Tincture, infusion, poutice, salve??  Yes, you can make all of these and more, all by yourself!  Making your own herbal preparations is not only fun, but can be a cost-effective way to incorporate the healing power of herbs for both your mind and body.  Some of these herbal concoctions do require a certain degree of time and skill, but there are lots of simple remedies you can make yourself, including teas, syrups, and creams.  You may need to do a bit of research to know which are herbs are most effective for your ailments, but soon you'll be on your way to making your own herbal preparations with the following recipes.

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Creams 

Creams are an emulsion of oil and a water soluble liquid, allowing the final product to be readily absorbed by the skin. The easiest way to make creams is to buy an emulsifying cream from the natural products store or the drugstore, and heat the desired herb plant material in it.

You'll need:

2 Tablespoons of emulsifying cream
1 tablespoon of dried herbs
a fine mesh strainer

Instructions:
Melt the emulsifying cream in a bowl placed over a pot of boiling water.
Add one large tablespoon of dried herbs to the mixture. Stir slowly until you see the cream taking on the color of the herbs.
Remove the mixture from heat and strain. Squeeze out the remaining liquid from the clump.
Allow the cream to cool in a glass bowl.
Spoon the cream into small, dark bottles, and store in a cool, dark place. Cream will be preserved for use for up to one year.

Suggested herbs: Lavender, Pink Rose Petals, Chamomile, Oat Straw, Hibiscus, Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea, and Slippery Elm.

Decoction

A decoction is similar to an infusion, and necessary when using tougher plant material like herbal roots, barks, seeds, berries, and stems. These parts need to have their active components extracted in a more intense process.

You'll need:

1 ounce of dried herb
3 cups of water

Instructions:
Bring water to a rolling boil, then add herbs and cover; reduce heat; let mixture simmer for 10 to 15 min over low heat; leave to soak another 10 min; keep covered throughout the process; strain, cool and use. Internal dose is usually 1/2 cup, 3 times a day.  Store in a pitcher in a cool place or refrigerate.  The decoction can be reheated and flavored with a little honey if desired.

Infusion

Similar to tea, but steeped longer.

You'll need:

2 teaspoons of dried herbs (more if fluffy)
1 cup of water

Instructions:
Boil the water without herbs in it.  Turn off heat, add herbs, cover and let steep for 10 minutes.  Strain & drink.  You can make the concoction in the cup-sized doses or larger teapot doses. If using for medicinal value, the infusion should be consumed in 8-ounce doses, three times a day.
For storage: cover mixture, store in a cool place, and use within 24 hours.

Macerations (simple process)

A maceration is essentially an infusion that is made by soaking the herbs in cold instead of boiling water. Some herbs are most effectively infused in cold water, including Valerian and raw garlic cloves.

You'll need:

2 teaspoons of dried herbs (more if fluffy)
1 cup of cold water

Instructions:
Place the herbs in the cold water and leave the mixture overnight or up 18 hours in a cool place.  Strain the mixture, and consume the same way you would an infusion.  If using for medicinal value, the maceration should be consumed in 8-ounce doses, three times a day.
 

Non-petroleum Jelly

Useful for making ointments.

You'll need:

1 ounce beeswax
1/2 cup sweet almond or olive oil
double boiler

Instructions:
Melt the beeswax in the oil in the top of a double boiler. Pour out into suitable container and allow to set up. 

Mix the non-petroleum jelly with herb-infused oil or a powdered herb to make an ointment.

Suggestions: Mix with Ginger Root Powder and spread on the chest for bronchitis.  Mix with Green Tea Powder for an anti-wrinkle treatment. 

Oil Infusions (hot & cold)

Infused Oils are made by extracting the herbal constituents and volatile oils from the herbs for a later use. Any vegetable oil will do, yet olive, almond, canola, and sesame oils are the best.  Herbal oils can be added to cosmetics, cold process soap recipes, for culinary use, or massaged into sore body parts. Herbal oils can be infused by two methods; cold infusion and hot infusion.

Oil Infusion (hot)

You'll need:

1 cup of dried herbs
2 cups of oil
a large glass bowl that can fit on top of a pot
pot holders to handle the glass bowl

Instructions:
Prepare a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. Place the herbs and oil in the glass bowl.
Heat mixture slowly over low heat for about 3 hours.
Strain into a bowl. Let the oil cool, then transfer into dark, glass bottles sealed with a cap. Store in a cool, dark place.

Oil Infusion (cold)

You'll need:

a large jar like a mason jar with a tight sealing lid
3-4 cups of dried herbs
4 cups of oil (depending on the size of the jar)

Instructions:
Obtain a large jar with a tightly sealing lid, and fill it compactly with herb flowers or leaves.
Pour in the oil, covering the herbs, and screw on the lid.
Place jar on a sunny windowsill for about a month. Remember to shake and turn the jar daily.
Strain the mixture, capturing the oil in another container.
Transfer the oil into a dark bottle, and store in a cool, dark place.

