AromaTherapy
What Is AromaTherapy?
Therapy Makes Scents
50 Uses of Essential Oils
Herbal Info
Introduction To Herbs
Collecting Wild Herbs
Grandma/Grandpa's Remedies
Herbal Tea Collection
Top Ten Researched Herbs
Growing
Common Companions
Drying/Preserving
Feeding/Fertilizing
Harvesting/Drying
Growing Indoors
Insects In The Garden
Planting/Cultivating
Natural Child Care
Herbs & Children
Natural Remedies For Children
Using Essential Oils With Children
Herbal Medicine For Children
Herbal Treatments For Children
Natural Beauty
Homemade Beauty Solutions
Essential Oils In The Bath
Essential Oils & Affect On Skin
Natural Health Care
Miscellaneous
Therapeutic Teas & Mixtures
Honey As A healer
Aphrodisiacs
Herbs For Liver Problems
Herbs For Obesity
Herbs For Quitting Smoking
Infertility
Native American Herbal Remedies
Natural Care For Hair Loss
Dealing With Head Lice
Herbs For Arthritis
Natural Arthritis Care
Herbs For High Blood Pressure
Herbs For Kidney Stones
Blood/Circulation
Herbs For Circulation
Herbs For Hypoglycemia
Herbs For Diabetes
Herbs For High Cholesterol
Herbs For Edema
Resources
Herbs
Aromatherapy
Alternative Treatments
Natural Products
Ayurveda
Conditions and Diseases
Beauty
Nutrition
Health Care
Self Help
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How do I harvest my herbs?
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Herb gathering is a meticulous art; herbs should be picks at exactly the right moment when their various qualities are at their peak. For most herbs, this is usually during late spring and summer, and in the morning. Leaves should be picked young, just before the flowers open, when the leaf shoots contain concentrated medicinal powers.
Flowers are very fragile, so you should gather them the moment they open, before they have a chance to pollinate.
Seeds should be dried out in the sun, however keep a watch on them as the wind may blow them away.
Barks and roots are best gathered in spring and autumn when the roots are thick and bursting with sap.
Drying herbs.
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As soon as you've picked, your herbs take them indoors as soon as possible, and tie them in small bunches. Herbs should always be dried out in the driest, airiest and darkest place you can find. Your airing cupboard should provide the ideal environment. You can dry them in the microwave but I don't like this method, although it's perfectly acceptable for drying barks and roots.
You herbs are dried out when the leaves and stalks feel crisp to touch.
There are 3 different ways to dry herbs for future use, be it cooking or ritual use.
- The first is to make a drying screen. Take a piece of plastic window screen mesh, and fasten it to a wooden frame, fastening it to the sides of the wood. This leaves room for the air to circulate under the screen, for faster drying, and also prevents the herbs from becoming moldy. Allow them to dry in a cool, dry place. It doesn't matter if it is warm or cool.
- The second way is to use silicon gel beads, and putting them in the microwave. This is the fastest method, but also expensive. Silica beads are found in packets in new shoe boxes, inside purses, or can be purchased via mail order. Most stores do not carry them. imes vary, by the type of herb.
- The third way is by hanging them to dry. This is best with flowers or herbs with longer stems. You can tie them in a bunch and hang them upside down, or just hang them singly on a piece of cord, etc. stretched across a room. They must be upside down! This method actually takes the longest. Most flowers require being hung for two weeks.
To use the herbs, you must have a mortar & pestle. They must be ground up, and the seeds removed. It takes about 1 hour to grind up the herbs for proper consistancy. They must be ground up! If you are using them for cooking, leave them on the stalks until you are ready to use them. Growing and preparing the herbs yourself, makes the magic stronger. You have had a hand in the growing, cutting, and preparation of the herbs, therefore they have a connection to you.
If you don't have a lot of space to grow them, You can make many types of containers to grow them in. A good guide for this purpose is All About Herbs from Ortho Books. An excellent guide to finding herbs, and their uses, and what part of the plant to use, is The Herb Book by John Lust. The book to learn about drying them in the microwave is called Herb Drying Handbook by Nora Blose and Dawn Cusick.
More Drying Techniques:
Oven drying: Put the herbs on a sheet in a thin layer and place them in a low setting oven.
- Microwave drying: Put the herbs on a plate and set the microwave on low. According to your microwave and how much herbs you have in it, it can take about 2-5 minutes.
- To dry leaves and flowers: Spread the leaves and flowers in a basket. This will take about 1-2 weeks before it's dried.
- To dry seeds: Hang bunches of flowers inside a paper bag. The dried seeds will fall down to the bottom of the bag.
- The herbs are ready when they are as dry as paper and they crumble when you rub them between your fingers
Storing your herbs.
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You should store your dried herbs in dark jars, if you haven't got any dark jars, put a stick around them. You must store your herbs in a dark dampless place; nothing ruins your efforts more, than exposing them to sunlight and damp. Heat and light extract all the goodness.
Some herbs can also be frozen. Specially herbs with soft leaves like Comfrey, Basil, Borage, Fennel, Dill and Parsley
Remember to label and date your jars, dried herbs normally keep for a year, and roots and barks two years
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Colds/Flu/Respiratory
Beating The Cold Bug
Herbs For Common Cold
Herbs For Cough
Natural Asthma Care
Natural Care For Fevers
Digestion/Stomach
Herbs For Constipation
Herbs For Diarrhea
Herbs For Digestion
Herbs For Motion-Sickness
For Men
Herbs For Prostatic Hypertrophy
Herbs For The Prostate
Herbs For Impotence
Natural Care For Prostatis
For Women
Anemia During Pregnancy
Back Pain During Pregnancy
Fertility & Contraception
Herbs For Childbirth
Herbs For Delayed Menses
Herbs For Menopause
Herbs For Post Childbirth
Herbs For PMS/Menopause
Herbs For Post Partum
Herbs For Pre-Menstrual Tension
Headaches/Migraines/Insomnia
Get A Good Night's Sleep
Herbs For Headaches
Herbs For Insomnia
Herbs For Migraines
More On Insomnia
Injuries
Herbs For Burns & Scalds
Natural Care For Bone Fractures
Herbs For Dog Bites
Skin Ailments
Herbs For Eczema
Herbs For Poison Ivy
Natural Acne Treatments
Natural Care For Dermatitis
Natural Care For Stretchmarks
Natural Care For Wrinkles
Stop Cold & Canker Sores
Natural Pet Care
Herbal Healing For Pets
All Purpose Herbal Pet Kit
Dealing With Fleas
Pets & Essential Oils
Traveling With Catnip |
