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| Ginger glycerite |
Being in such a concentrated form, herbals should be kept up and away from children. Pets too for that matter.
Be sure to do your research and check for any drug interactions before using.
Because everyone's body is different, an herb used for a particular ailment may work great for one person but not another. Also, as many herbs do have the same properties and actions within the body, that doesn't necessarily mean they will all work the same in healing a particular ailment. There are several factors that one has to also take into consideration such as diet, lifestyle habits and medications. Take a few moments to read this → Herbal properties in the body
Tinctures - the concentrated form of the medicinal properties of an herb that has been extracted and preserved by using alcohol.
Glycerites - the concentrated form of the medicinal properties of an herb that has been extracted by using vegetable glycerine.
Elixirs - the concentrated form of the medicinal properties of an herb that has been extracted by using alcohol and raw honey.
Oxymels - the concentrated form of the medicinal properties of an herb that has been extracted by using apple cider vinegar and raw honey.
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| Herbals |
Supplies you will need:
sterilized glass jar with lid
fresh or dried herbs - chopped
vodka - 80 or 100 proof (for tinctures)
vegetable glycerin (for glycerite)
vodka and raw honey (for elixir)
apple cider vinegar and raw honey (for oxymel)
labels
1 ounce amber bottle with dropper
For your tincture, fill your jar 3/4 of the way with your chopped herb. Add your alcohol, filling to the top. Put on the lid and shake the contents. Make sure the herbs are all covered with your liquid. If not, add more liquid and shake again. Label with the date made, herb used and alcohol used. Place the jar in a cool dark place for 8 weeks. Be sure to shake the jar daily and add more alcohol if necessary.
At the end of the 8 weeks strain and discard the herbs. You can pour some of the tincture into your 1 ounce amber bottle or keep in the original jar using your eye dropper when needed. Be sure to store your jar and bottles in a cool dark place.
Glycerites, follow the steps as with the tinctures only add your vegetable glycerine instead of alcohol.
Elixirs, fill your jar 3/4 of the way with your herb. Now add your raw honey. The amount depends on how sweet you are wanting your elixir to be. You could go as much as 50/50 with your alcohol and honey. Next, take a chopstick or a knife or spoon and mix the honey up with the herbs. Now fill the jar up with your alcohol, put on the lid and give it a good shake. Be sure to label your jar and store it in a cool dark place for 8 weeks. Just be sure to give the jar a shake everyday.
At the end of the 8 weeks strain and discard the herbs. You can pour some of the elixir into your 1 ounce amber bottle or keep in the original jar using your eye dropper when needed. Be sure to store your jar and bottles in a cool dark place.
Oxymels, fill your jar 3/4 of the way with your herb. Pour in your raw honey and mix together with the herbs. The amount will depend on how sweet you are wanting it to be. You can go up to 50/50 with the apple cider vinegar and honey. Add your vinegar and mix again. Be sure to use a non-metal lid as the vinegar will corrode the metal. Be sure to label your jar and store in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks. Give the jar a shake daily.
At the end of 4 weeks strain and discard the herbs. You can pour some of the oxymel into your amber bottle or keep it in the original jar using the eye dropper when needed.
Dosages
What I have learned over the years from experience and talking with other herbalists is that the smaller the dose the better. If that smaller dose does not seem to be helping then you can always increase it the next dosage time. Everyone's body is different. The dosage that works for you may not work for someone else. This doesn't necessarily have to do with age or weight, it's just that everyone's body chemistry handles medicine differently, whether it's herbal or pharmaceutical. I have always used the following as my baseline for any of these herbal preparations. I ask that you do your research and find what works best for you.
If I'm making myself a cup of tea and want something to help me relax I'll put about 5 drops of lavender or chamomile herbal in a cup of warm water, grab a good book, go to my comfy chair and enjoy.
If I feel a cold coming on, or if I have been around someone that has had the flu or other illness, I'll add around 7 drops of an immunity booster, like elderberry or elderflower in 1/8 cup of water and then drink. I do this 3 times a day for 10 days. If after 2 days I'm not feeling any better I'll up the dosage to 10 drops. By taking the herbal 3 times a day for 10 days, it's staying in my system which gives it time to work. There seems to be this misconception that when using herbals internally or externally there will be instant results. It just doesn't happen that way. You have to give herbal medicine time to make it's way through your body.
If I have a cold, flu or other type of virus, I find that taking 10 drops of an anti-viral herbal, like an elderberry herbal, 3 times a day for 10 days helps shorten the duration and lessen my symptoms.
For an upset stomach I'll start with 7 drops of a ginger or bee balm herbal in up of water, then drink. I take this 3 times a day and that usually takes care of any discomfort I'm having that same day.
If you do your research, you will find that you can take up to 30 drops in one dose. So then from 1 drop to 30, that gives you some room to find what works the best for you.
Below is a short list of herbs and their medicinal properties. Do an herbal remedy search for the particular ailment or illness and you will come up with some of your own herbals to suit what you are wanting in your medicine cabinet. For additional herbal resource information click here... Links and Books
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| What's in your medicine cabinet? |
elderberry and elder flower - colds, flu, coughing, bronchitis, sinus infections, anti-inflammatory, great immunity buster, removes mucus buildup in the body.
lavender- nervousness, anxiety, nervous stomach, insomnia, tension headaches, depression.
calendula (Calendula officinalis) - anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent.
wild violet (Viola odorata) - headaches, anti-inflammatory, fever reducer, respiratory system, cough, bronchitis, asthma, sore, scratchy throat, insomnia.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) -
migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, cancers, blood clots, fevers, stomach aches, toothaches.
Ginger - nausea, motion sickness, stomach flu, congestion, chills, gas, bloating, colic, IBS.
Garlic - blood pressure, liver function, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anti-fungal. Can be used externally for treatment of viral skin infections, ear infections. Mix 1/4 teaspoon with oil, apply to skin. Or 3 drops in affected ear.
Bee balm ( Monarda) - digestion, gas, colic, bloating, menstrual cramps, nausea, vomiting, antiseptic, antibacterial, minor wounds, compress, insect stings, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, acne.
Turmeric - ulcers, heartburn, arthritis pain, cancers, preventing Alzheimer's, strong bones, anti-inflammatory, reduce blood sugar sore joints, improves blood flow, anti-fungal properties.
Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris) - throat inflammation due to sore throats and or tonsils, mouth uclers, gingivitis, cancers, IBS, headaches, fever.
