Getting started...Herbal info and the "medicine cabinet"

[mountain_huckleberry]

Hi,

I have been interested in learning more about herbal medicine and need to work on stocking the "medicine cabinet". Finances are an issue so I need to start with the basics and gradually work on expanding my knowledge and storehouse. If I could have afforded it I would have loved to take Dr Christopher's herbalist course, but it is just not possible at this time. I do use echinacia regularly when ill and have occassionally gathered dried herbs from the health food store for respiratory illness , sore throats, etc. Still, I have a long way to go in knowing what to keep on hand and rememberiing what is good for what.

That being said, I would love to have some good suggestions from those of you with lots of experience .

First, what are your favorite resources (books or articles) ?

What are the most important herbas and in what form to have on hand?

What is your favorite supplier with good prices for purchasing ??

Thanks!!

 

[goatlady2]

Just my personal experiences and stuff here - my very favorite most useful to me book resources are Today's Herbal Health by Louise Tenney and Green Pharmacy by James Duke. Important herbs will be individual choice depending on what health issure are in your family. As to form I tincture all my herbs as they keep medicinally potent for years in tincture form and are ready to use when needed. My very favorite supplier and only one the last few years is www.herbalcom.com No minimum order, free shipping, and excellent fresh herbs.

 

[Herbmountain]

As for sources I would trust Goatlady's. My source "Trinity Herbs" sold out to Starwest Botanicals. Very sad. So Im not sure of quality now.

Herbs for your arsenal:
"A little tip". Do not go crazy. It is not the quanity and variety but what you like to work with. Most good herbalists only use 20 herbs in her cabinet. I have at times had over 100 and found I kept with my usual 20 favorites".

Another good book for starting to make your own medicines is James Green, Medicine Making Handbook. It is simplistic and he explains the different forms of medicine making that is easy to understand.

Back to the arsenal:

Burdock- for infections, colds, flu, bites and good for blood cleansing.

Red Clover- used the same as above.

Dandelion Root- for excess water and cleansing of the liver and kidneys.

Chamomile flower- for anxiety and source of calcium.

Comfrey root- topically for injury and such.

Bupleurum root- good for heat rashes and blood cleansing.

Stone root and Gravel root- for stones in the gallbladder and kidney.

Cranberry, buchu- for bladder infections.

Echinacea root- infections

Goldenseal- infections.

Both the above good combined with burdock for infections.

Oregon grape root- colds, flu and infections.

Nettle leaf- boosting the immune system and infections.

Valerian- anxiety and stress.

Motherwort, cayenne,Shepared purse all stop bleeding internally and externally.

Astragalus root- boosting the immune.

Spirulina and Chlorella- a must in any arsenal for whole foods as well as clearing out old debrie in the body. Both are used in keeping the body PH neutral out of the acidic range.

Bee pollen in the whole form- for amino acids and as a whole food for energy.


[I have many more but these are the ones I use the most. This list takes care of most common illness, emergency aid to injury, protecting the body from pathogens, heat and cold stress. All the things that you would need for a "Bug Out" medicine cabinet].

 

[mountain_huckleberry]

Thanks goat lady and herbmountain. I am going to print out your suggestions and go from there. Would you suggest having a pound or more (?) of each of your most used herbs?? I only have my daughter with me but I do want to have enough stocked for more difficult times or to help others when they are ill.

As for specific needs... I would say that I would want to have a little more on hand for the respiratory system... I am prone to bronchial maybe even asthmatic type illness with infection. And I have wondered about pain relierf or antinflamitory herbs?? Is there a good alternative to reaching for that bottle of Ibuprofin???

Finally, herb mountain...I have noticed a lot of interest in elderberry but do not see that on your basics list. What are your thoughts?

Thanks again.!!!!

 

[goatlady2]

From my viewpoint elderberry is a specific for Influenza treatment and you were asking for a basic medicine cabinet list. Influenze is not considered a medicine cabinet illness. But elderberry is handy to have on hand. Do keep in mind that trying to keep bags of dried herbs on had can be a waste of your $$ - they do not store well, long-term, in their dried form which is why I suggested tincturing. A pound of herbs makes 2 or 3 quarts of tincture depending on how much herb you use per batch. Echinacea is very good for bacterial respiratory infections. Goldenseal is a high powered antibacterial not to be used lightly, excellent for when the bronchitis turns into pneumonia because you didn't take the echinacea for the bronchitis! Just my thoughts.

