A PRIMER ON HERBAL PREPARATION
Before we begin our exploration of the springtime herbs that heal and protect us and help us to contact the Spirits, let’s look at the different ways we can find and prepare herbs.
Where to Find High-Quality Herbs
You can grow your own herbs, purchase them from commercial organic growers, or wild-craft them, which just means collect them in the wild. Whichever way you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Before you go into the wild to gather plants, make sure of their status in your area. A number of the plants listed here are now threatened or endangered due to overharvesting and habitat loss. When wild-crafting herbs you need to remember the following rule: “Walk by the first seven, leave the eighth for the animals, and you may take the ninth.” This ensures that enough plants remain to produce seed for the following year and also that all creatures, including insects, will have the food they depend on.
Because overharvesting in the wild has become such a concern, do not purchase wild-crafted herbs unless you know they are of a species that is very abundant. Instead purchase commercially grown herbs, but make sure they are organic because nonorganic, commercially grown herbs can be heavily contaminated with pesticides, as can plants that come from other countries (China, India, Africa, etc.). Imported plants may also be irradiated. This, sadly, includes culinary herbs.
How to Make a Tea
Herbal teas generally fall into two types: infusions, which are steeped, and decoctions, which are simmered. When deciding whether you should steep or simmer, the rule of thumb is that flowers and leaves, being the more delicate parts of the plant, are steeped, while the heartier parts like whole roots, barks, and berries are simmered.
The usual proportions for both infusions and decoctions are 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of water. To make an infusion, bring the water to a boil, pour it over the herbs, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes. To make a decoction, combine the water and herbs in a nonaluminum pot, cover with a tight lid, and simmer for 20 minutes. (Never boil your herbs as you will lose the volatile oils through the steam.)
How to Make a Salve
Put your herbs, whatever quantity you have, into a nonaluminum pot and barely cover them with a cold-pressed, virgin oil (olive oil is the best one for general purposes). Keep careful track of how many cups of oil you poured into the pot as you will need this information later.
Cover the pot and bring the herb and oil mixture to a simmer. Continue to simmer (do not boil) for at least 20 minutes. Or you can bring the mixture to a simmer briefly and then turn off the heat several times a day for a week, allowing the herbs to steep continuously in the hot oil.
In a separate pot, put 3 to 4 tablespoons of beeswax per cup of oil used in the herb mixture and bring to a simmer. Then add it to the pot with the herbs. Stir well, then strain using a soup ladle and a tea strainer or metal sieve as you pour the hot mixture into clean glass jars or metal tins. Cap tightly and store in a cool dark place.
How to Make a Poultice
Put fresh herbs, whatever quantity you have, into a blender with just enough cold water to blend, or pour boiling water over dried herbs to make them soft and then put them in the blender, adding just enough water to blend into a mush.
Pour the mush into a bowl and add just enough powdered Slippery Elm bark to make a pie-dough consistency. Lightly knead it into a ball and place it on a very clean cloth.
With a rolling pin or an old bottle roll the ball flat. Apply the flattened mixture directly to the skin for 1 hour, then discard. Poultices are best applied cold, so try freezing or storing in the refrigerator before use. If frozen, thaw just enough to remove the poultice from its wrapper or container.
How to Make a Fomentation
Fomentations are applied hot. Steam or simmer fresh or dry herbs in a very minimal amount of water until soft. Strain out the herbs, soak a clean cloth in the leftover herbal brew, and then lay out the hot cloth on a plate. Place the cooked herbs onto the cloth and fold the edges in enough to keep the herbs inside. Apply to the body while still warm.
How to Make a Tincture
Pack the desired herbs, whatever quantity you have slightly shredded or chopped, into a glass jar and barely cover them with vodka. (Plain vodka is best, but any liquor that is at least 80 percent alcohol, such as whiskey, will work.) Cap tightly and let stand, shaking the jar periodically (at least a few times a week). Store the jar in a cool dark place such as a cupboard or closet, or use brown or blue glass bottles that protect the herbs from sunlight.
Pay careful attention to your herbs as they steep. When the plant matter begins to break down—this can take a just few hours for flowers, a few days for leaves, and a few weeks for roots, barks, berries, or fungi—strain out the liquid. Adding a few drops of vegetable glycerin will make the tincture more bioavailable. Store the tincture in a dark place or in blue or brown glass bottles. Be sure to put a label and a date on the bottle so you remember what it is!
Some herbs, such as Cayenne (Capsicum annuum), Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), Nettles (Urtica dioica), Dandelions, Violet flowers (Viola odorata), Chive blossoms (Allium schoenoprasum), and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) are best tinctured in vinegar. Vinegar tinctures are also helpful for children and for those who wish to avoid alcohol.
Dosages
The dosages listed in this book are for adults, or people who weigh about 150 pounds. The adult dose for infusions and decoctions is ¼ cup of herbal brew taken four times a day at about 1 hour before or after a meal (medicinal teas are generally not taken with meals). The adult dose for a tincture is 20 drops in hot tea or water, three to four times a day. People who weigh substantially more or less than 150 pounds should adjust the dose accordingly. For instance, someone who weighs 75 pounds should take half the normal dose four times a day, and so on. Infants can take a tiny amount of herbal tea in a water bottle, and newborns can get the herb through their mother’s breast milk. (Moms should take the full adult dose.)
Cautions
There are many herbs that should be avoided by people who have medical conditions such as diabetes or high or low blood pressure or who are taking any kind of medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription. There are also herbs that can cause problems during pregnancy or be harmful to infants who can ingest the herbs through their mother’s breast milk. You can check for herb and drug interactions online by searching on “herbal contraindications and drug interactions” or “herbdrug interactions” or by visiting the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. WebMD often has good advice too.
While the majority of people can use most herbs without any negative effects, others may experience allergic reactions. If you have never used a particular herb, try a small amount and wait to see how it affects you before taking the full recommended dose.
Above all, if I say something is poisonous, I mean it!