IMPORTANT: Before making your own preparations you must know proper dosages, find a reliable source for dosage information. Many preparations require proper dosages to be safe and effective. Each herb is different in parts used and dosage, so read carefully and use a reliable source for dosages.
Types of Preparations:
- Infusions
- Decoctions
- Tonic
- Macerations
- Tinctures
- Elixirs
- Tonic Wine
- Syrups
- Creams (Ointments, Creams, Salves, Balms)
- Compresses
- Poultices (Cold & Steamed Poultice)
- Infused Oils (Cold and Hot Infusions)
- Capsules (Powdered)
- Boluses & Suppositories
- Perfume
Grams to Oz Chart
I've also created a conversion chart for Oz, Mililiters, Liters, Cups, Tablespoons, Teaspoons, and Pints:
Conversion Chart
Infusions:
More commonly known as an herbal tea or tisane. It is made by pouring boiling water over dried or fresh herb parts. This can be done by either placing the herbs in a bag (An empty tea bag) and then pouring hot water over them or placing them in a teapot and either pouring the tea through a strainer into each cup, or pouring the tea and herbs straight into the cup.
Infusions are best for delicate, aerial (above ground parts), of plants as they can be steeped and still retain their medicinal properties, they should not be boiled in the water (This is a decoction) as the parts are too fragile and will boil away their medicinal constituents. This method is best used for flowers, leaves and stems but can be used for fresh bark, or roots (Chopped finely).
How to make an infusion:
Ingredients:
~Tea pot or electric water boiler (I like the clear glass teapots as you can see the steeping process)
⬑You can also use a microwave/stove to heat water
~ Herbs (Dried or Fresh)
⬑Make sure to look into proper dosages
~Strainer (Optional)
~Empty Teabag (Optional)
Directions:
1. Place herb material either in an empty teabag, in a teapot (Many teapots have built-in infusers), or straight into your cup or mug.
2. Boil water, either in an electric water boiler, on a stove, or in a microwave. (It is not recommended to boil the water inside of the teapot unless it is built for that purpose such as a tea kettle or a wrought iron teapot)
3. Pour the boiling water (carefully) over the herb material and allow to steep for 10~15 minutes.
4. If you used a teapot then you may now pour it into the cup through a strainer if you decided to use one and your teapot does not have one already.
5. Serve and enjoy. (Most dosages recommend up to 3 cups of tea a day depending on the herb)
Looking for supplies:
If you're looking for some glass teapots here are some from Teavana, some from Amazon, a nice one from Plow and Hearth, and one with a built-in infuser from Williams-Sonoma.
As for empty teabags here's some good priced ones on Amazon, some from the English Tea Store.
Decoctions:
A decoction is when you boil the water and herb material together either in a pan, or in a stove-top safe teapot. This is most commonly used for harder or woodier parts such as roots, bark, small twigs, and seeds. This method is used to pull out the constituents better and faster than simply steeping. Any water-soluble constituents are pulled out by the boiling process.
Ingredients:
~ Pan, or teapot that can handle high heat (Ceramic or glass is best) or double boiler
~ Stove top to cook on
~ Herbs (Dried), either whole or pre-ground
~ Mortar and pestle, grinder, or other device that can grind herb material pretty finely.
~ Strainer (Optional but recommended)
Directions:
1. Grind the dried herb material (If not pre-ground) into a coarse powder. (Check dosages for each)
2. In a pan or teapot cover the powder with cold water (roughly 2 cups, more if serving more than one person) stir it.
3. Bring water to a boil on LOW with lid on for 10~15 minutes (Use a double boiler if you don't have a low setting.
5. Serve and enjoy (You can either leave in the teapot if you used one, or pour into a teapot if you used a pan.)
Looking for supplies:
If you're looking for a mortar and pestle you can try Amazon, or even your local Target, some grocery stores may have them, and places like Pottery Barn and World Market are highly likely to have them as well.
As for strainers you can find them at your local Bed Bath and Beyond or Walmart. There are a lot of local stores that will probably have strainers as well.
Maceration
A very simple preparations much like an infusion.
Ingredients:
~ 2 tsp of dried herbs
~1 cup of cold water
~ Container
Directions:
1. Pour the cold water over the herb material.
2. Leave, covered for up to 18 hrs.
3. Drink.
Note: Not the best for bark, seeds, roots, or twigs. It still a good idea to use a decoction for those.
Tonic
A tonic is a super-powered infusion that is meant to help boost your overall body health over a period of time.
