with neurotoxins, making you feel headachy, stressed and anxious.
Always look for the words ‘100% pure essential oil’ on the label. Choose glass bottles that are dark blue, green or brown to make sure they will last. As a general rule for skin application, every 1 drop of essential oil should be diluted with at least 5ml of carrier oil or other fluid (with the exception of a few essential oils that can be used ‘neat’ or direct onto the skin)
Some common carrier oil types that are affordable and easy to find include sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil. Do not ingest essential oils and keep out of reach of children and pets. Ensure essential oils do not come into contact with your eyes and open wounds and use with caution if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have any pre-existing medical conditions.
If you have any sensitivities or concerns about using essential oils, ensure you try a patch test first.
Buying Herbal Supplements – There are many companies, brands, and stores out there that sell herbal supplements for health, wellness, and acute issues. My best advice to anyone shopping the supplement-path: always purchase supplements from companies with an expansive, good reputation, ethical harvesting, and growing practices, and organically-grown or foraged plants.What’s the true advantage of getting herbs into your life in supplement form? Well, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons.
Pros: You don’t have to taste them. It’s true: some very powerful herbs you might really want in your life, such as Goldenseal and Reishi, taste awful to most. Fortunately, supplements give you the chance to not always pass them up.
You don’t have to look for or harvest them. Reputable supplement companies do the job for you, especially with difficult-to-find, even rare and endangered plants. Unless you love the outdoors, this could skip you a trip traipsing through the woods.
Some herbs you might not be able to find in your country or area at all. Turmeric, Ginger, and Ashwagandha are enviable herbs, but they grow only in Asia profusely. What if you don’t live in Asia? Supplement companies help some of these plants become readily available to you.
Supplements retain the freshness and healing qualities of certain plants better than any other preparation. Stinging Nettle is a good example, along with Cayenne, Echinacea, or Evening Primrose (in supplement “oil” form). The preparations you make at home just couldn’t do nearly as much, if you notice—so opt for the supplement route.
Cons: Some supplement companies are untrustworthy. Make sure you stick to widely reputable, trusted supplement companies—recent studies into supplements found that many were filled with “adulterants,” or herbs and matter that definitely did not match the advertiser’s label.
Want to make sure your herbs work? Make your own stuff, pure and simple. You don’t form a relationship with nature, the plant, or have a connection with your medicine. This might not be a concern to you at all—and you simply want a more natural, convenient form of healing. But if you really want to feel more connected to your food, nutrition and healing—much like you might want to get more acquainted with your food through gardening, etc.—supplements will not provide that so much.
For using supplements at home, always follow the directions on the product label.
Creams and Ointments – Similar in scope to supplements and essential oils, some powerful medicinal herbs work best only in commercially made, fairly available creams, gels or ointments.
You could try to make these same creams and ointments in salve or oil form, but they may just not be as effective. Cayenne creams, more specifically called capsaicin creams, are one good example—they are formulated and crafted specifically so they can be used in a safe, easy, and highly beneficial way.
As we explore specific healing herbs more deeply, some will be noted that they only come in commercial ointments or creams. If you are the more advanced herbalist—maybe you could foray into the world of home-made ointment or cream making. But for the beginner, see if a store-bought cream or ointment satisfies you enough—there’s always time for inspiration later!
For using commercial creams and ointments at home, always follow the directions and product label.
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Using Medicinal Plants: Before we get into the many helpful, healing herbs out there, a good place to start with using herbs at home is by learning their universal uses first. There are a number of methods that apply to most, if not all, plants for using them in healing at home—and this helps as a first step before approaching each individual healing plant.
Unlike modern medicine’s pills, cough syrups or creams, herbs are perishable and natural. You must think of them more like healing foods that could possibly go bad, in a way.
But unlike most foods, you’ll want to hold on to them longer—maximizing their storage capacity while being able to use them as quickly, easily, and conveniently as possible, when you need them.
