🌿Part #3: How to Make Simple Herbal Products at Home - Medicinal Garden Series

Part 3 in the “Journey to a Medicinal Garden” series

“Plants are generous teachers if we just pay attention.” — Michael Moore, herbalist

You’ve planted, tended, and watched your herbs thrive. Now comes the rewarding part: transforming your harvest into healing remedies. This guide brings together everything you need — from harvesting to storage to making infused oils, tinctures, teas, and salves — so you can begin stocking your own home apothecary.

1. Harvesting — Timing & Technique

  • Flowers → harvest as they open (mid-morning, after dew dries).

  • Leaves → collect before flowering, when oils are strongest.

  • Roots & barks → dig in late fall or early spring when energy returns underground.

Tools & cleanliness
Use clean, sharp shears. Wash hands and tools.

Ethical harvest
Harvest only what you’ll use, leaving enough for the plant to thrive.

2. Drying — Preserving Without Losing Potency

Air drying methods:

  • Tie small bunches of herbs and hang them upside-down in a ventilated, shaded spot.

  • Use a breathable drying rack such as this hanging herb rack (or the one shown below) for better airflow.

  • Place herbs in a brown paper box and set in a warm, sunny spot (or in your car) until crisp. Visit this blog for more information,

Other options:

  • Dehydrator/oven: Keep between 95–110°F. Oven door cracked open.

  • Roots/barks: Wash, slice thin, dry low and slow.

Herbs are ready when they crumble (leaves/flowers) or snap (roots/bark).

3. Storage — Keeping Herbs Potent & Safe

  • Use dark glass jars, paper bags, or cotton sacks.

  • Store in a cool, dry cupboard away from sun.

  • Label with herb name, part used, and harvest date.

Potency usually lasts about a year (roots a bit longer).

4. Turning Herbs Into Simple Remedies

Understanding Ratios & Solvents

  • Ratios = herb (weight) : solvent (volume).

    • 1:5 dry tincture = 1 oz dried herb + 5 fl oz ethanol.

    • 1:2 fresh tincture = 1 oz fresh herb + 2 fl oz ethanol.

Solvent options:

  • Vodka 40% (80 proof ethanol): easiest to find, widely available.

  • Vodka 50% (100 proof ethanol): stronger preservation, extracts more resins.

  • Brandy (ethanol-based): smooth and traditional.

  • Vegetable glycerin: alcohol-free, kid-friendly, but weaker extraction.

  • Carrier oils:

    • Olive oil → affordable, long shelf life, soothing.

    • Coconut oil → stable, antifungal, but hardens in cold temps.

    • Grapeseed oil → light, neutral, but pricier and refined.

⚠️ Important: Use ethanol (ethylic alcohol) ONLY for tinctures. Never use Methanol as it is poisonous! Using 95% ethanol may require a permit, so most home herbalists use 40–50% vodka from stores.

A. Plantain / Thyme Infused Oil (Skin Soother, Antimicrobial Support)

  1. Use dried plantain leaves.

  2. Add 70% plantain + 30% dried thyme to a jar (thyme adds antimicrobial support).

  3. Cover with olive oil, making sure all herbs are fully submerged with no air bubbles.

  4. Infuse for 2 weeks in a warm spot or in a sunny area, shaking daily. Strain & store.

  5. To extend shelf life, float a thin layer of ethanol on top of the oil. Remove before use.

B. St. John’s Wort Infused Oil (Skin Soother and Nerve Pain Support)

St. John’s wort oil is valued for its help on nerve pain, bruises, burns, and joint aches.

  1. Fill a jar with fresh flowering tops.

  2. Cover completely with olive oil, removing all air bubbles.

  3. Place in a sunny window for 2–3 weeks. Oil will turn a rich ruby red.

  4. Strain, bottle, and store.

  5. Optionally, float a thin layer of ethanol on top to extend shelf life. Remove before use. 

✨ Want to dive deeper into St. John’s Wort? Discover its healing benefits here: St. John’s Wort – Nature’s Remedy in Our Backyard.

