Renaissance and Modern Herbal Preparations
This article comes from a class I taught at LORE, the Loyal Order of Renaissance Enthusiasts. The regular type is the outline, and the italicized are from the lecture and additional information.
Powdered Herbs
The easiest way to powder herbs in our time is a good coffee grinder. For the Renaissance times, a mortar and pestle were an herbalist’s best friend; or rather, the herbalist’s apprentice’s best friend.
Some examples of how a powdered herb would be used include:
Blend powdered herbs with a bit of honey to bind the mixture. Pinch off bits of the resulting sticky substance and roll into balls, then flattening them. (If the balls seem too moist, roll them in a bit of flour to soak up the excess moisture.) Dry the herbal pills in a dehydrator, an oven set on pre-heat, or outdoors on a warm day, covered with a cloth. Store the dried pills in an air-tight container.
This is not something that I generally prepare, nor would it be something prepared often in Renaissance times. However, for a quick method of traveling with medicine that won’t take up much space, it’s not a bad concept. Herbs that you might consider powdering and putting into pill form might be Echinacea, Goldenseal, Chamomile, White Willow Bark and Ginger.
Teas
Pour boiling water over fresh or dried herbs and let sit 2-3 minutes. There is little medicinal quality to a tea, but because of warmth and weak herbal quality, people will often feel better.
In class, we made a weak tea, at 2 minutes, and a strong tea at 5. It’s entirely to your taste.
Infusions
If you can make a cup of tea, you can make an infusion. Fill a teapot with one quart of boiling water. Then throw a large handful of fresh herbs or an ounce or more of dried herbs in. Add some honey, if desired, and let the mixture steep for ten (weak infusion) to twenty (strong infusion) minutes. Now strain and drink.
We made a strong infusion of chamomile, which would be used to treat nausea or ulcer-type symptoms. You must be careful, however, when dealing with pregnant women or children. It is preferable not to use chamomile during the first three months of pregnancy, as it can bring on uterine contractions and cause miscarriage. However, if you have nothing else, use a weak infusion or strong tea only. Children do not need anything stronger than a weak infusion, so any under 12 or who are small should only be given the weak.
Infusions are also used for baths – a later topic.
Decoctions
Making a decoction involves boiling your mixture. It is usually made from the tougher parts of a plant -- the roots, seeds or bark. Put one ounce or more of the herb parts, cut or crushed, in a quart of water and cover the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Steep and strain the mixture. Drink or cool and apply externally.
We had a couple of examples of how decoctions could be used. We made a combination of comfrey and black cohosh decoction, and Angelika told the story of learning of comfrey from her mother. For whatever reason, I can’t tell the story without the Irish accent. Comfrey, being a demulcent, and black cohosh, being a pain killer – this decoction would be good for healing open wounds. However, I showed how a decoction could then also be infused, and we added marigolds (calendula) to the cooling decoction as an antiseptic. If there was the chance of infection, I recommended adding either Echinacea or Goldenseal root to the decoction. This could then be used in a compress – see later section.
Additionally, one of the things one can do with a decoction is reduce the amount of liquid through boiling. If you take marshmallow root and boil it until it is about half the liquid amount you started with, then let it cool, you have a mouthwash that can be used to heal toothache pains. Be advised, and advise anyone you give this to, that it is not a cure for the tooth problem, and they will still need to see a dentist, even if the pain stops. It’s symptom relief, not cause relief.
Tinctures
You can use organic apple cider vinegar or as close to 100 proof alcohol as you can get. Most use a good brand of Vodka. Everclear would be the best. Life span of apple cider vinegar is reported to be about 1 year where as alcohol is indefinite. Apple cider vinegar has its own health benefits and children can take the tinctures as well. Put your herb in a glass jar that has a tight fitting lid. Cover the herb completely with your choice of liquid. Next day top off your jar to be sure the herb is totally covered after absorbing the liquid. Shake your jar a couple of times a day. Keep it in a dark place. You can leave your herb in from 2 weeks to 6 months. After 6 months the liquid will no longer extract the medicines from the herb. Strain the herb through several layers of cheese cloth. A rice press works well to really squeeze the juice out from the herb. Put the liquid in a dark glass jar and store in a cool, dry, dark place. Tinctures can then be taken 15-30 drops at a time, depending upon size.