Some herbs you’ll want to purchase at your natural foods or health store, which makes storage easier (most herbal products are retailed for easier storage—such as supplements). But what about when you want to harvest herbs from the wild, in the case of “wildcrafting”—or use them from your garden or backyard?
Herbalists over millennial have perfected these techniques: whether that be the harvesting, storing, or preparation of herbs in order to make the most of their application and perishability. In the following sections, we’ll find those techniques and explore the basics of how to harness nature’s plant miracles.
Harvesting Herbs: What kind of plant are you wishing to harvest? Depending on the plant you’re targeting, it has various parts of value that you will want to take and use at home. Each part is harvested differently, and thus must be approached differently.
Maybe it’s the stems, or just the leaves of a plant, with reported healing abilities that you want to use.
You could be the buds or flowers—or perhaps you’re wanting to employ a plant’s root for a specific issue.
Specific parts require specific harvesting techniques. Here’s the “How-to” on the general approach to each plant part—but if you are wanting to get into detail, I would recommend looking up the unique techniques specific to each medicinal herb in the upcoming sections!
Harvesting Herbs (From Top to Bottom):
Flowers and Buds – In most cases, you can delicately remove flowers, buds, and petals with your fingers. Pinch the “neck” or stem of the flower, where it attaches to its branch, between the thumb and forefinger; gently remove and place in a breathable container, such as a basket, before storage. The best time to harvest is in spring—but certain plants can vary.
If flower or bud stems are too tough, try using a clean pair of scissors or garden snippers.
Berries or Fruits – Like with flowers, fruits can be removed gently with your fingers. Using a canvas bag or metal container (like a bowl) for holding works well, and take special care if fruits “stain” easily (such as Elderberries). Best time to harvest: late summer or fall, though it varies with a plant.
Similar to flowers and buds, use clean scissors/garden snippers of removal of fruits/berries is too difficult.
Stems or Leaves (“Aerial Parts”) – On tender-stemmed plants (such as mint or chamomile, e.g.) stems and leaves can be gently removed with a pinch and snap of the fingers. For tougher plants, use a knife, scissors, or snippers—bundle and tie together in bunches to prepare for hanging and drying, with a rubber band or hair tie. Best to harvest in spring or summer.
With hands or tools, you may also “clear” an entire plant in the case of annual (short-lived) plants or those you don’t want to tend to year after year. Simply cut it at the stem clear to the root, right above where it enters into the ground—but in most cases, don’t expect the plant to grow back!
Twigs and Bark – Some herbs have healing effects found in the “inner” bark, such as on shrubs or trees. Using a specialized knife or clippers, the outermost twigs can be harvested on a living plant, which should hold the same healing properties as the bark. Best to harvest in spring, when the sap flows.
Be careful harvesting actual bark or certain amounts of twigs from living plants, if you don’t want to see them become diseased or die (especially endangered/threatened plants). It is considered more ecological to take bark from trees or shrubs that have just fallen and are expected to be deceased.
Roots – With a spade, shovel or gloves, remove the root from the ground of the desired herb you wish to use. For some plants, you can also dig down and only remove part of the root to keep the plant alive (such as with Echinacea and other endangered plants). Best to harvest in late fall or winter.
Whole Plant – If there are many plants in the area, they are not endangered, and you plan to use all of its parts for medicine at home—use some sturdy gloves and pull it out by the root. Stubborn plant? Use the aid of a shovel or spade if a plant’s roots are too strong for pulling out by hand alone!
Drying Herbs
So you’ve harvested your plants. Now you want to hang onto your plants for long-term use and storage. What’s next?
Many herbalists dry their herbs before using them at all. Especially if you are wanting to store them in “raw” form, drying is almost always necessary. Storing herbs “fresh” requires several special preparation methods—you can do that too, but we’ll get to that later!
As with harvesting, each plant part you’ll want to dry a little differently. Certain parts need more time than others. For each separate part, here’s how.