Ingredients:
~ 1/2 - 1 cup of dried herbs (Or Fresh)
~ 1 quart of water (Boiled)
~ 1 quart mason jar
Directions:
1. Fill the mason jar with the dried herbs (If using fresh, you need to let it simmer in with the water for a few minutes first)
2. Boil water, pour on top of herbs and fill to top of the jar.
3. Cover or put lid on the jar.
4. Let steep overnight or for at least 8 hrs.
5. Strain and drink. (Or strain only as much as you are going to drink, leaving the herbs in the jar to make the tea more potent.)
6. Date and label, store in the refrigerator. Try to drink everyday until it's gone.
Note: If using bark, roots, and seeds you may need to boil them for a bit longer than the regular fresh herbs.
Tinctures:
Tinctures are among the most common forms of taking herbs. It usually has the highest concentration, next to essential oils, and usually has the most potent healing potential as the herbs stay in the tincture for longer than an infusion or decoction. It also uses alcohol or apple cider vinegar to pull out the constituents, making the mixture more potent.
Ingredients:
~Vodka, preferably 40% (80 proof) or higher or if the person making or taking the tincture doesn't like alcohol or is under-aged, you can make it with apple cider vinegar (Organic is best.) Preferably Bragg brand.
~ Dried or Fresh Herb Material
~ Cheesecloth or fine Muslin
~ A jar (such as a mason jar) with lid
~ A Colored bottle (Either blue or amber, make sure it's dark in color) with dropper top
~ A scale
~Small funnel
~ A stick blender (for fresh herbs) or knife to chop herbs
~ A grinder (for dried herbs)
Directions:
1. Measure out 1.5 oz (40 g) (May vary depending on herb). For fresh herbal material, use the stick blender with a little bit of water to blend into a pulp, or finely chop with a knife; For dried herb material, grind into a coarse powder (unless herb has lots of surface area for example, cinnamon sticks).
2. Place herb material into jar.
3. Cover herb with 2/3 cup of vodka (160 ml) or Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar (If making more, add more herbs and more vodka/vinegar, just enough to cover the herbs.)
4. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and shake vigorously.
5. You can store in a cool dark place if you'll remember it there, but it is fine to store it on a counter top away from sunlight if it helps you remember.
6. Shake it once or twice a day for 2~3 weeks (You can go up to six weeks, but it may become too hard to strain by then.)
7. Strain the mixture through cheese cloth or muslin, making sure to squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible from the herb material
8. Using a small funnel, funnel liquid into the blue or amber bottle (May need more than one, you can buy them in 0.5 oz, 1 oz or 2 oz.) then date and label with the herbs name (Scientific or common) and the type of liquid used (Vodka or Apple Cider Vinegar).
9. Using the dropper lid drop the recommended dosage into about 1/4 cup (60 ml) of water, tea or other drinkable liquid.
Note: You can use Everclear if available and the person who will be taking it can handle the alcohol. It is usually recommended to stick with Vodka (Preferably organic if possible)
Some herbalists believe that tinctures store indefinitely, meaning they never go bad or won't go bad for a very long time. While others believe they should be refrigerated and can only store, cold for 6~12 months.
Looking for Supplies:
If looking for a digital kitchen scale they sell them fairly cheap at Wal Mart or even Best Buy. Digital may be slightly more accurate, easy to read, and have the gram unit option, but if you want something without batteries and a little more traditional you can try these scales at Amazon or this scale at Williams-Sonoma.
Cheesecloth or Muslin can be bought at local art stores, groceries stores or purchased online at Amazon.
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar can be purchased at the following retailers: GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, or use the Store Locator on the Bragg website.
You can find small blue and amber bottles in various stores including antique stores, as long as they are cleaned out thoroughly with vinegar or rubbing alcohol and washed and dried out, you can also buy them online at Amazon, in bulk at various online bottle selling sites, and on specialty herb sites like Rose Mountain Herbs.
Elixir:
An Elixir is essentially a tincture just with a lot of honey added to it.
