I Made a “Sleepy Time” Tincture That Works Better Than Tea
The Potent Power of the Dropper
I was drinking “sleepy time” tea to help me relax, but the effects were mild. I learned how to make a tincture. I took the same herbs—chamomile, valerian, and lavender—and steeped them in high-proof vodka for a month. I strained it, and the resulting liquid was a super-concentrated extract. Now, instead of drinking a whole cup of tea, I just take one or two dropperfuls of the tincture before bed. The effect is much faster, more potent, and more effective than any tea I have ever had.
The One “Weed” in Your Yard That’s a Powerful Herbal Remedy
The Healing Power of Plantain
I learned to identify the common “weed” in my yard called Broadleaf Plantain. It turns out, it’s a powerhouse of herbal medicine. The leaves have a property that is “drawing.” I got a nasty splinter, and I couldn’t get it out. I remembered my herbalism book. I chewed up a plantain leaf to make a crude “poultice,” placed it on the splinter, and covered it with a bandage. The next morning, the splinter had been drawn right out of my skin. It’s a wild first-aid kit growing right in your lawn.
How to Make a Tincture: The Folk Method vs. The Scientific Method
The Eyeball vs. The Scale
There are two main ways to make an herbal tincture. The “Folk Method” is easy and intuitive: you just fill a jar with your herb, and then you pour alcohol over it until it’s covered. It’s simple, but the potency can be inconsistent. The “Scientific Method” is more precise: you use a scale to measure the exact weight of the herb and the volume of the alcohol, following a specific ratio. This ensures that every single batch of your tincture will have the exact same strength and potency.
The Easiest Way to Make an Herbal Infused Oil for Salves
The Solar Power Method
I wanted to make a healing calendula salve, which required an infused oil. I didn’t want to risk scorching the oil by heating it on the stove. I learned the simple, gentle “solar infusion” method. I just filled a glass jar with dried calendula flowers, covered them with olive oil, and sealed the jar. I then just placed this jar on a sunny windowsill for a month. The gentle heat of the sun was enough to slowly and perfectly infuse the oil with the healing properties of the herb.
Stop Buying Expensive Supplements: The Herbal Alternative
The Nettle Nourishment
I was spending a lot of money on a daily multivitamin. An herbalist told me to try drinking a daily “infusion” of dried nettle leaf instead. Nettle is a “nutritive” herb that is incredibly rich in vitamins and minerals, like iron and calcium. I would just steep a large amount of the dried herb in a quart jar of hot water overnight. The resulting dark, green tea was a delicious and incredibly cheap way to get a huge dose of natural, bio-available vitamins and minerals.
I Made a “Fire Cider” to Boost My Immune System
The Fiery Folk Remedy
I was looking for a natural way to support my immune system during the winter. I made a batch of “Fire Cider.” It’s a traditional, spicy, apple cider vinegar-based folk remedy. I filled a large jar with apple cider vinegar and added a host of powerful ingredients: chopped onions, garlic, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers. I let it steep for a month. The resulting liquid was fiery, pungent, and incredibly potent. A small shot of it every morning is a powerful, invigorating way to start the day.
The Most Important Herbalism Rule: Proper Plant Identification
The Deadly Look-Alike
I was excited to forage for some wild elderberries to make a healthy syrup. I found a bush that I thought was elderberry. But I remembered the number one rule of herbalism: be 100% certain of your identification. I checked my field guide again and realized that the branching pattern was wrong. What I had found was not elderberry, but a toxic look-alike called water hemlock. That moment of double-checking and respecting the importance of proper identification may have saved my life.
How to Dry Your Herbs for Maximum Potency
The Low and Slow Method
I had a huge harvest of fresh herbs. I tried to dry them quickly in a low oven, but they turned brown and lost their beautiful aroma. I learned that the secret to potent dried herbs is a slow, gentle drying process. The best method is to simply tie them in small bunches and hang them upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area, like an attic or a closet. After a few weeks, they will be perfectly dry, and they will have retained their vibrant color and, most importantly, their medicinal essential oils.
The Difference Between a Tincture, a Decoction, and an Infusion
The Alcohol, The Simmer, and The Steep
I was confused by the different types of herbal preparations. The difference is simple. An “infusion” is a “tea,” where you steep the delicate parts of a plant, like the leaves and flowers, in hot water. A “decoction” is for the tough parts of a plant, like the roots and bark. You have to simmer these in water for a longer period to extract their properties. A “tincture” is an extraction using alcohol instead of water. The alcohol is a much more powerful solvent and creates a more potent and shelf-stable medicine.
The Most Versatile Herb Every Beginner Herbalist should Grow
The Calendula Cure-All
If I could only grow one medicinal herb, it would be Calendula. The beautiful, sunny, orange and yellow flowers are incredibly easy to grow. But more importantly, they are a true herbal cure-all. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and they are incredible for healing the skin. I use them to make an infused oil that I turn into a healing salve for cuts, scrapes, burns, and rashes. It’s a gentle, powerful, and incredibly versatile herb that belongs in every beginner’s garden.