Drying Herbs (From Top to Bottom):
Flowers and Buds – Spread these evenly on an open basket or screen in one layer, with the edges of flowers barely touching (never piling up). Leave to dry for just a few days to a week in an area that is dark and dry, getting adequate air circulation—flowers mold especially easily, so this is essential!
Berries or Fruits – Dry these similar to flowers or buds, laying them out in a single layer. Leave to dry somewhere with little moisture and some air circulation, such as near a fan, for a few days to a week. Some fruits can be sun-dried, others should not be. If you have a food dehydrator, it works excellently!
Stems or Leaves – After bundling these after harvest, hang bundles upside down on a line (clothesline, e.g.) in a dry area for about a week. Running a fan on low can help. Wrap bundles beforehand in something like a paper bag—this prevents excess wilting, loss of healing properties due to sun damage, and the accumulation of dust or other debris in leaves while drying.
Barks or Twigs – Spread evenly, only one layer thick, on a screen or basket with edges of barks twigs only barely touching. Dry in a dark place with no moisture. Barks and twigs take much longer to dry, sometimes 2 weeks to a month. Running a fan on low can help.
Roots – Using a cutting board and sharp knife beforehand, cut and slice all roots open “length-wise” the entire length of the root to assist with drying. Whole roots are more susceptible to rot or slow drying, if not cut. If you so desire, roots can be “diced and cubed.” Drying takes 2 weeks to a month—store in a dark, dry place until then, running a fan on low can assist with drying times.
Storing Herbs: After the drying process, dried herb parts need to be moved into some sort of storage. That way, they stay dry—or they don’t get so dry and brittle that you simply can’t use them anymore! In that same vein, you also want to prevent your already dry herbs from getting wet again, and possibly experiencing some mold or mildew problems.
You’ll also want to store your herbs in such a way that they’re easy to access, ready to use conveniently, whenever you want.
The following are tried-and-true herbal storing methods. Whether you have dried leaves, stems, roots or twigs, most herbs can simply be broken up by hand and stored in the following containers.
Want great-looking tea blends, herb mixes or powders? Try using a mortar and pestle to grind up your herbs before placing them into your desired container. It’s a lot of work, but makes your dried stores look great!
Also, try sifting leaves and stems through a screen or strainer for a fine-looking tea, or even a powder you can add or mix into foods and soups.
Glass Jars – This is the most popular among herbalists. Dried plant parts of most kids do very well in glass containers (save for flowers and berries), with a lid to screw on and protect from moisture or dust.
Opt for dark colored glass, like amber, green or blue—these also help protect your dried herbs from light damage, which sap away the healing compounds!
Stainless Steel Metal Containers – These work exceptionally well too, and automatically protect plants from sun damage. Berries and some flowers do a little better stored in metal containers than in glass—where they are prone to mold.
Paper Bags – Herb parts that are the most susceptible to mold or mildew fare the best in paper bags, as paper helps naturally wick away damaging moisture. Brown paper bags further assist in protecting from damaging light. Certain herb leaves, flowers, and berries store much better in here than anywhere else.
Plastic Baggies – The use of plastic can, of course, be controversial. If it’s the only thing you have access to, it works pretty well. If you are concerned about harmful plastic substances leeching into your herbs—such as BPA’s and xenoestrogens—then opt for something different, or try as often as possible to store plastic bags of herbs away from sunlight. Kept and stored well, you can hang on to your dried herbs and tea blends for 1-2 years. If herbs are looking brown and dull, with no fresh scent, it’s time to chuck them out and harvest more.
Herbal Preparations: Harvesting, drying, and storing your herbs is really only the first step on a multi-faceted path of using herbs. Of course, the above methods are only the practical part—now it’s time to get into using them for yourself, to boost your health!
