Decoctions: A decoction is an herb that has been simmered in water. This is the best method for drawing the healing elements from tough plant parts as bark roots, stems and heavy leaves. To make a decoction use 1 ounce dried herbs to a pint of boiled water. Keep water just below boiling for about 30 minutes then let herbs simmer for about an hour, depending on plant used. A higher heat than infusions is necessary because of the toughness of the plant parts. Decoctions should always be strained while hot, so the matter that separates on cooling may be mixed again with the fluid by shaking when the remedy is used. Use glass, ceramic or earthenware pots, or clean, unbroken enameled cast iron. Do not use plain cast iron with astringent plants.

Electuary: When powders are mixed with syrup, honey, brown sugar, or glycerin to produce a more pleasant taste or easier to use internally, they are called electuaries. These are rarely prepared in advance, but are made when needed. Different substances need different proportions of syrup. If an electuary is made up in advance and it hardens, add more syrup. If it swells up and emits gas, merely beat it in a mortar.

Extracts: Extracts are solid substances resulting from the evaporation of the solution of vegetable principles. The extract is obtained in three ways: by expressing the juice of fresh plants, by using a solvent such as alcohol, or simmering a plant tea and reducing it to a thickened state. The last is done by simmering a plant and by repeating the process until most of the water used has evaporated, making a decoction. This gives a distillation of the most active principles in the plant. Add 1/4 teaspoon of alcohol (drinking), glycerin, or tincture of benzoine to preserve the extract.

Fomentations: A fomentation is a strong herbal tea in which a clean cloth is dipped. The cloth can be filled with herbs. The cloth is then applied to the affected part.

Infusions: A process of soaking herbs in hot water.

1)Hot Infusion: To make an infusion boil water. Add the boiled water to 1 teaspoon dried herb. Cover and let steep for 9-13 minutes. Strain, cool. Infusions are drunk as teas, added to bath, rubbed into furniture and floors, and to anoint body. Powdered Bark, root, seeds, resin and bruised nuts, seeds, bark and buds may be used in hot infusions.

2)Cold infusion: Steep in cold water or cold milk for several hours. Wet, mashed herbs can be used internally as a tea or ad poultices on body.

Oils: Aromatic oils can be combined. Oils may be captured by evaporation from flower petals. Vegetable, nut, or fruit oils can be used as a medium for steeping aromatic plants to extract volatile oils. To make oil, pick your own fresh herbs or purchase dried herbs form a reputable source. Pack a large jar with the chosen herb and pour in any favorite mono unsaturated or polyunsaturated oil. Use enough to cover the herb. Close tightly. Label the jar and place in a sunny place for several weeks then strain out the herb by pouring through cheesecloth into a fresh jar. Hold the cheesecloth over the opening of the jar containing the herbs and secure with a rubber band. Invert the jar and pour the infused oil through the cheesecloth. Before discarding the herbs, squeeze all the oil out of them. Repeat the entire procedure. Repack a clean jar with more of the same herb. Add the infused oil, plus enough additional oil to cover the herbs. Store again in sunlight and strain again through cheesecloth. Pour the oil into a labeled jar and store until needed.

Syrups: Medicinal syrups are formed when sugar is incorporated with vegetable infusions, decoctions, expressed juices, fermented liquors, or simple water solutions. Sometimes tinctures are added to simple syrup, and the alcohol is evaporated. The tincture is sometimes combined with sugar and gently heated, or exposed to the sun until the alcohol is evaporated. The syrup is then prepared with the impregnated sugar and water. Refined sugar makes clearer and better-flavored syrup. Substituting glycerin for a certain portion of the syrup can preserve any simple syrup. Always make syrups in small quantities. To make herbal syrup, add 2 ounces of dried herb with 1-quart water in a large pot. Boil down and reduce to 1 pint, then add 1-2 tablespoons of honey. If you want to use fresh fruit, leaves, or roots in syrups, you should double the amount of herbs. Store in refrigerator for up to a month. Honey-based syrups are simple and effective way to preserve healing qualities of herbs. Syrups can soothe sore throats and provide some relief from coughs. ALSO – dissolve 3 pounds of brown sugar in pint of boiling water. Boil until thick. May add to any substance. Can also add cut herbs. Boil to syrupy consistency, strain and bottle.

Teas: Homemade herbal teas are much more potent than the store bought teas. To make a tea, boil 1 pint of water. Add 1 ounce of dried herb tops (leaves flowers, stems) steep 3 -5 minutes.

Tinctures: Tinctures are solutions of medicinal substances in alcohol or diluted alcohol. 5 ounces of vodka, brandy, or apple cider vinegar and 1 ounce herb. Leave for 6 weeks in a sealed container. Shake every few days and leave in a place out of direct sun. To make a tincture, grind plant parts with mortar and pestle. Add just enough high-quality whiskey or grain alcohol to cover herbs. Let sit for 21 days then add a small quantity of glycerin (about 2 tbs. per pint) and about 10 % volume of spring water. Strain and store in airtight amber colored glass. If kept cool and dry it can last for up to 5 years. Dose is usually 20 drops in a cup of tea or warm water, 4 times a day. Pass alcohol repeatedly through the powdered or cut herb. Catch the slow drippings in a jar. When it has passed once, you may use it, but the more you repeat the process, the stronger the tincture will be. It is acceptable to dilute any alcohol tincture with water. Add 4 ounces of water and 1 teaspoon of glycerin for every pint of alcohol .The glycerin is optional, it is an additional preservative.