 

[Genealogist]

I just want to thank you for posting those questions!

The Genealogist

 

[Genealogist]

Do keep in mind that trying to keep bags of dried herbs on had can be a waste of your $$ - they do not store well, long-term, in their dried form which is why I suggested tincturing. A pound of herbs makes 2 or 3 quarts of tincture depending on how much herb you use per batch. Echinacea is very good for bacterial respiratory.

I understand that dried herbs lose their potency over time, just like some spices. But I have also heard that tinctures do the same, with the rate varying according to the storage medium. (Dark glass versus clear glass). Is there a general rate of potency loss for each of the saving methods?

The Genealogist

 

[goatlady2]

I don't think it's the shade of glass so much as where it's stored. DARK is very best, sunlight, or any light tends to deteriorate anything even tinctures so store in a dark cabinet. I personally use dark amber glass jars because that is what I have from my tincture business. I have tincture that is 10 years old that seems to work just as well as the 6 month old stuff when I take it, but I am gradually cycling it out with fresh as I have time. It's my understainding that most common herbs lose top medicinal potency at about 6 months storage which is why it's real important to know your herbs are fresh dried when you get them. I found a few bags that were 2-3 years old and when I dowsed them got that they were still medicinally potent, but not how potent, so I tossed them and got fresh. Also the finer prepared the herb (ground versus cut and sifted versus whole herb) predicates faster deterioration - more surface area exposed to air and dissipation. I have always gotten cut and sifted style and tinctured the majority of my herbs within a week of receipt and have had no problems with potency/action.

 

[Kathy in WV]

Hi goatlady2-

I have friends who go to the woods when they're sick and walk back out chewing on a piece of Goldenseal. The whole family swears by doing this. They chew a 1 inch piece all day. Usually feel a lot better in about 24-36 hours. I was thinking about going and getting my own since I know it grows above my old house. I'm wondering if I should dry it before tincturing or just tincture it fresh?? I need to buy myself a guide to tincturing and quit bugging you so much!! Thats one of the next things on my list to get! Kat

 

[goatlady2]

Kathy, you can tincture it fresh or dried, but Go Girl, Get some of that ASAP. It costs an arm and a leg to buy it as an herb! How lucky you can harvest it yourself. Just be careful and don't harvest too much at one time so as to leave enough to regenerate itself. Its the root you need to use by the way.

 

[tropicalfish]

goat lady and herbmountain,
I was reading in one of my new herb books that if you don't like the taste of vodka that you can use apple cider vinegar instead when making a tincture. What are your thoughts on this?

Also, how long would salves or lotions be good when they have been prepared with a tincture?

 

[tropicalfish]

I vote that goat lady, herbmountain, and summerthyme start teaching us herb classes! And anyone else that is an herbalist.

 

[goatlady2]

tropicalfish, You can always dilute the tincture in juice, or water, or anything when you take a dose! I've never used vinegar and haven't seen any info on using it. Personally, bleth!!! even diluted vinegar is vinegar to my taste whereas vodka and orange juice, oh yes. You can always put tincture in gelatin capsules and take immediately and never taste anything. As to your second post, I sort of thought that was what we all were doing, granted in drips and drabs. We have to be very careful in our advise on a public forum such as this, so it's safer to just answer particular questions prefaced with or ended with "This is my opinion" or "This is my experience" or some such statement. Keep those questions coming folks.

 

[tropicalfish]

As to your second post, I sort of thought that was what we all were doing, granted in drips and drabs. We have to be very careful in our advise on a public forum such as this, so it's safer to just answer particular questions prefaced with or ended with "This is my opinion" or "This is my experience" or some such statement. Keep those questions coming folks.

I understand that. I was just joking about it because we are always asking questions. And, I'm sure there will be plenty more.

 

[goatlady2]

Didn't mean to get so serious, but several years ago my business partner/fellow herbalist was reported to the VA Hospital locally as "practiscing medicine without a license!" Nothing came of it but a few phone calls, but we learned to be VERY careful who we talked to and what we said even though the problem was with the brother of one of our clients and hehadn't the foggiest what he was talking about.

 

[juco]

tropical fish, I've read the same thing about substituting vinegar for the vodka (may be we have the same book? )

Here's what I've been wondering, and perhaps one of the more experienced members can answer this for me--Is the tincture less effective if you don't use vodka?

It's not an issue of not liking the taste of vodka, it's more a problem of liking it too much