Teas, Infusions, Tisanes, and Compresses – Ever made your very own herbal tea before? How about to promote a little herbal healing in your life? Chances are you already have. Maybe without even really knowing it! Once you have built up your very own stores of dried herbs, you’ll have a wide assortment of loose-leaf teas to choose from. It helps to buy your own tools for making loose leaf tea at home with your own dried herbs, with the help of tea balls, tea strainers or even “infusers.”
“Wait—what are ‘tisanes’ and ‘compresses?’” Yes, we’re getting into some more complex herbalist terminology here. But realize that a “tisane” and a “compress,” even an “infusion,” are all basically just tears. Simply think of them as teas you use in different ways!
Tea – Take 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. of your desired dried herb, and steep in boiled water for 5 minutes. Sip or make multiple cups for mild ailments and symptoms.
Infusion – Take 1 to 5 tbsps. of your desired dried herb, and steep in boiled water for 15-20 minutes. If you so like, you can actually boil the herb for 15-20 minutes in the water itself—before straining off and drinking. Infusions are great for slightly more acute ailments and symptoms.
Tisane – This can also be called a “wash.” Using the exact same methods for making an infusion, use the infusion itself as a topical wash for hair, eyes, and skin. Great for cosmetic uses, or to rinse out the eyes.
Compress – Another topical use of teas and infusions, compresses involve taking a clean cloth, soaking it in the infusion, and applying it to maladies like burns, boils, cuts, bruises, or skin afflictions (such as eczema).
For using teas and infusions for various ailments, typically drink 2-3 cups/per day from about 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp. of the dried plant with most plants—unless otherwise noted with certain plants in the chapters ahead, for safety’s sake.
Oils and Salves – This is where herbal preparations become more elaborate and complicated. But these are also excellent beginning preparations to learn if you are just starting out—and very fun to use!Oils – Take your chosen dried herb, and place it in a jar. Cover the dried herb with a food-safe oil of your choice: safflower, sunflower, and avocado are popular choices (organic and cold pressed or expeller pressed are considered best for the body!)
Place on a windowsill with some exposure to sunlight, and let herbal properties infuse into the oil for about a week. Once done, strain herb matter from oil completely, and store in a bottled/lidded glass jar out of the sunshine.
Or: place oil and herb matter in a small saucepan, and heat up on very low heat until oil changes color (as it absorbs herbs qualities). Only opt for an oil with a high smoke point if using this method. Once infused, let cool, then strain herb matter into bottled/lidded glass jar for storage.
You can also use fresh herbs to infuse into your oil, not just dried. However, if using fresh herbs, avoid consuming/using these oils internally!
With dried herb-infused oils, you can use sprinkled on food, or add it to salad dressings for healing effects. For any infused oil, you can take a teaspoon or two and rub onto (closed) skin for pains, aches, moisturizing, or other benefits!
How long can I store or keep my oil? Kept in a dark, cool place away from sunlight—and made correctly—oils can be fresh at least 1 year. Throw them out if they go rancid—if they suddenly take on a nutty or plastic smell, they’ve gone bad and shouldn’t be used.
Sales – The next step up from oils, salves are a lot easier to make than they might sound. All it involves is heating up an herbal oil, adding beeswax or a vegetable-based wax (such as candelilla or carnauba, for example), and letting that harden into a “balm” you pour out into separate jars.
Simply make your desired oil – when complete, heat oil up in a small saucepan (or the top of a double-burner, if you have one) on low, and only use herbal oils that have a high smoke point.
Add anywhere from 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. of all-natural, clean wax to the oil (I prefer to use a cruelty-free vegetable-based wax). Watch wax melt, stir if you like. Take note that for salves made with candelilla oil, you won’t need to add nearly as much wax.
“Balmy” or “Oily” Salve? Dip in a knife, stick, or small spoon into the heated oil and place in the freezer for a minute. Take it out, and you can gauge the consistency of what the sale will be like when it’s cooled.