For this class, we prepared a tincture of Echinacea – something most everyone can use. There are a few things to keep in mind about Echinacea. First, it’s an herbal antibiotic or antimicrobial that is specific to the lymphatic system – in other words, it helps your body’s lymph nodes do what they’re supposed to do, only better. Next, when choosing the Echinacea, make sure that it is Echinacea Purpurea, and not any other species. While Echinacea Augustifolia will work, it’s about 1/3 the strength of Echinacea Purpurea. Echinacea Pallida is a plant with pretty purple flowers. This tincture is one to use when you want a short-term boost to your immune system – for instance, if someone in your household or work area has a cold, take it so that you won’t catch the cold. Also keep in mind that people with auto-immune disorders, such as Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis, may not want to take something that boosts an immune system that already attacks itself. Echinacea has been shown in studies published by the German E Commission (get familiar with this one, it’s a great resource) to significantly reduce the likelihood of catching a cold or reducing the length and severity of it if you do catch it. It will do you little good to take it once you have the cold, unfortunately.
Tinctures are good to use when you have need of a fast working remedy. The alcohol puts it into your blood stream very quickly. So, if you had a tincture of willow bark, you could take it for a headache. For those who are experienced enough, they could make a tincture of foxglove, which acts in the same manner as digitalis. That’s not one I’d recommend for a beginner or even intermediate student, and it’s not one I’d ever use, without a whole lot more letters behind my name.
Infused Oils
Herbal infused oils are made by steeping the plant material in oil, and alternatively, keeping the infusion warm over a short period of time, or cold over a longer period of time, to extract the beneficial constituents of the herb. In the past, herbal infused oils were extensively used for all medicinal, cosmetic and perfumery applications.
Infused oils are similar to essential oils, in that they have many of the same properties, and can also retain the benefits of other plant constituents that are not present in essential oils. Another advantage of herbal infused oils is that they can be easily prepared at home, and do not require any special equipment. Also, because they are not as concentrated as essential oils are, infused oils can often be used without further dilution.
As the water content in fresh herbs might encourage the growth of fungi (mold) and bacteria, infused oils are best prepared from fully dried plant materials.
After choosing the herb or combination of herbs based on application and skin type, prepare your herbal infused oils as follows:
Half-fill a mason jar (a heat resistant glass jar, with an air-tight cap) with well dried plant material. The plant material should be crushed or crumbled, but not powdered.
Add to the jar with the herbs a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for every cup of oil that you're going to use. As with the plant material amount, this is based on the volume of the jar. Place the lid on and shake vigorously to distribute the vinegar. Shake the jar several times, over a few hours. Vinegar acts as a mild solvent, and helps release constituents that are not oil-soluble.
Fill the jar with a cold pressed oil that has good keeping (shelf life) qualities. Jojoba, macadamia and high-oleic sunflower oil are all suitable for herbal infused oils.
Firmly fasten the cap, and keep the jar with the oil infusion in a warm place (45ºC / 113ºF) for at least 24 hours.
Gentle heat and a sufficiently long steeping time are fundamental to extract from the plant material its beneficial properties without losing the most volatile constituents, which would evaporate if the infusion is exposed to high temperatures. You can for instance keep your jar on a sunny windowsill, or place it in an "incubation box" heated by a reading lamp, or use a crock pot on the appropriate setting (remember, the temperature should never go above 50ºC / 122º F).
At the end of the steeping period, filter the oil through a sieve and then through a cheesecloth.
If you want to keep your oil as a "single infusion", squeeze well the cheesecloth to reclaim as much oil as possible.
Double and triple strength infused oils are made by adding the infused oil to a new batch of plant material, and repeating the process.
The oil that we worked on in class was a cold-pressed oil that Tristi and I started at Escondido in the Fall. It has been sitting on my shelves, being shaken twice a day for four months. They got to see the process of making the oil into a salve, and we talked about the uses that the oils can have. These can be used in liniments, salves, ointments, etc. They can be made in advance, and then combined as needed into proportions that are appropriate for the project. Shelves and bottles are very useful for these longer-term projects.
We also discussed that you should use glass wherever possible, but for time-period correctness, it would have been pottery, particularly between 1200 and 1600, when for whatever reason, glass was in very short supply. If you got lucky, you could pay a fortune for blue glass found in the London markets, but most herbalists didn’t make that kind of money.
Balms/Salves/Ointments
Skin balms, salves and ointments are easy-to-make semi-solid blends of beeswax (or some vegetable wax) with one or more liquid oils. The distinction between these applications simply depends on their cosmetic or therapeutic properties.
In a wide sense, skin balms are general purpose cosmetic applications, designed to soften and nourish the skin. Typically made from oils that have superior emollient, soothing and nourishing properties, they are ideal for hands, feet and elbows, and to soothe extra dry, chapped skin.