Ingredients:
~1 Pint Jar
~Enough Dried/Fresh herb material to stuff the jar full
~ 1/2 Pint Brandy, Vodka, Apple Cider Vinegar
~ 1/2 Pint Honey
~ Dark colored Glass bottles (Blue or Amber)
(Feel free to adjust these to make smaller amounts of the elixir)
Directions:
1. Chop or grind the herbs and put them in the jar filling it up leaving an inch of space at the top.
2. Pour in the Brandy, Vodka, or Apple Cider Vinegar filling the jar half way
3. Fill the rest of the way with honey.
4. Screw on top, date and label, place somewhere cool and dark for 4 weeks, shaking it every few days.
5. Strain, and pour into bottles. Use the dropper to administer 5~10 drops at a time.
Tonic Wine:
Ingredients:
~ 1 cup of dried herbs
~ 2 cups of good quality red wine (Enough to cover herbs)
~ Jar (Like a mason jar)
Directions:
1. Put herbs in jar and cover with win.
2. Store in cool dark place for at least 2 weeks.
3. Filter herbs out through strainer or cheesecloth.
4. Drink 2-3 oz of wine each day
Note: You can add more herbs or wine and it should last for several months if properly sealed. The longer you leave it the stronger it will be.
Syrups:
The kind of syrup I'm referring to is not the kind you use to drown your pancakes or waffles in the mornings, this is more like the cough syrup you turned you nose up to as a child. However, typically herbal syrup doesn't have that menthol aftertaste that made the over the counter stuff taste so "wonderful". The herbal syrup is typically sweeter and more soothing and still used to treat coughing, congestion, and sore throats.
Ingredients:
~ Honey or sugar (Preferably a more natural sugar like stevia)
~ A pre-made tincture (Either made yourself or bought)
~ A dark colored glass jar with a cork (Cobalt Blue or Amber)
~ A saucepan and stove top with low heat or a double boiler
Directions:
1. Stir 1/2 cup (100 g) of sugar or honey with 1/4 cup (50 ml) of water in a saucepan on low heat until the sugar or honey is dissolved and the mixture becomes thick but still runny.
2. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
3. Add 1/4 cup (50 ml) of tincture (Of whatever herb you plan to use) and stir
4. Pour the syrup into the dark colored glass jars, using a cork to seal.
5. Take correct dosage directly from spoon. Do not dilute.
Note: Make sure you use a cork to seal the syrup because it can ferment and if sealed with anything else may cause bottle to explode.
The syrup can keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 months and may crystallize but will return to liquid form if bottle is left to sit in bowl of hot water for a little while.
It's best to only make as much syrup as you intend to use at that time as the syrup doesn't last very long (May last longer with honey) and will ferment, making it inedible.
To help with seasonal allergies try honey from local bee farms, the bees collect pollen from the local plants and can help ease local plant allergies.
Looking for Supplies:
A Double Boiler is a "pot within a pot" where you place a smaller pot into a larger one filled half way with water. The water in the bigger pot boils and gently heats the other pot, preventing straight heat burning. It's good for melting things like chocolate, water and sugar, butter, and many other things easily melted and burned. You can buy them at a variety of places, especially at Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy's, and Williams-Sonoma. You can of course order it online as well.
Creams, Salves, Balms, and Ointments:
I placed these all together under the same category because while they vary in application, they generally use the same ingredients and are made in the same manner. The biggest difference for many of these is that Creams are usually used all over the body to help the skin, either improve complexion or handle a skin problem. Balms are typical for small local areas such as lips. Salves are generally for small problematic areas, and ointments are almost specifically for problematic areas of skin, such as rashes, hives, hemorrhoids, or general skin irritation.
Everyone has their own way of making these preparations so I'll use a few different recipes to give you an idea, almost all require some kind of wax such as bees wax or soy wax and some type of oil such as olive, coconut, grapeseed, Oregon graperoot, or vitamin E. I'll do my best to explain the noticeable differences between using these.
Note: Most of these recipes can be changed around to make them easier, or based more on the person that will be using it.
Herbal Cream
Ingredients: (What most creams call for:)
~ Bees wax (Or Soy wax)
~ A carrier Oil (This can be Olive, Coconut, Vitamin E, Grapeseed, Oregon Graperoot, Safflower, Sesame, Almond, Hazlenut, or Macademia) *Do not choose an oil you are the intended person is allergic to.*
~An essential oil of the desired herb. (Or as many herbs as you'd like to put in the cream)
~ (Optional) 1/8 tsp of an Emulsifier (Such as Borax) -- Used mostly as a preservative, some recipes call for it. <-- Use this if not using the Aloe gel
~ (Optional) 1/2 Water --Some call for this, preferably distilled or herb infused water
~(Optional) 1/2 Aloe vera gel <-- Use this if you do not use the Borax
~(Optional) Butters, such as Shea
~ Bottles/Jars for Creams, balms, or salves.