Note: Use dried herbs.  Fresh herbs contain water and could cause the oil to go rancid.

Hot & Cold Oil Infusion Recommendations:

For culinary use, try Basil, Bay Leaves, crushed Cayenne Pepper, Coriander, Fennel Seeds, cut Ginger Root, Lemon Grass, Orange Peel, Oregano, Parsley, Tellicherry Peppercorns, Rosemary, and Thyme.

For topical/skin care use, try Lavender, Calendula Petals, Arnica, Pink Rose Petals, Chamomile, Oat Straw, Hibiscus, Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea, and Slippery Elm.

For ear infections, try a combination of Garlic & Mullein.

Pills

Pills are used in the same way as gelatin capsules, but they have the advantage that they can be prepared entirely with herbs and the herbs don't need be powdered so finely.  Coarse powders can be made from the dried or cut herb using a coffee mill/grinder. 

You'll need:

10 tablespoons of ground herb
1 tablespoon of Slippery Elm Powder

Instructions:
Mix the ground herbs with the Slippery Elm, slowly add water and mix it in with the herbs until a doughy consistency is reached.  Alternatively, you can use a little Acacia dissolved in boiling water as a good adhesive.  Roll the dough into little balls about the size of a pea.  The pills may be taken immediately, but to preserve them for later use, dry them in the warm air or in an oven on low heat. 

The pea-sized pills contain about half the dose of a gelatin capsule, therefore when following a dosage schedule for capsules, use twice the number indicated when using pills as a substitute.

Poultice (basic paste/plaster)

Poultices act by increasing blood flow, relaxing tense muscles, soothing inflamed tissues, or drawing toxins from an infected area. Thus, they can be used to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with abscesses; boils; bruises; carbuncles; fibrocystic disease; fractures; enlarged glands in the neck, breast or prostate; leg ulcers; sprains; sunburn; tumors; and ulcerated eyelids. They are also used to break up congestion, draw out pus, and remove embedded particles from the skin.

You'll need:

1 cup dried herbs
1 cup of just boiled water
French Clay, Bentonite Clay, Flour or Corn Meal
Soft cloth or flannel

Instructions:
Mix the herbs with the water, then add enough of the clay, flour, or corn meal to make a thick paste that can be easily applied. Spread the paste onto the center of a soft cloth which measures about 6 to 8 inches square and has about 4 layers of thickness. Apply directly to the area with the paste side against the skin and press it down a bit so it sticks to the skin. Cover with a dry cloth and leave in place until the paste pulls away on its own.

Suggested herbs: Slippery Elm, Mullein, Arnica, Comfrey

Poultice (steamed)

You'll need:

1 cup dried herbs
a pot with water in it
a colander
Soft cloth or flannel

Instructions:
Place a colander over a pot of rapidly boiling water. Make sure that the water will not touch the herb material in the colander. Steam the herbs until they are drenched and softened. Remove and wait about 10 minutes, then take the steamed herbal mass to the affected area. Cover with a cloth to hold in the heat and wrap with a dry cloth. When the poultice cools, reapply as needed.

Recommended herbs: Slippery Elm, Mullein, Arnica, Comfrey

Powders/Capsules

Herbs can be powdered in a coffee mill.  If you'll be be doing much work with herbs, you should have a coffee grinder just for powdering herbs. A standard size 00 capsule will hold about 200-250 mg of powder when being done by hand, with the standard dose being 2 to 3 capsules taken 2 or 3 times a day. To fill the capsule with the powdered herb, place the powder in a saucer and separate the two halves of the capsule. Slide the 2 halves together through the powder. Fit the halves together and store in a dark glass jar in a dark place out of direct heat.

For larger quantities and for more concentrated capsules, I recommend our Cap-M-Quik Capsule Filler Kit.  It can make 50 at a time and it comes with a tamper that allows you to compact the herbs so that the 00 capsules will hold about 800 mg of powder.

Salves

Salves are made by combining heated oil with a particular herb until the oil absorbs the plants healing properties. Adding beeswax will thicken the mixture to the desired consistency.

Most common recipe:
You'll need:

5 ounces of herb infused oil (recipe above)
2 ounces of beeswax
Optional: 1 drop Tincture of Benzoin or Grapefruit Seed Extract per ounce of salve (as a preservative)
a large glass bowl that can fit on top of a pot
pot holders to handle the glass bowl

Instructions:
Pour the infused oil into the glass bowl, and place over a pot of boiling water. Add the beeswax to the infused oil, stirring constantly until the wax has completely melted. The beeswax will thicken the mixture, giving it just the right consistency.  You can now add one drop of preservative per each ounce of mixture at this point (optional).  Pour the warm liquid into small, dark ointment jars.  Store in a cool, dark place.

