Directions and Recipes for Simple Herbal Remedies
Drying Herbs: Hang upside down with twine, or place in a basket on newspaper or in a brown paper bag. Wet herbs (such as chamomile) need to go in a food dryer or tray in the oven on low temperature until dry.
Tea Infusion: (leaves and flowers)
Fresh herbs use 1 Tbsp per cup or for dried herbs use 1 tsp per cup in a tea infuser or straight. Pour very hot water over leaves and let set up to 15 minutes or desired strength. Strain out herbs and add honey or agave to your taste preference. Enjoy!
Decoction: (For barks, roots and berries)
Same as above but steep 15-45 minutes for desired strength.
Tincture: (Concentrated and easily absorbed)
Wash and chop fresh herbs or grind dry herbs and place in wide mouthed glass jar.
Cover with vegetable glycerin, vodka or brandy, cover the jar, shake to mix thoroughly, store in dark area for 2-4 weeks, strain through cheesecloth or coffee filter, squeezing liquid out of herbs, compost herbs.
For glycerin tincture use 2/3 c glycerin and 1/3 c. water for every cup of herb.
For alcohol tincture use 3 times the alcohol to dried herb or twice as much for fresh herb.
To use: 1-2 droppers once per day as preventive or 3-5 times for acute.
Oxymel: (sweet and tangy, nutrient rich)
Cover dried herbs with equal parts honey and vinegar in mason jar, cover and store for 2 weeks, strain out herbs, label and store up to 6 months in the refrigerator. This makes a lovely way to use herbs, great in salad dressings or in drinks.
Herbal oils:
Use dry herbs only, not fresh, and cover with 3 times the amount of oil blend of your choice. (I like grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil and/or jojoba.) Let steep at room temperature for 2+ weeks, strain, bottle, add essential oils if desired, label and enjoy for up to 9 months. You can speed this process using a double boiler on low heat for 3 hours then let sit for a couple days, process and use.
Herbal honey:
Use dried herbs in mason jar. Cover with 3-4 times the honey, steep for 2+ weeks, strain herbs out, seal, and label honey. Enjoy!