Note: You can blend multiple oils you like together in this recipe, you can also get an already made, non-greasy cream such as vitamin E cream or sorbolene, and then add herbal tincture or essential oil (may make it greasy) to the cream to make your own quick creams. Usually 1 part tincture/oil to 10 parts cream. Then stir until an even consistency.
Directions: *For many creams*
1. Put the carrier oil (either 1 cup of a single oil or adding up to 1 cup of various oils) and beeswax (1/16 cup or 1tbsp) in a saucepan (two different pans. *each cream recipe is different*).
⬑Or in a heat proof container and place in the microwave (together) for 1 minute intervals -------------until well melted (You will still need to boil water for this method, you have to keep the -------------mixture hot)
2. (Optional) If adding the Borax in a separate pan, boil water and add the borax.
3.(If using Borax) Combine the water/borax combo with the oil/bees wax mixture very -------------slowly, until you use all of the water, it should start turning creamy.
4. You can now put the mixture in a blender or use a hand blender/mixer, and add drops of -------------essential oil to the mix (Smell the mixture by waving you hand towards your nose, until it -------------has the desired scent.)
5. Place into jars once you've achieved the desired creaminess and scent.
2. (If melting wax and oil separately) Slowly combine together, keeping hot (Use a double boiler, ou can make a make-shift one by placing a metal or heat-proof bowl in a deep pan filled half way with water. Have this warmed up before you mix the wax and oil.
3. (If you melted the wax and oil separately)Use a blender or a mixer (or bowl and hand mixer) to blend together the other ingredients (Essential Oil and Aloe vera gel if you decided to use it.) if you are just using the oil, then turn the mixer/blender on low and slowly pour the the wax/oil mixture into the blender and add the essential oil (This can be a little or a lot depending on how much you want, or how strong the oil is.)
4. Have bottles ready to put the mixture in, you may need to use a spatula to get every last bit. Put them in the refrigerator for 2-3 hrs and don't forget to label them!
5. Use as needed (Rather quickly, as it doesn't last long.)
Note: These directions may be confusing, but I wanted to show the versatility, feel free to adjust these recipes to your liking. Add what you want or take away, and experiment, this particular preparation has many variation.
Make sure that the oils you use are good topically (Can be placed on the skin) some essential oils are for aroma therapy purposes and are not meant to go on skin.
Balm
Ingredients: (I picked one recipe this time to ease confusion, however it is adjustable like the creams)
~ 3 oz of herbal oil infusion (Directions on how to make your own later)
~ Carrier Oil of your choice
~ 1 oz of bees wax
~ 1 ml of vitamin E oil (Or other oil of your preference)
~1ml Herbal Extract of your choice (This recipe called for Rosemary)
~1ml Essential Oil of your choice (This Recipe called for Chamomile)
~A jar (Like a mason jar)
~Dried herbs of your choice (This recipe calls for Blue Vervain Leaves, Wild Violet Leaves, and Calendula Flowers)
~Scale
~Double Boiler (You can make a make-shift one by filling a deep pan 1/2 way with water and then placing a heat proof bowl inside and boil the water)
Directions:
1. Fill the mason jar 3/4 of the way full with the carrier oil and the dried herbs (equal parts) until it reaches the same height as the oil.
2. Store somewhere cool and dark for 3-6 weeks and strain with cheesecloth
3. (If you don't have the time or patience to wait 3-6 weeks) combine herbs and oil in a double boiler leave on low for 3-4 hrs (Do not boil the oil) then strain with cheesecloth in to mason jar
4. Using a scale weigh out the bees wax and then melt it in the double boiler, then measure out the herb infused oil and pour in with the melted bees wax.
5. Measure the Oil (Vitamin E or otherwise), Extract, and Essential Oil and put it in the boiler with the melted bees wax.
6. Begin putting the balm into jars or tins and allow to cool to be used. Once cool, put the tops on, date and label.
Note: Vitamin E oil is a really good choice because of it's natural healing elements. However there are other oils such as safflower that are bursting with vitamins. So do your own research and find the oil you like the most, or use more than one! Rosemary extract actually doubles as both a pleasant scent and a preservative to help lengthen the shelf life of your balm.
Looking for Supplies:
You can find the oils anywhere, from grocery stores, to natural food markets, to home
goods stores. You may even find some good stuff online if you're looking for a very specific oil such as Vitamin E.
Bees Wax may be a little harder to find, if you can't find it locally or at a natural foods store, then you can find it online at Mountain Rose Herbs, you can buy it in a bar, or in pastilles (Tiny "beads") to make it easier to measure and weigh. You can buy just pastilles at Bulk Apothecary (You can buy it in bulk if you plan on making a lot for gifts.
