Home Herbal Medicine Making — FarmPal

Begin with tea, infusions, and simple tinctures before advancing to complex formulas.

• 💡 Infusions: pour hot water over leaves/flowers, steep covered
• 💡 Decoctions: simmer roots/bark for 15-30 minutes
• 💡 Master basics before moving to tinctures

Tinctures are alcohol extracts that preserve herbs for years and are quickly absorbed.

• 💡 80-proof vodka is standard menstruum
• 💡 Fresh plant: fill jar, cover with alcohol
• 💡 Dried plant: fill 1/2-2/3, cover with alcohol

Infuse dried herbs in carrier oil for topical applications, then add beeswax for salves.

• 💡 Use completely dried herbs to prevent mold
• 💡 Solar infusion: sunny windowsill 4-6 weeks
• 💡 Standard salve: 1 oz beeswax per cup oil

Syrups combine decoctions with honey or sugar for pleasant, medicinal doses.

• 💡 Elderberry syrup: 1 cup berries, 3 cups water, reduce by half, add 1 cup honey
• 💡 Honey preserves and adds antimicrobial properties
• 💡 Refrigerate syrups, they ferment at room temp

Stock essential remedies for common complaints: first aid, digestion, respiratory, nervine.

• 💡 Calendula salve for skin
• 💡 Elderberry syrup for immune support
• 💡 Chamomile tincture for nerves/digestion