Alternate recipe when you don't already have an herb infused oil:

You'll need:

a few tablespoons of dried herbs
1 cup of water
5 ounces of oil
2 ounces of beeswax

Instructions:
Boil herbs in water until sufficiently extracted; strain and put wet herbs back into the pot.  Add oil to the herbs and continue to simmer till all the water evaporates; add the beeswax, stirring constantly until the wax has completely melted. The beeswax will thicken the mixture, giving it just the right consistency.  You can now add one drop of preservative per each ounce of mixture at this point (optional).  Pour the warm liquid into small, dark ointment jars.  Store in a cool, dark place.

Recommended herbs: Comfrey, Arnica, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Echinacea, or Peach Leaf, for pain try a combination of Cayenne, Willow Bark, Wintergreen, & Eucalyptus, for insect bites try St. John's Wort  with Basil, Cloves, & Lavender.

Suppository/Bolus

This is a preparation of herbs mixed with a suppository base and molded into special shapes for insertion into the rectum, vagina, or urethra. The suppository bases are solid at room temperature but melt at the temperature of the body. Suppositories should be stored in a refrigerator, especially during the summer.  The best shape for these is a torpedo-shaped cylinder about 2" in length and with the center bulging and the ends tapered.  Aluminum foil can be used to shape a mold or you can purchase molds.

You'll need:

3 ounces of cocoa butter
1 oz finely powdered herbs

Instructions:
Simmer the herbs and cocoa butter in the top of a double boiler until well combined and liquid in form.  Pour out into a foil mold, allow to harden,  and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Syrup

You can make an herbal infusion, decoction, or tincture into a syrup, using sugar or honey as a preservative. Herbal syrups are soothing for coughs, sore throats, and other common respiratory ailments.

You'll need:

One pint of either the herb infusion (not the oil infused) or an herb decoction
One pound of unrefined sugar or honey

Instructions:
Stir mixture together in a saucepan and boil until the sugar or honey has dissolved completely.  The mixture has become a syrup at this point.
Let the syrup cool.  Store the syrup in dark, glass bottles capped with a cork or another non-sealing lid.  It is important that the syrup is not kept in a tightly sealed container because as the syrup begins to ferment it may cause the bottle to explode.  Store in the refrigerator.

Recommended herbs for sore throats (combine as many as you can): Ginger Root, Licorice Root, Rosemary, Mullein, Thyme, Slippery Elm Bark, Echinacea, and Sage.

Tea

Making herbal teas may be the easiest of all herbal remedies. Herbal teas can be made by simply adding fresh or dried herbs to a pot, or cup of boiled water. To begin, place 1 teaspoon of dried herbs per I cup of water into a teapot or teacup. Add boiling water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. You must then strain your tea by pouring it through a strainer of some sort.  You can also use an Herb & Tea Strainer Ball.

Tincture

Herbal tinctures allow you to make an herbal remedy and store it for a long period of time, making them available at short notice to be used with teas, salves, creams, etc. to make an instant herbal remedy. Tinctures are made by steeping dried herbs in alcohol or vinegar. The liquid extracts the volatile oils and active constituents from the herbs, and preserves them for up to 2 years. Vodka is the best alcohol to use due to its tastelessness.  A standard herbal tincture should have 1 fluid ounce of pure alcohol for every ounce of water; essentially 50% alcohol.  This ratio is up for some debate.  Some people recommend 100% alcohol, others say 3 to 1 alcohol/water.

You'll need:

8 ounces of dried herbs, be sure to cut the herbs into small pieces first.
a large glass jar that can hold 4 cups of liquid (adjust liquid amount to fit in jar if necessary)
2 cups cup of vodka
2 cups of water

Instructions:
Put the dried herb into a large, glass jar and pour in equal amount of liquid, making sure the herbs are completely covered (this is very important).  Store the jar in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks, preferably 4. Make sure to shake the mixture every day.  When ready to use, filter the mixture using a cheesecloth bag, coffee filter, or fine cloth, capturing the tincture liquid below in another container.  Store the tincture in clean, dark glass containers, out of the sun. If stored properly the tincture will be preserved for two or more years.

Note: A drop of tincture is equal to 1 tsp of herb juice.

For Vinegar Tinctures, use 1 ounce of herb per 5 ounces of vinegar. 

Tonic Wines

Like herbal tea, a glass of tonic wine is a delicious way to intake herbal remedies. Using root remedies of tonic herbs like Ginger or Licorice can be a refreshing remedy for ailments. Choose a tonic herb to suit your needs and then begin preparation.

You'll need:

a large glass pot, jar or vat
1 cups of dried herbs
2 cups of a good quality red wine (enough to cover the herbs, add more if necessary)

Instructions:
Mix together the herbs and the wine making sure there's enough wine to completely cover the herbs.  Put a lid on the mixture or cellophane wrap.  Leave the mix for at least 2 weeks. Filtering out the liquid, drink the mixture in one sherry-sized glass (2-3 fluid ounces) dose per day.
As you pour out the liquid, keep adding more red wine to cover the herb so it doesn't get moldy. This mixture will last you for several months, as the wine continues to extract the active components of the herbal roots, before the herbs will need to be replaced.