Guest Author - Rebecca Lee Graf
Herbal extracts can be found at any healthfood store, herbal store, or online. Extracts are the same as tinctures. They are liquids that have extracted the medicinal properties from the herbs in a manner that gives them long shelf life.
Herbs cannot last long fresh. They can be dried, but dried herbs do not always fill the need we have. We would like to have a liquid form of the herb. That is where an herbal extract or tincture comes into the picture. Herbal extracts can be stored quickly, easily, and last for years.
If you want to make your own herbal extracts, you need a few basic items. Start off with a large clean bottle. Darker bottles are preferred but not really needed if you have access to a dark storage area. Your best bet would be a bottle that could hold up to six cups.
Choose the herb that you wish to extract. There are many that you can use in extracts including these items:
Arnica
Astragalus
Bearberry
Black cohosh
Burdock
Calendula
Cascara Sagrada
Cat’s Claw
Cayenne
Chamomile
Dandelion
Dang Gui
Echinacea
Elderberry
Elecampane
Ephedra
Fennel
Feverfew
Garlic
Gentian
Ginger
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Gotu Kola
Hawthorn
Horsetail
Kava-Kava
Licorice
Linden
Marshmallow
Motherwort
Mullein
Oats
Peppermint
Red Clovre
Red Raspberry
Reishi
Rosemary
Saw Palmetto
Schisandra
Siberian Ginseng
Skullcap
St. John’s Wort
Turmeric
Valerian
Vitex
In choosing your herb, make sure that which ones are only for external use. This is very important to avoid anything toxic. Research your herb. Talk with a certified herbalist to see which ones you should be using and what your intent is with the extracts.
Most extracts are created with alcohol. True vanilla extract contains rum or vodka. In creating herbal extracts, you are making the same type of creation as vanilla extract is. You will need at least five cups of vodka or other alcohol to make your herbal extract.
The reality is that you want the freshest herbs possible. When using fresh herbs, you will want to crush them to help release the properties or slice open stems, roots, or seeds. Otherwise, what you are trying to extract will be unobtainable. When you use dried herbs, you need to keep in mind that the herbs are dry and will need to be rehydrated before releasing properties.
Place 1 cup of your herbs in the jar. Pour 5 cups of alcohol in the same jar. Seal and place in a cool dark place for up to two months. Every few days shake up the mixture. If you are using dried herbs, you might need to pour in more liquid as the dried herbs absorb it. The end result is to have five to six cups of herbal extract.
Around week six, remove the jar from the dark area and strain the mixture through a sieve or cheesecloth. Press or squeeze the remainder of the herb to extract even more of the liquid that is still absorbed.
Pour the extract into small capped or corked bottles with a small funnel. You will have a few dozen of these small dark bottles in your cabinet. Use them when needed or share with a friend. You will find that they can last for several years.
Herbal extracts are a great way to get the benefits of your herbs when you cannot have the fresh or when you need a liquid form of it. Use them in teas, coffees, cooking, and on sores. You can also use vinegar instead of alcohol. Have some fun and see what the different liquids can give you in your herbal extracts.
NOTE: Remember that herbs are nature’s drugs. Treat them with care. Never take an herb because you heard that it might work for a condition. Always consult your pharmacist, physician, or certified herbalist.