Borax is typically used as a laundry booster and can be found at your local Wal-Mart
Aloe Gel can be found in a variety of places from Wal-Mart to Vitamin Shoppe, to Walgreens or CVS, make sure it is 100% aloe vera
Dried Herbs can be found anywhere online, and some health food places sell them in bulk or by the pound. You can also collect the fresh herbs yourself by growing or wild crafting and then dry it.
Ointment:
Ingredients:
~ 1/8 cup Beeswax (Grated or pellets)
~ 1/2 cup of your favorite oil
~ 1/4 dried herbs
~A container
Directions:
1. Begin by pouring the beeswax and oil into a double boiler or a pan on very low heat.
2. Once the beeswax has completely melted, stir it.
3. Pour in the herbs and stir simmer for 15~30 min. Do NOT let oil boil
4. Strain the herbs out of the oil and beeswax.
5. Pour into containers, and let cool before sealing. Label and date.
Compress
A Compress is primarily meant for skin abrasions, rashes, bug bites and stings.
Ingredients:
~ 2-3 tsp dried Herbs
~ 1 cup Boiling Water
~ Cloth (Wash Cloth or Flannel)
Directions:
1. Start off by making an infusion, this one will be stronger than normal, place the herbs into a bowl.
2. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and cover them, allowing them to steep for 10~15 min.
3. You can choose to strain or leave the herbs in the bowl, uncover and allow to cool to a temperature that is comfortable to the touch.
4. Soak the wash cloth or piece of flannel in the infusion
5. Wring out excess water
6. Apply directly to affected area.
Poultice
A poultice is different from a compress in that it uses fresh herbs and doesn't require an infusion or even water.
Cold Poultice
Ingredients:
~ Fresh Herbs
~Stick (Hand) Blender
~Muslin/Cheesecloth
~ Knife
Directions:
1. Chop enough fresh herb to cover the affected area.
2. Place in container and then use the stick (hand) blender to blend the herb material until it has a mushy consistency (You can use a little bit of water if need be)
3. Place mixture on folded piece of muslin/cheesecloth.
4. Spread thinly with a spatula or the back of a spoon until it can cover most of the affected area.
5. Put some oil around the area to prevent sticking.
6. Apply the poultice to the affected area, you may need to apply a large bandage to keep it on.
7. Change every 2 hrs or try to keep it on overnight.
Note: A very commonly used herb for poultices is Plantain. It can be found all over North America growing wild. Make sure to wash what ever you collect thoroughly to make sure there are no bugs, pesticides, or other toxins on the plants you use.
Steamed Poultice -- This poultice is an exception to the "Fresh herb" rule.
Ingredients:
~ 1 cup Dried herb
~ Water in a pot
~ A Colander
~ Soft Cloth or Flannel
Directions:
1. Bring water to a rapid boil.
2. Place colander over water, but don't allow any water on the inside of the colander.
3. Add some herbs to the colander
4. Steam the herbs until they are soft and soaked
5. Take them out and allow them to cool for about 10 minutes, then place on the cloth or flannel, as you did for the cold poultice and apply to affected area.
Looking for Supplies:
You can find a colander almost anywhere, it's generally used to wash vegetables. You can find them at Wal-Mart, even some grocery stores, here's a 5 qt colander form Bed Bath and Beyond.
Infused Oil
Cold Infusion
Ingredients:
~ Mason Jar
~ Jug
~Small Funnel
~Blue or Amber Bottles
~ Dried or Fresh Herbs
~Oil of your choice (Carrier Oil)
~Muslin/Cheesecloth
Directions:
1. Pack herb material into jar leaving about a 1/2 inch (1 cm) of space at the top .
2. Cover with oil to a depth of 1/4 inch (5 mm). Stir gently.
3. Seal the lid tightly and shake well, store in a warm, sunny place for 3-10 days, shaking the jar several times a day.
4. Filter the oil through muslin/cheesecloth into a clean jug, make sure to get as much of the oil from the herb material as possible.
5. If there is sediment in the bottom, allow it to settle for a couple of days so it separates and then pour the oil carefully so as not to allow the sediment to pour out.
6. Funnel the oil into the dark colored bottles, seal tightly, date and label. Store in a cool, dark place and throw away at the first signs of fermentation.
