ALWAYS LABEL YOUR PRODUCTS RIGHT AWAY
The Kitchen Is Your Lab:
Your kitchen will supply you with most of the utensils you need for preparing herbal products.
Rule Number One: Never Use Aluminum. No aluminum pans, bowls, molds ect.
Aluminum is "Toxic" and the toxicity is easily released by heat into your, food and herbal products.
Use: Glass, stainless steel, ceramic, cast iron or enamel cookware.
Other useful items: beeswax, organic olive oil, other carrier oils, some essential oils of choice, herbs, alcohol, canning jars for storing herbs and making tinctures and liniments, cheesecloth or fine muslin for straining herbs, coffee grinder reserved for grinding herbs, not coffee, grater reserved for grating beeswax, large, double-meshed, stainless steel strainer, measuring cups, stainless-steel pots with tight fitting lids.
Recommended Books: Please Support Your Small Business Book Store!
Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
The Herbal Home Remedy Book , by Joyce A. Wardwell
Purchase Of Bulk Herbs and More:
https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Herb Learning Site:
http://www.herbmentor.com/
Infused Herbal Oil
Herbal infused oils can be used on their own or as a base for salves and ointments. You can either make strong medicinal oils or sweet scented massage oils. I like to use organic olive oil but you can use other good quality organic oils, such as almond, apricot, coconut, sunflower, jojoba ( do not use soy or canola)
Solar Infused Oil:
Place the herbs and the oil in a glass jar, cover tightly. Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot and let steep for 2- 3 weeks. Strain the oil through cheesecloth or muslin. When the oil has been poured off, put the herbs in the cheese cloth or muslin and wring thoroughly and squeeze all the oil you can get. If you want a stronger oil, add a fresh batch of herbs to the oil and infuse for 2 more weeks. Strain again. This will give you a very potent medicinal oil.
Use of the solar infused method is the preferred method to extract all the healing benefits of the herbs.
Double Boiler Method:
Place the herbs and the oil in a double boiler and bring to a low simmer. Slowly heat for 30 to 60 minutes, checking frequently to be sure the oil is not overheating (preferably between 80- 100 degrees Fahrenheit). The lower the heat, the longer the infusion, the better the oil.
Turn off let sit a few hours, then repeat the above instructions. Do this for a third time.
Strain, wring, squeeze, bottle and label.
Much care needs to be taken when creating herbal oils this way because you do not want to deep-fry your herbs! When placing herbs into a crock-pot, double boiler, or electric yogurt maker cover with organic extra virgin olive oil (or other carrier oil of choice) leaving at least an inch or two of oil above the herbs.
Second Quick Option:
Gently heat the herbs over very low heat (preferably between 100 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 1-5 hours until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb. Some texts recommend heating the oil 48-72 hours at a controlled temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off heat and allow to cool. Once that the oil is ready, strain using cheesecloth, and bottle into dry and sterilized amber bottles for storage. Store in a dark and cool place.
Crock Pot Method:
Place herbs and oils in crockpot and set on lowest possible heat. You will have to experiment with your own crockpot as the strength of the heating element can vary quite a bit, but as a general rule 2 to 4 hours will do it. One of my crockpots is just too hot for this method, so I do one hour and a few hours off. I repeat this method for a few days.
More on Infusing oils:
http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart_remedy.php?prep_ID=30
http://wildroseherbs.blogspot.com/2012/05/savvy-tips-for-herbal-sal...
Making A Salve:
Step one, prepare an infused oil following the above instructions.
Step two, to each cup of herbal oil, add 1/4 cup of beeswax. Heat until the beeswax is completely melted. To check for consistency, place 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the freezer for just a minute or two. If it's too soft, add more beeswax, if too hard add more oil
Step three, remove from heat immediately and pour into small glass jars or tins. Store any extra salve in a cool, dark place. Stored properly, salve will last for months, even years.
Making Salves:
http://mountainroseblog.com/diy-herbal-salves/
Compress
A compress is made by soaking a cloth in an herbal tea for 5 to 10 minutes, wringing the cloth out and then laying it on the affected area.
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
Add 1/2 ounce of dried herbs
Cover and steep 20 minutes.
Soak wash cloth in tea for 5 to 10 minutes.
Wring out cloth (you may need to let it cool in a separate bowl for a few minutes before wringing).
Place cloth on affected area and lie still for 20 minutes.
Repeat as needed for healing.
Do not reuse, if you are treating infection or open wounds!
Poultice
A poultice is mashed plant material applied directly to the body on the affected area or wrapped in thin cloth and then applied.
A poultice is similar to a compress, except that plant parts are used rather than liquid extraction. Dried herbs or fresh, if you are using fresh, mash or crush fresh plant parts. Add herbs to a pot of boiling water turn off, put lid on and steep for 5 minutes . Apply the pulp directly to the skin, as hot as can be tolerated, holding it in place with a gauze bandage.
When making poultices from fresh plant material you can use the spit poultice method (simply chewing up the plant material and mixing it with your saliva) or add water and crush the plant material in a mortar and pestle or blender.
Apply directly to the wound and hold in place with a band-aid.