Being anhydrous (waterless), these applications are absorbed slower than creams, and offer therefore the best choice for those skin, muscular and joint conditions that benefit from long, slow massage. Simple skin balms, made from healing oils (such as avocado, virgin coconut, corn, sweet almond, apricot kernel, rice bran, and mango or Shea butter) are a great way to restore suppleness and softness to tired feet, hands that suffer from contact with irritating substances, chapped elbows or rough knees. The mechanical action of massage and the friction of the massaging hands on the skin generate extra heat, which contributes to opening the pores and making the skin more receptive to absorb into its deepest layers the active principles contained in the wax-and-oil blend. For this reason, skin balms are typically used as bases for healing salves, therapeutic ointments and pomades.
When healing herbs are infused in one of the base oils, the nourishing and warming action is combined with the benefits of the chosen herbs, reaching the deepest layers of the skin. It is important to keep in mind that, since possible skin problems would be magnified by these "deep reaching" preparations, synthetic fragrances and herbs that might cause skin irritation should always be avoided when preparing salves and ointments.
A simpler alternative to infusing herbs is adding, at the end of the process and just before pouring the base balm into storage containers, a few drops of one or more essential oils, chosen depending on skin type and desired effects
Preparing a skin balm base
The ingredients in a skin balm are basically two: one or more liquid oils, and some beeswax or vegetable wax. Skin balms, salves, ointments and pomades are relatively soft and easy to spread, and require 4 to 7 parts of liquid oil(s) for each part of beeswax.
Measure out the ingredients by weight into your chosen melting pot.
Place this container into the double boiler, half-filled with water, and heat until the beeswax is melted.
Remove from the heat and let cool for several hours.
Once the balm is set, check its consistency and "feel". If the balm is too hard or feels "waxy", add an extra part of liquid oil, and remelt it in the double boiler.
Repeat the previous step until your balm reaches the desired consistency. Remember to take notes, which will help you when you wish to replicate the same recipe.
When the desired consistency has been reached, melt down the balm once more if you would like to add any essential oils or Vitamin E, which act as a preservative for the oil base. If essential oils or Vitamin E are used, mix well before pouring into individual storage containers.
For making salves you follow the recipe above for oil. After you have your herbal oil to the scent or strength you desire you warm it up just enough so it will melt wax. You add approx. 1 Tbls. of organic beeswax or solidified butter (i.e., Shea) for every cup of oil. Stir your beeswax into the warmed oil until it’s dissolved. Pour into dark glass containers and close with a lid. If you find your salve is not as thick as you wish you can reheat it and add more beeswax.
There’s not a lot to add to this – the class had to see that the amount of wax that gets added depends on the other solidifiers that are used, such as the Shea butter or Coconut oil, which is solid in cold form. One thing that I learned, because I used Coconut oil for the first time, is that there is more of a gel-like quality than waxy quality to a salve made with it.
Baths
When used in the tub, the medicinal properties of an herbal infusion will be absorbed through the skin. Add 2 quarts of a strained infusion to your bath water.
Here is where an infusion in large quantity comes in very handy. We discussed that when my son was little, he was prone to urinary tract infections, and grew to hate going to the doctor. Adding a decoction of dandelion root and either Echinacea or Goldenseal, with an infusion of parsley, into his bath generally took care of the infections. Baths are particularly useful with children.
Again, I wanted to point out that what goes onto your body goes into your body, and suggested that when they return home, they do the experiment where you take a piece of onion or garlic and put it on the bottom of your foot, and then time how long it takes for you to taste it. It is a great method of showing how the skin is an organ that is very effective. It’s also an excellent way to explain why you want to be careful what goes on your body.
Poultices
For making poultices, you can use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs can be bruised and applied directly to the skin, or if the skin is particularly sensitive, the poultice can be placed between layers of gauze.
When using dried herbs they must be moistened first. Make a paste by adding hot water or apple cider vinegar to the dried plant material. Keep the poultice warm. You may want to cover the skin with a thin layer of oil as this protects the skin and may make removing the poultice easier.
In a compress, an infusion or decoction is made first and a piece of clean cloth or gauze is soaked in the resultant liquid. The cloth or gauze is applied to the affected area as hot as can be tolerated. You can cover the compress with plastic wrap, to keep it hot longer, and change it when it cools off.
Mustard Plaster
A mustard poultice is a time-honored therapy: Your great-grandmother may have used mustard poultices and plasters to treat congestion, coughs, bronchitis or pneumonia. A mustard plaster offers immediate relief to discomfort in the chest and actually helps to treat infectious conditions - a much needed therapy. It works mainly by increasing circulation, perspiration and heat in the afflicted area.