Hot Infusion
Ingredients:
~ 1 part dried or fresh herb
~ 3 parts oil (Dried) 1.5 parts oil (Fresh)
~ Double Boiler
~ Muslin/Cheesecloth
~ Small Funnel
~ Blue or Amber Glass Bottles
~Jug (Or mason jar)
Directions:
1. Chop or grind the herb material until it is a coarse powder (Not too fine to not be able to strain later)
2. Add herbs to a double boiler with your choice of carrier oil. Simmer over very low heat for 2~3 hrs. Do NOT allow oil to boil.
3. Allow to cool before straining through muslin/cheesecloth into a clean jug, squeezing out every last bit of oil you can.
4. Pour into dark colored glass bottles, date and label. Store in cool, dark place and throw away at the first sign of fermentation
Capsules are generally bought from stores or manufacturers, however you can make your own by ordering your own capsule shells and grinding your herbs into a fine powder. Capsules are available in gelatin and plant based for vegans.
Ingredients:
~Finely ground herb (Best to use one)
~ Capsules (Either Gelatin or Plant based)
Directions:
1. Grind the herb into a fine powder and place in a bowl.
2. Open each capsule, and scoop the powder into the capsule, and then close the capsules again.
Note: If you want to cap multiple capsules all at once you can try the Cap-M-Quik.
The sizes vary from 00 to 3. According to Capsuleconnection.com:
00 can hold to about 735mg of powder
0 can hold to about 500mg of powder
1 can hold to about 400mg of powder
2 can hold to about 300mg of powder
3 can hold to about 200mg of powder
However, there are devices (called tampers) that can compress the powder allowing a 00 sized capsule to hold approx. 800-1000 mg, it can be found with the Cap-M-Quik Capsule Filling Machine with Tamper at Herbaffair.
Looking for Supplies:
There are two kinds of capsules that can be used, gelatin is the most common, it can be bought online at places like, iHerb, or at Wal-Mart.
You can also find the vegetarian capsules which are made from plant matter, from Wal-Mart as well as online at Swanson Vitamins.
Boluses & Suppositories
A bolus is a large pill with a single dose of medicine. Suppository, as you may be a little more familiar with is a delivery system that is given through the rectum, vagina, or urethra for systematic and local medications. They are designed to melt inside of these orifices allowing the medication, in our case, herbs, to be taken in through the blood stream.
Ingredients:
~3oz of Cocoa butter (Or another similar butter you like)
~1 oz of finely ground herbs (Can be done in a coffee grinder)
~ Shaped mold (Can be bought online)
~ Or Aluminum Foil made into a mold
Directions:
1. Combine the butter and herbs in double boiler until melted .
2. Pour into molds or aluminum foil mold.
3. Allow shapes to harden, store in refrigerator until use.
Note: You want a torpedo-esk shape to make it easier.
Perfume
Not necessarily medicinal, however if you have problems with the chemicals in today's perfumes you can try making your own. There are two methods of doing this, one using distilled water and boiling, the other more like a tincture (Requires stronger scents).
Ingredients:
~ 2 cups Distilled water (Bought or make your own by boiling water and collecting the steam.)
~ 1-1 1/2 cups Herbs (Fragrant ones, and fresh)
~ Amber or blue spray bottle
~ Muslin/Cheesecloth
Directions:
1. Begin by putting the water in a pan and leave it on a just before boiling simmer
2. Make sure you've washed your herbs thoroughly to make sure they are free of contamination, then place in the water. You don't want to cook the herbs, as this could ruin the scent.
3. Let it simmer for about 2 hrs, watching to make sure it doesn't start boiling or the water hasn't completely evaporated.
4. Turn off heat and let cool.
5. Strain through cheesecloth until every last drop of water is in the new jug.
6. Funnel into spray bottles. Label and Date.
Note: For the other, make a tincture with the fragrant herbs, shake daily for 2- 6 weeks, strain and put in a spray bottle.
Coming Soon-- Label to Put on your Preparation to make it easier! :D
Sources
http://mountainroseblog.com/wildcraft-cream-recipe/
http://www.diynatural.com/herbal-homemade-body-lotion/
http://soapdelinews.com/2014/04/diy-natural-herbal-healing-balm-recipe.html
http://www.herbaffair.com/how-to-prepare-herbs/
http://rosesprodigalgarden.org/articles/tonic%20infusions.html
http://www.cauldronsandcrockpots.com/2010/07/herbal-honeys-and-elixirs/
http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/body-scents-fragrances/how-to-make-perfume-out-of-flowers-from-your-garden.htm
Herbs
No comments:
Post a Comment