Medicine Making

Caution: medicine should only be made and used by a trained herbal professional. Some herbs have specific interactions and contraindications that are important to consider, as is dosage.

Infusions (Tea)

Teas are extracts made by steeping the soft parts of an herb or herbs (ie. leaves and flowers) in water that has been heated almost to the boiling point.

Measure usually 1Tbsp herb to one cup (8oz) water.

1. crush herb lightly w/mortor and pestle
2. measure and place into creamer cup (w/spout)
3. water heated just to boiling
4. pour into creamer until just below rim
5. creamer covered with ceramic saucer
6. herb is steeped from 15min to 12 hours depending on kind of herb and prep. needed
7. Straining cloth fitted over a normal cup, w/sl. depression in center
8. Steeped fluid carefully poured through filter into cup
9. Carefully remove filter
10. Cool to drinkable temp

Tinctures

Measurement Guidlines:

Dried herb or bark tincture (1:5 ratio=1part herb by weight to 5 parts of  high proof liquor--I use 80 proof vodka by volume)
There are disagreements in the herbal community as to what constitutes a "standard" way of measuring fresh herb tinctures. One method is to use a1:2 ratio.

Steps:
1. Herb weighed and put into the bottom of a glass jar
2. Herb covered w/ vodka (if fresh herbs are used they should be chopped/torn b-4. Again, this is a point of contention--some herbalists do not desicrate the herbs in any way
3. label w/date and screw lid
4. store in a dark place--for 6 weeks. Top off w/ more vodka if evaporation occurs
5. When done, strain through filter into beaker, sqeezing every last bit of fluid out
6. Pour into tincture bottles
7. Store in dark, room temp

Another definition of "standardization" is to add a "secret" amount of the "active" ingredient in one tincture to secure one company's patent over another. In other words, a way to charge for free medicine.

The concentrated tinctures I use in my practice are primarily made from fresh herbs, stuffed into the glass jar tightly before adding vodka. This potent tincture is used at a much lower dosage than the above standard directions. This method allows the body to be able to recognize and respond to herbs at a very low dosage (usually only 2-3 drops, 2 times per day).

Dark medicine bottles may be purchased many different places. I get mine here:

d



http://www.specialtybottle.com

Salves

Mixing herbs with olive oil and sometimes heating to reduce the water content of some herbs.

When using fresh herbs for salves, be sure to shake the dirt off and dry overnight to reduce the water content (especially chickweed and others with high water content)

The same method for concentrated tinctures is used, but not packed so tightly, so the olive oil can surround the herb. Before oil is added, the herb is taken back out of the container and dried overnight before putting it back into the same container and adding olive oil. As before, the entire package is steeped for 6 weeks in a dark area. For wet herbs, heating slowly for an hour is best before steeping.

After the oil has cooled, strain and squeeze as much oil out as possible. Then re-heat the oil and add beeswax (about 1/2 tsp./oz oil).

When the beeswax melts, test a teaspoon full for consistancy by letting it cool. If ready, add vit. E oil as a preservative, and any essential oils you want to add. Note that when you add essential oils, you change the chemical combination of the herb. Purists would not want this.

* instructions were taken from MidWest School of Herbal Studies director Matthew Alf's classes and his book: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of MN and WI as well as from Lise Wolf, Minneapolis herbalist