Poultices can also be wrapped in thin cloth and then applied to the skin.
Herbal Wash:
A wash is simply an herbal tea splashed on an affected area of the body.
Edible Wild Fir, Evergreen And Cedars
Side Note: The Yew is not edible
Cedar Infused Oil
Place some needles into a mason jar one quarter full; add olive oil until all the needles are covered. Let infuse for 4 weeks (out of direct sunlight), then strain. You can use this to make salad dressings or to cook with.
Nutrients in Coniferous Trees
Pine needles are loaded with vitamins A and C, and it doesn't end there. The vitamin C levels are so high (on average 5 times greater than lemons) who needs oranges!
- Vitamin C is considered to be important in preventing cancer.
- Pine oils, according to Russian studies, lower cholesterol and aid in lowering the blood pressure.
- Proanthocyanin and resveratrol are potent anti-aging compounds.
Making Coniferous Teas
It was once believed that vitamin C will be destroyed if extracted into boiling water – this is not true. Vitamin C boils at over 500 degrees centigrade and this is a temperature that cannot be reached from boiling water on the stove or in a kettle – therefore you will benefit from all that vitamin C!
Fir, Pine or Spruce Tree Powder
Take the dried needles and powder them in your blender. Store the final product in a mason jar. Use this powder to add a lemony taste (yes, there is a lemon-taste to these) to your cooking – fish, chicken, and even in some of your desserts! To make tea, use one teaspoon of powder per cup of boiling water and infuse twenty minutes.
Balsamic Vinegar
Fill a mason jar with (preferably) white pine needles. Douglas fir, balsam pine or spruce will work as well. Fill the jar with apple cider vinegar and let infuse minimum six weeks in a dark location. Strain and decant. (Important – do NOT use a metal lid from the mason jar as the vinegar can cause it to corrode. Use plastic wrap or a sandwich baggie to seal the jar.)
Pine Needle Syrup
Fill a mason jar with finely cut up organic lemon with the peel and pine needles. Pour honey into the mason jar until the jar is filled. Cover and let sit for 3 weeks. Strain and decant. This is am amazing syrup which can be used as a beverage, poured over ice cream and it tastes great. Some people use this as a cough syrup due to the healing power in honey and the high content of vitamin C in the pine needles.
Cedar
Take a fresh sprig of cedar and place it in your mug – add water and let infuse twenty minutes. Cedar can also be dried and powdered and stored to be used for tea.
Herbal Liniments: EXTERNAL USE ONLY
Note: Rubbing alcohol is typically used to make liniments because it extracts the therapeutic herbal constituents, rapidly penetrates and evaporates from the skin. I personally will not use rubbing alcohol because it is made from petroleum. I use Everclear to get the same effect as rubbing alcohol.
You could also use Vodka, Witch Hazel Extract, or Vinegar as a solvent. Basically, you’ll need a menstruum to extract the properties of the herbs which will absorb quickly and deeply to penetrate skin. If alcohol alone is too harsh or drying on your skin, try mixing it with Witch Hazel Extract or Vinegar until you find a medium that works for you. -
Simple to make, herbal liniments are a great element for any home medicine cabinet! They offer instant relief for pain, inflamed muscles, bruises, and sprains.
Depending on which botanicals are included, liniments can be used to disinfect cuts and wounds, and may benefit a variety of conditions including sore and inflamed muscles, joints, circulation problems, arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, strains, and bruises.
More On Liniments:
http://mountainroseblog.com/making-herbal-liniments/
Muscle Liniment: (we made this in class)
In this liniment we are using cayenne and cinnamon as a warming herbs that will help increase circulation in the area affected.
The valerian root will work to relax the muscles.
The comfrey and calendula are soothing herbs that will help with healing bruises and injuries. This combination can also be helpful in easing the pain of arthritis.
1 ounce (weight) of comfrey root (NOT powder)
3/4 ounce valerian root (NOT powder)
1/2 ounce calendula flowers (NOT powder)
3/4 ounce cinnamon (powder)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (powder)
1 quart grain alcohol such as Everclear (available in liquor store in some states).
A quart jar
A strainer
Cheesecloth
A #4 coffee filter with filter holder (for straining out the ground herbs)
How to make;
Weigh out the appropriate amount of each herb and put them into a quart jar.
Pour grain alcohol (preferred) over the herbs to fill the jar.
Stir to release any bubbles, and put a lid on the jar.
LABEL the jar.
Stir or shake once each day for two weeks.
Strain through cheese cloth, squeezing the herbs to extract as much liquid as possible.
Pour into new jar through coffee filter to get out any extra particulates.
LABEL the jar you are storing the liniment in.
How to store your liniments:
Store the liniment in a spray bottle or small jar in your medicine cabinet. Be sure to label the jar with the words: “For external use only.”
Dr. Kloss Liniment:
The Herbal Kloss Liniment is an extremely old but very strong remedy created by Dr. Kloss. Together with the revisions made by Rosemary Gladstar in her book Family Herbal
, it is one of the most effective recipes for disinfecting wounds you could ever have on hand. However, this liniment is not only useful for disinfecting, it is highly beneficial in treating the following:
-all pains
-insect bites
-painful swellings
-bruises
-boils
-skin eruptions of any kind (i.e. pimples, eczema, etc.)