Non-Alcoholic Tincture: Alcohol is a near perfect preservative of plant attributes. If for some reason you wish to evaporate the alcohol, add the tincture dose to a cup of water then add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of boiling water. Some herbs can be steeped in milk to make a milk tincture. Strain out the herbs and store in a labeled jar in the refrigerator.

Ointments: An ointment is a soothing, healing substance, which the essence of a healing plant has been dissolved. Heating the fat or oil with the plant until it loses its normal color and the oil or fat has absorbed the healing chemical principles does this. The plant is then strained out, and beeswax is added to harden the ointment. Preservatives such as drops of tincture of benzoin, poplar bud tincture, or glycerin are optional additions. If you make ointments in small batches and keep them tightly closed with paraffin wax, they won't decompose. The traditional base for ointments is pork lard. Purify it by simmering and straining. It has healing abilities even without the addition of herbs, but so do a lot of fats and oils. It is said to have great drawing power. Almond oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ, and vitamin E are neutral bases for ointments. If not available, Vaseline may be used. All ointments must contain one substance that will thicken the final product. Lanolin is a thickener, as is cocoa butter. Both are non sticky and mix well with most other oils. Other useful but sticky thickeners are glycerin, honey, or liquid lecithin. Also, various powdered resins and gum swell up and thicken when first soaked in cold water, then simmered in gently boiling water, and added to preparations. Agar-agar and Irish moss are seaweed thickeners. Green apples provide and excellent acid fruit pectin that is a good addition to creams and ointments. While any of the above sticky and non sticky thickeners will help swell a product and keep it emulsified, you will still need some wax to harden a cold cream or ointment. Beeswax is perfect, although expensive. It may be combined with paraffin wax.

Poultices: A poultice is a raw or mashed herb applied directly to the body, either wet or dry. It may be put in a clean cloth and applied also. Poultices are used to heal bruises, sores, soothe abrasions, or withdraw toxins from an area. Depending on the need they may be applied hot or cold. Cold poultices (and compresses) are used to withdraw the heat from an inflamed or congested area. Use a hot poultice or compress to relax spasms and for some pains. To make a poultice, use fresh or dried herbs that have been soaked in boiling water until soft. Mix with enough slippery elm powder to make poultice stick together. Place on affected part then wrap body part and poultice with clean cloth. Can also mix with water and cornmeal to make a thick paste.

Attunement: Psychically infusing herbal mixture with a mental picture of the need.

Bath: Used to cleanse body, spirit, and mind by empowerment. Place in bath water in a sachet.

Blessing: Connecting power of deity with power of herb.

Chaplet: Leaves and flowers woven together to make a crown.

Conjuration: Removing all negativity from herb through consecration and cleansing. Attune herbs to use.

Incense: Mixture of a base and plant materials then burned.

Powders: Ground to a fine powder and added to talc or fine sand. Use under carpet, around doorsteps, in candles or poppets.

Sachets: Attuned herbs put in a small bag or cloth (tied or sewn shut).

Herb Salves: Cut up very finely. Use 1 ½ pounds of lard or pure vegetable fat and 4 ounces beeswax. Mix and cover. Place in hot sun for 4 hours or in oven – very low heat. Strain when set it’ll be firm and ready to use.

Composition Powder: Good for colds, flu, cramps, and rheumatism.

NEVER use aluminum utensils to boil herbs or water. The metal damages the fine oils contained in herbs.

SUPPLIES:

Mortar and pestle

Glass jar

Special knife

Small wood cutting board

Cheesecloth – strainer

Small vials

Cloth pouches

Needle and thread

Cord

Small Ziploc bag

Box to keep supplies in

You can grow herbs or buy them. Read up on methods and precautions for drying herbs. Some are toxic and may give off a vapor while drying. If new to herbs you may want to buy them while you learn about herbs. If you decide to grow them and you have small children or pets please know which ones are dangerous. Store herbs in a cool, dry, dark space. Sunlight can bleach the herbs and pull all the energy from them. Herbs should keep for a good while but when they begin to deteriorate get rid of them and replace with fresh new ones. DO NOT throw away in your trash. Take them outside so they can return to the Earth. Keep herbs in glass jars. Plastic will begin to break down and contaminate the herbs. Use large labels to identify each jar. Put name of herb, date of purchase (or when you picked them) and also if the herb is toxic.

All herbs were said to hold sacred healing powers if gathered on Beltane.

DO NOT USE HERBS OF A POISONOUS MATTER! One exception is  - Rhus Toxicondendron (Poison oak, ivy). DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY! (Don’t ask me but I’d be afraid I’d break out in a rash if this is used)

Tincture – excellent for fibrositis, rheumatism, and allied pains. Footbath with a few drops relieves tired feet at once.