Too Oily? Just add more wax. Too Balmy? Is your salve more like a candlestick? You might then have to add more oil—or next time, add less wax and work up to the consistency you want.
Set up several clean, open containers on the side that will hold your salves. Glass or stainless steel work best—and make sure each container has a lid!
Pour salve (with wax all melted and stirred in) into each jar. Let each jar sit and cool in a place where they cannot be bumped, or stuff can fall into and ruin the salve.
Once oil and wax are solidified, you have jars of salve! Apply it to your skin to moisturize, or to healing wounds or burns once they have closed. Not happy with the consistency? Try adding a different amount of wax next time.
As with oils, well-made salves remain unperishable for at least a year.
Tinctures and Vinegar – In this realm, you’re moving up to the level of more professional, practical herbalists! For both dried and fresh herbs alike, tinctures and vinegar can be excellent for long-term storage—lasting much longer than dried herbs, infusions, salves or oils.
Each of these preparations either incorporates alcohol (tinctures) or vinegar, which prolong preservation…a very old trick learned and passed down among herbalists. This helps the herbs you harvested last longer, and in some ways, makes their use a bit more fast and convenient.
Vinegar – Similar to making an infused oil, fill a clean jar with your choice dry or fresh herb. Cover your herb completely with vinegar—white or apple cider vinegar both work well, then lid the jar.
Store in a dark, cool place for about a week. The refrigerator works quite well. Feel free to shake sporadically, which helps break up the herb matter and impart its qualities into the vinegar better.
If you are using a metal lid, it is wise to add a “liner” of wax paper before screwing it on when infusing vinegar. This is because vinegar slowly eats away at metal over time!
Once “steeped,” strain out the herbal matter and store in the separate glass container in your fridge.
Again—if you’re capping this container with something metal, make sure to line it so the vinegar doesn’t eat the metal away! Use this vinegar in topical applications, like a tincture, or even as a salad dressing.
Tinctures – Like with infusing vinegar, instead, one pours alcohol over their selected herbs. This helps you save your herbs for an extended period of time—some say the herbs stay good up to 10 years. Sometimes even forever!
It is best to select a high-proof alcohol for your tincture, to absorb as many plant constituents as possible. Brandy or Vodka is popular, although “Everclear” is considered the very best. Higher-proof, the better!
Store in a dark, cool place for at least 2 weeks to 2 months. Shake once in a while, like with herbal vinegar. Once time is up, strain out your tincture. Bottle it in smaller containers—or you can even get “dropped” bottles so you can administer your tincture in small doses or drops. Using Your Tincture – For most of the herbs discussed in this book, doses for any illness is 2-3 droppers per day, until issues recede—or follow the specific guidance given for each herb in the next few chapters.
Purchasing Your Herbs: Admittedly, purchasing herbs become necessary in some cases. The adventurous herbalist or first-timer may get more delight out of drying herbs and making their own preparations at home—but it is simply better and more called for sometimes to get to your natural food store, grocer, herbalist or apothecary to see what’s out there. Why, exactly? There are a number of reasons why you should stick to buying certain herbs or herbal preparations:
It is best to take them in supplement or essential oil form. Some teas or tinctures of specific herbs are incredibly bitter, so you have to figure out a pleasant way to get them to you—that’s what supplements are for.
In some instances too, capsuled herbs—usually containing a small bit of the freeze-dried leaves, herbs, roots, or flowers—works better than other preparations (as in the case of Nettle supplements for allergies, or Goldenseal for digestive issues).
Some herbs come commonly, or only in essential oil form (Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are good examples). If you want to work with these herbs, you will have to use them as essential oils—but even further, learn the proper ways of using essential oils for healing.The herbs are rare, endangered, or threatened, and you should not harvest them—but instead seek them out from an ethical, sustainable grower or harvester.
Some good examples include Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Black Cohosh. It’s best you get to the grocer and buy dried or powdered herb, supplements, or tinctures from reputable buyers who can trustingly say they are not damaging the plant’s population permanently.
