Making herbal remedies at home, using plants gathered from your own garden or window box, is extremely pleasant and satisfying. It is also very therapeutic, the time spent brewing a relaxing herbal infusion or blending soothing massage oil is all part of the healing process. This page shows you how to make basic remedies at your home, provides details on how to grow your own herbs, and gives you suggestions on what to buy.

Simple remedies, equipment and storage

 Chewing fresh herbs may be the simplest way of taking a remedy, but it is rarely palatable or convenient. Before using herbs, you need to extract their active constituents, and traditionally this has been by making teas, soaking the herb in water and then drinking the liquid. Alcohol will also extract these vital chemicals and wine has been used since ancient times to make herbal brews. We use tinctures, which are alcohol and water extracts, as these can be more convenient than brewing teas several times a day.

  Most herbs are used in combination with up to a dozen different plants included in the mixture. If you are using a single herb then the remedy is often called a simple. When making tears it is generally easier to mix the dried herbs first and then make the remedy, with tinctures it is to make the chosen remedy.
With creams and infused oils, professional herbalists will generally make separate mixtures for each individual herb and then blend them to suit individual needs. For home use though, where a remedy is being made for a specific patient or application, it is often just as easy to mix the dried herbs and make a combined extract.

Using Herbs Correctly
  While herbal medicine is generally regarded as quite safe, many of the plants involved are potentially toxic in high doses and therefore need to be used with caution. Never exceed the stated does and stop treatment if unexpected symptoms occur or existing ones worsen. Always be certain you are using the correct plant. This especially important when you are collecting herbs in the wild, comfrey leaves are easily mistaken for foxglove.

Basic equipment
  Never use aluminums saucepans or kettles for brewing your herbs as microscopic amounts of the metal may dissolve into the mixture. Always use stainless steel, ceramic or enameled cookware. Nylon sieves are also more suitable than metal ones and are easier to clean. Use wooden or stainless steel spatulas.
Although you can make most herbal remedy using basic kitchen equipment.
All equipment needs to be kept clean and sterile as herbal mixtures can easily go moldy during long-term storage if they become contaminated. If making herbal remedy regularly keep a separate set of utensils to avoid contamination with bacteria from food. Otherwise wash the equipment thoroughly in very hot water before using them and dry metal pans and metal spatulas in a hot oven.

Sterilizing equipment
  Herbal medicines usually keep well, but moldy will develop if non-sterile storage jars and bottles are used. There is rarely a problem with tinctures, the high alcohol content kills many bacteria, but creams and syrups rapidly deteriorate. Sterilization preparations sold for home wine-making or for baby’s bottles usually based on sodium hypochlorite are ideal.