How to Make the Herbal Kloss Liniment
-1 ounce Echinacea powder
-1 ounce goldenseal root powder
-2 ounces myrrh gum powder
-1/2 ounce cayenne pepper powder
Everclear to cover, approximately 1 quart
Directions: In 1 quart glass jar combine all of the powders. Pour alcohol over herbal powders to fill jar, leaving 1-2 inch head space. Mix thoroughly. Place lid tightly on jar and let mixture stand in a warm and dark location.
Let jar stand for at least 4 weeks, shake well every day. After 4 weeks strain liniment well using a piece of cheesecloth and re bottle. Note: Be sure to clearly label For EXTERNAL USE ONLY.
Dosage: Apply the liniment every few minutes for an hour or two in acute instances. Otherwise, use freely until desired results are achieved.
Tips:
Re- bottle liniment in 2-4 ounce spray bottle for ease of use.
- By applying the liniment to the temples, back of the neck, and to the forehead it can be used as an excellent remedy for a headache.
-Spray on to painful and swollen joints to relieve the symptoms of arthritis.
-Useful as a treatment for athlete’s foot. Apply frequently and saturate the affected area thoroughly.
-Treat a toothache or sores in the mouth by saturating a cotton ball with the liniment and then cleaning the mouth with the medicated swab. Focus on the area surrounding the toothache/mouth sore. Take extreme caution not to swallow the liniment; spit it out.
First Salve We Made:
Solomon Seal- for treating injuries to the musculoskeletal system. It is used to treat broken bones, sprains, injured tendons and ligaments, tendonitis, arthritis, dryness in joints and "slipped"/herniated discs. Solomon's Seal has the remarkable ability to restore the proper tension to ligaments, regardless of whether they need to be tightened or loosened. This makes it a valuable remedy for sports & activity related injuries, used either before resorting to or along with conventional surgical procedures.
http://www.herbcraft.org/solseal.html
Birch Bark is a natural pain reliever containing salicylate, the compound found in aspirin. Birch Bark relieves the inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and generalized muscle pain. Another reason birch calms arthritis and gout is it's cleansing diuretic action that eliminates toxins and excess water.
Comfrey Root - Rich in allantoin and mucilage, comfrey is highly valued for its soothing qualities and is a common ingredient in poultices, salves and ointments. It facilitates and activates the healing of damaged tissue. It is one of the best herbs for treating torn ligaments, strains, bruises, and any injury to the bones or joints. Comfrey root and the leaf have similar properties; the root is stronger, but the leaf is more palatable. use them both in salves and ointments.
Juniper Berries - The juniper berry has anti-inflammatory properties and it’s of great help to those suffering from arthritis, gout and other diseases such as rheumatism and pain in the joints and muscles. These joint related ailments occur because of the fluid retention around these joints, and the juniper berry with its diuretic action relieves this pressure considerably. Juniper also helps in reviving the muscle tone and significantly reducing the effects of ageing for most people.
Peppermint- Cooling, for swelling, inflammation, and areas that are hot due to sprains, bruises, and other injuries.
Essential Oil Of Rosemary
Second Salve We Made: Added Cayenne and Cinnamon: Name: LR Salve
Soloman Seal- for treating injuries to the musculoskeletal system. It is used to treat broken bones, sprains, injured tendons and ligaments, tendonitis, arthritis, dryness in joints and "slipped"/herniated discs. Solomon's Seal has the remarkable ability to restore the proper tension to ligaments, regardless of whether they need to be tightened or loosened. This makes it a valuable remedy for sports & activity related injuries, used either before resorting to or along with conventional surgical procedures.
Birch Bark--is a natural pain reliever containing salicylate, the compound found in aspirin. Birch Bark relieves the inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and generalized muscle pain. l. An other reason birch calms arthritis and gout is it's cleansing diuretic action that eliminates toxins and excess water.
Comfrey Root- Rich in allantoin and mucilage, comfrey is highly valued for its soothing qualities and is a common ingredient in poultices, salves and ointments. It facilitates and activates the healing of damaged tissue. It is one of the best herbs for treating torn ligaments, strains, bruises, and any injury to the bones or joints. Comfrey root and the leaf have similar properties; the root is stronger, but the leaf is more palatable. use them both in salves and ointments.
Juniper Berries- The juniper berry has anti-inflammatory properties and it’s of great help to those suffering from arthritis, gout and other diseases such as rheumatism and pain in the joints and muscles. These joint related ailments occur because of the fluid retention around these joints, and the juniper berry with its diuretic action relieves this pressure considerably. Juniper also helps in reviving the muscle tone and significantly reducing the effects of ageing for most people.
Peppermint- Cooling, for swelling, inflammation, and areas that are hot due to sprains, bruises, and other injuries.
Cayenne - excellent warming and circulatory herb
Cinnamon - warming and aids circulation
The Art Of Making Herbal Remedies
