METHODS of MEDICINE MAKING
The two most common methods used for making herbal medicine:
- Infuse fresh or dried herbs into a menstruum (liquid base of water, alcohol, vinegar, etc. . .-- see the text box to the right for more on infusions)
- Grind dried herbs and ingest or use the powdered herb topically (see the "Grinding box to the right and below")
GRINDING
We grind up the herb and take it internally or rub on externally:
INTERNAL
- Tablets -- Herbs compressed into a tablet (advantages: can be split, shelf stable)
- Capsules -- Powdered herbs commonly held inside a gelatin capsule (advantages: can buy bulk powdered herbs and easily make your own)
- Powders -- Generally mixed with food or drink or put into capsules
- Bolus/Suppository -- Powdered herb combined with fat (cacao butter/ghee) taken through the anus, vagina or urethra.
- Paste/electuary (Honey/Sweetener) -- Ground herbs mixed with honey
EXTERNAL
- Plaster -- Blend herb with oil or water then rub on body -- can put between cotton to keep from irritating skin -- most common mustard plaster
- Poultice --Grind or chew an herb, rub on externally --(i.e. chew plantain and put it on a bug bite)
TINCTURE NOTES
• 1 ounce in 1 pint of menstrua
• 2-6 week infusion cycle, ideally starting on the new moon, finishing on the full
• Vinegar, glycerin, alcohol and water all grab different phytonutrients. Depending on what you would like to extract can help determine what menstruum you use for different tinctures.
• When in doubt, use dilute alcohol (vodka) as a menstruum
• Alcohol will not extract gums, mucilaginous material, starches and many mineral compounds.
• Water is not as stable for long periods of time -- good to have fortified wine or vinegar
• Wine -- White wine used more frequently -- often sherry/fortified wine > 16% alcohol is more stable
• Vinegar turns alkaloids to salts that are then soluble in water = "ines" (nicotine, morphine)
• Water/vinegar/alcohol -- 35/10/55
• Fresh plant material -- higher alcohol is safer because there is water in the plant
• Higher alcohol (190 proof) is the best for resinous materials
• Alcohol /Water gets some things that pure alcohol doesn't
• Glycerin is good for people who don't want alcohol (as is squirting the tincture into hot tea -- alcohol evaporates)
SALVE NOTES
Salve making is fun and easy. The major components you need to decide
DECISIONS
- What type of oil/oils to use?
- What texture salve you like? (this will determine ratio of beeswax: oil)
- What herbs/essential oils to put in it? (determined in part by what this salve will be used for)
RECIPE RANGE -- Basically Beeswax & Oil (probably infused with Herbs or essential oils)
Beeswax : Oil ratio varies fairly dramatically based upon on the consistency you would like your salve to be.
1 cup of oil
Beeswax = 1 Tblsp (1/2 oz) --> 5 Tblsp (2.5 oz) (Note : When there is loads of wax, it is more reminiscient to me of a lip balm.)
Herbs = 1 Tablespoon --> 1 cup herbs (Note: more herbs make it stronger/more medicinal)
OIL:
I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil as my base with optional oils including
Coconut oil (textural + helps heal burns --cooling)
Cacao Butter (textural and who doesn't wanna rub chocolate all over themselves?)
Shea butter (textural)
HERBS:
Comfrey
Calendula -- turns the oil a beautiful yellow or orange!
anything else -- rose, lavender, plantain, yarrow, rosemary, goldenseal, chickweed,arnica, lemon balm
EXTRAS:
• Essential oils -- pleasant smells + antimicrobial effects
• Honey -- natural moisturizer + antimicrobial -- http://www.honey.com/honey-at-home/honeys-natural-benefits/natures-skin-care
• Vitamin E -- preservative
Note: Essential oils and Vitamin E are heat sensitive and should be added after the oil has come off the heat.
INTRO
On this page, I offer insights into basic herbal medicine making. Primarily focusing upon salves and tinctures (recipes included), I talk about many different types of herbal medicine preparation: liniments, capsules, bolus, salves, lotions, tinctures.
INFUSIONS
We infuse herbs into a variety of menstruums = water, vinegar, alcohol, glycerin, oil:
INTERNAL
- Teas (water)-- Steep herbs in water that has just boiled for 3-5 minutes (also referred to as draughts) 1Tblsp powdered herbs : 1 pint
- Decoction: (water) -- Boil (15-90 minutes) and reduce the water while infusing -- used for roots more commonly than leafy herbs.
- Syrup -- Infuse herbs into water+ sugar or honey
- Fire Cider (vinegar) -- Horseradish, onion, garlic, turmeric (all roots) + cayenne for bronchial support
- Tincture (Alcohol/glycerin/vinegar/water) -- 2-6 week infusion of herbs. For fresh herbs, I fill the jar and then pour over 180 proof alcohol. For dried herbs, I fill the jar 1/2 way and use vodka.
EXTERNAL
- Baths (water) Infuse herbs into a concentrated tea or decoction into a bath
- Compress/Fomentation (water)-- Make a tea or decoction. Dip in a washcloth and put it on the body. I like ginger fomentations on my kidneys.
- Liniments(vinegar/alcohol) --External application of herbs salves, compresses/fomentations
- Salve (oil) -- Oil infused with herbs thickened with beeswax primarily for skin conditions
- Cream (oil) -- Similar to a salve however is an emulsion of oil and water. Used as moisturizer or medicinally.
NOTABLE
My two other favorite herbal medicines that are not infusions or Powdered/Grinding herbs:
- Neti -- taking salt water through the nose
- Moxibustion -- Burning mugwort to nourish area
SALVE RECIPE
My favorite recipe for all purpose salve is 2 Tblsp beeswax per cup of oil as a luscious and creamy texture.
I usually fill my jar about half full with dried herbs and cover by 1 inch with oil and do a month long infusion from new moon to new moon.
STEPS
1 Infuse herbs into oil (sun, cold infusion, low heat infusion -- careful that oil doesn't burn). This can be anywhere from a 1 hour process to a 1 month process. Strain the herbs. I almost always use dried herbs for infusing into oil as I don't want lots of water in my oil or salve. This is similarly true when infusing herbs culinarily.
2 Take the infused oil and gently heat (low or in double boiler) it with the beeswax in it. Allow beeswax to melt completely
3 Remove from heat and pout into prepared salve jars while still warm and liquid. Note: you can take a spoonful of the salve and put it in the fridge to test the consistency you will have after it hardens.