Wild Crafting Medicinal Herbs: preparing the medicine

Thank you to those of you who joined me at any of my several herb walks this summer. They were all super fun for me to present, it's so great to see others getting excited finding helpful herbal medicines in nature. As promised to my latest troopers here are a few basic recipes to help you get started on your own homemade herbal versions.

Salves- I use slight variations of this recipe to make lip balms, body balms and diaper/ bum balms.

• 5 g of fresh or dried herbs ( this might be a single, or combination of many).
• 100 mls of oil (I use olive, sunflower is lighter has less scent).
• Heat the oil and herbs in a double boiler for 2 hours, stir often, DO NOT LET BOIL.
• Strain through cheese cloth or stainless steel sieve
• add 1/3oz or more beeswax, stir to melt
• add essential oils as wanted, plus 25 drops vitamin e and 25 drops benzoin as natural preservatives. 

Poultice/ Compress- to apply to an area of irriation, inflammation. 

• 10g of herbs sauteed in 50-100 mls oil, saute 30 minutes if herbs are fresh, an hour if herbs are dried, pack in cheese cloth and apply to area 30-60 minutes. 

Decoction

• 6g of herbs in 400 mls water
• bring to boil then simmer until water volume is approximately 1/3
• strain and store in fridge will keep about 2 weeks
• dose will depend on herb used. 

Tincture

• 30 g of fresh of dried herbs, if using fresh chop them up very well.
• add herbs to 300 mls (40% alcohol) + 50 mls filtered water
• place herbs and liquid into a bottle with lid tightly closed.
• store in the dark 2-6 weeks, shaking bottle/ jar daily.
• strain and discard herbs, liquid tincture will last 18-24 months. 

Syrup (this is the only one I have not tried,but am about to make one with red clover decoction and licorice tincture for fall coughs)

• 50 mls tincture
• 50 mls decoction
• 100 mls honey, stir over gentle heat until all combined well
• stores up to 2 months in the fridge.

Happy Herb Hunting!