Buying Essential Oils – Perhaps you are dealing with more of a topical skin issue, such as Athlete’s Foot or a minor wound. Maybe you would like to soothe a headache, or simply have a calming aroma in your home.
In that case, purchasing essential oils could be a perfect fit. Some words of caution, though:
Ensure to only use high-quality essential oils, NOT toxic ‘fragrance’ oils. These cheap imitations are worse than ineffective. They actually fill your body and brain with neurotoxins, making you feel headachy, stressed and anxious.
Always look for the words ‘100% pure essential oil’ on the label. Choose glass bottles that are dark blue, green or brown to make sure they will last. As a general rule for skin application, every 1 drop of essential oil should be diluted with at least 5ml of carrier oil or other fluid (with the exception of a few essential oils that can be used ‘neat’ or direct onto the skin)
Some common carrier oil types that are affordable and easy to find include sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil. Do not ingest essential oils and keep out of reach of children and pets. Ensure essential oils do not come into contact with your eyes and open wounds and use with caution if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have any pre-existing medical conditions.
If you have any sensitivities or concerns about using essential oils, ensure you try a patch test first.
Buying Herbal Supplements – There are many companies, brands, and stores out there that sell herbal supplements for health, wellness, and acute issues. My best advice to anyone shopping the supplement-path: always purchase supplements from companies with an expansive, good reputation, ethical harvesting, and growing practices, and organically-grown or foraged plants.What’s the true advantage of getting herbs into your life in supplement form? Well, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons.
Pros: You don’t have to taste them. It’s true: some very powerful herbs you might really want in your life, such as Goldenseal and Reishi, taste awful to most. Fortunately, supplements give you the chance to not always pass them up.
You don’t have to look for or harvest them. Reputable supplement companies do the job for you, especially with difficult-to-find, even rare and endangered plants. Unless you love the outdoors, this could skip you a trip traipsing through the woods.
Some herbs you might not be able to find in your country or area at all. Turmeric, Ginger, and Ashwagandha are enviable herbs, but they grow only in Asia profusely. What if you don’t live in Asia? Supplement companies help some of these plants become readily available to you.
Supplements retain the freshness and healing qualities of certain plants better than any other preparation. Stinging Nettle is a good example, along with Cayenne, Echinacea, or Evening Primrose (in supplement “oil” form). The preparations you make at home just couldn’t do nearly as much, if you notice—so opt for the supplement route.
Cons: Some supplement companies are untrustworthy. Make sure you stick to widely reputable, trusted supplement companies—recent studies into supplements found that many were filled with “adulterants,” or herbs and matter that definitely did not match the advertiser’s label.
Want to make sure your herbs work? Make your own stuff, pure and simple. You don’t form a relationship with nature, the plant, or have a connection with your medicine. This might not be a concern to you at all—and you simply want a more natural, convenient form of healing. But if you really want to feel more connected to your food, nutrition and healing—much like you might want to get more acquainted with your food through gardening, etc.—supplements will not provide that so much.
For using supplements at home, always follow the directions on the product label.
Creams and Ointments – Similar in scope to supplements and essential oils, some powerful medicinal herbs work best only in commercially made, fairly available creams, gels or ointments.
You could try to make these same creams and ointments in salve or oil form, but they may just not be as effective. Cayenne creams, more specifically called capsaicin creams, are one good example—they are formulated and crafted specifically so they can be used in a safe, easy, and highly beneficial way.
As we explore specific healing herbs more deeply, some will be noted that they only come in commercial ointments or creams. If you are the more advanced herbalist—maybe you could foray into the world of home-made ointment or cream making. But for the beginner, see if a store-bought cream or ointment satisfies you enough—there’s always time for inspiration later!
For using commercial creams and ointments at home, always follow the directions and product label.
Using Medicinal Plants & Harvesting Herbs
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Reviewed by Kavei phkorlann
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