👉 To extend shelf life, you can float a thin layer of 50% vodka (ethanol) on top of the oil. Be sure to remove it before use, and always check that the oil looks and smells fresh — discard immediately if you notice spoilage, as contaminated oils can carry health risks.

C. Tinctures or Extracts (Ethanol-Based)

Dry Herb Tincture (1:5):

  • 1 oz dried herb + 5 fl oz vodka (40–50% ethanol).

  • Steep 4–6 weeks, shake daily. Strain & bottle.

Fresh Herb Tincture (1:2):

  • 1 oz fresh herb + 2 fl oz ethanol (ideally 95%, if legally available).

  • Steep 4–6 weeks, strain & bottle.

Dosage: often 1–5 ml, 1–4x/day (≈30 drops = 1 ml). Dosage depends on the herb, the individual’s bioavailability, and their affinity for the plant. The dosage for very strong herbs may be a few drops while others like Hawthorn can be taken by the tea spoon. Consult with your healthcare provider. 🌸 Not sure how much is right? Here’s a simple guide to understanding dosage.  

D. Glycerites (Sweet, Non-Alcoholic Tincture)

  • 1 oz dried herb + 5 fl oz liquid (3 parts glycerin : 1 part water).

  • Steep 4–6 weeks, shaking often. Strain & bottle.

👉 Note: Glycerites are naturally sweet and alcohol-free, making them pleasant tasting. However, they are generally less potent than ethanol tinctures because glycerin doesn’t extract as wide a range of medicinal compounds. They’re best for gentle remedies or when avoiding ethanol is important.

E. Teas

  • Leaves/flowers: 1 tsp–1 tbsp per cup, steep 5–10 min in hot water.

  • Roots/barks: simmer 15–30 min.

  • Medicinal strength: 1 oz herb per quart in hot water, steep several hours.

✨ Did you know your French press isn’t just for coffee? Here is how you can use it to brew a perfect cup of herbal tea.

✨ If this inspired you to start brewing, you’ll love my other blog: The Healing Mug – A Beginner’s Guide to Medicinal Herbal Teas. It’s filled with tips on making teas the right way, exploring tons of herbs, and trying out delicious, healing recipes.

F. Salves

  1. Begin with infused oil.

  2. Melt with beeswax (4 parts oil : 1 part beeswax).

  3. Optional: add a few drops of essential oil such as eucalyptus — but always use safe amounts (3 drops per ounce of salve is typical).

  4. Pour into tins, cool, label.

5. Starter Recipes

1. Elderberry Syrup (Adapted from Darcey Blue French)

Darcey Blue’s Blue Turtle Botanicals Blog

  • ¼ cup dried elderberries

  • 2 tbsp elderflowers

  • 2 tsp ginger chips

  • 1 tsp cinnamon chips

  • 4 oz boiling water

  • 2 oz 100-proof vodka (for shelf stable)

  • ¼–½ lemon, juiced

  • 4 oz raw honey or sugar

Steps: Steep herbs in boiling water + ethanol overnight. Strain, add lemon and equal honey, bottle.

🌿 Curious about the benefits of elderberry syrup? Learn more in my post: Elderberry – A Natural Way to Boost Your Immune System.

2. Infused Oils

(see section above)

3. Salves

White Pine Bark Salve: For sore muscles & chest rubs. Use infused pine bark oil + beeswax.

Calendula Citrus/Gardenia Salve: Use calendula infused oil + beeswax. Once melted and off heat, add a few drops of citrus or gardenia essential oil.

4. Herbal Teas

  • Relaxing Blend: Chamomile + lemon balm + lavender.

  • Sleep Blend: Lemon balm + skullcap + passionflower.

  • Digestive Blend: Chamomile + fennel seed + ginger + star anise.

 

📚 References

 

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