The person receiving the treatment should sit or lie down comfortably. The best poultices are made from black mustard seeds ground fresh in a coffee grinder, but ordinary yellow mustard powder will do in a pinch. To prepare a mustard poultice, mix 1/2 cup mustard powder with 1 cup flour and stir hot water into the mix to form a paste. Spread the mixture on a piece of cotton or muslin has been soaked in hot water. Cover with a second piece of dry material. Lay the moist side of the poultice across the person's chest or back.
Leave the poultice on for 15 to 30 minutes; promptly remove it if the person experiences any discomfort. The procedure is likely to promote perspiration and reddening of the chest. Give the individual plenty of liquids during the procedure and encourage them to take a warm or cool shower afterward, then rest or gently stretch for 1/2 hour. Do not administer this treatment to a young child, elderly person or the seriously ill without consulting a health care professional.
Here, there are several things to note. First, with any compress, you want to make sure that you include everything that you’re going to need. If a wound needs to first be cleaned, use an infusion of marigold flowers (calendula) to wash it out. If there’s pain along with it, add chamomile flowers to the infusion, which acts as a mild topical anesthetic. We discussed a friend of mine who put his hand through a printing press, removing many layers of skin and all his fingernails. Using a combination that would eventually become what Ravenwood affectionately refers to as Goop, we had his skin growing back within a day, and fingernails within 3. When he did it again, all the way up to his shoulder six months later, we let the doctors deal with the broken bones. There are places where you need to stop if there are more qualified modalities available.
Specifically with the mustard plaster, watch those who have fair skin – you will most likely want to put a piece of gauze between the skin and the poultice, because mustard can burn and cause blisters. It’s very effective, but be careful not to do more harm than good.
Compresses
In a compress, an infusion or decoction is made first and a piece of clean cloth or gauze is soaked in the resultant liquid. The cloth or gauze is applied to the affected area as hot as can be tolerated. You can cover the compress with plastic wrap, to keep it hot longer, and change it when it cools off.
In showing decoctions and infusions, we made a decoction of comfrey root and black cohosh root. This slimy mixture could then be used in a compress for a wound that was open and in pain. Comfrey is a demulcent, that will knit the skin back together, and black cohosh is a pain killer. However, with an open wound, you also want to be able to prevent infection, so we added an infusion of marigolds to the decoction, to act as a powerful antiseptic.
Juices
Chop and press fresh plant parts to make juice, then add a bit of water and press again. This is excellent for getting vitamins and minerals from the plant. Drink the juice right away for the best results.
This is not something I’ve tried, but it is a method of obtaining certain elements from the plants. I’m afraid I’m one of those who will take a vitamin, or actually eat the vegetable in question. But, it is a method of preparing herbs.
Syrups
1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup glycerin, 1 cup strong herb infusion. Combine honey and infusion in a pan and bring to a boil. Add glycerin. Pour into clean bottles and let cool. Keep refrigerated. Yield is about 2 cups.
Here, we talked about using a decoction of cherry bark (a cough suppressant) with slippery elm, another bark (a demulcent to sooth the throat), and an infusion of marigolds to combine with the honey (an expectorant), so that any coughing that someone did was productive only, and not hacking. Make sure when using a syrup that you shake the bottle before using it, particularly after it’s been in the refrigerator a while.
Powdered Herbs
The easiest way to powder herbs in our time is a good coffee grinder. For the Renaissance times, a mortar and pestle were an herbalist’s best friend; or rather, the herbalist’s apprentice’s best friend.
Some examples of how a powdered herb would be used include:
- Cayenne pepper. This is a powerful, although painful, styptic, meaning that it causes the blood to clot very quickly. Because of the capsaicin contained in Cayenne, it is almost like cauterizing a wound, and the person you’re treating is not going to be happy. However, it will accomplish the job. (As an aside, if you’re around someplace with spider webs, it’s a much less painful way of accomplishing the same thing, although slower.)
- Licorice root. This is a mild anti-depressant which, if used in food (works well with chicken, corn [Keeping in mind of course that one would not serve corn to a human in Renaissance times] and green beans) can control most mild mood swings. You do have to be careful, though – do not use it on anyone with high blood pressure, or who is pregnant. It won’t harm the rest of the family to eat it, and because a powdered herb has not been processed in any fashion, it is potent enough that a little goes a long way. You would use it as you would most spices.
- Goldenseal Root powder. This is a powerful “all-heal” herb, with antibiotic or antimicrobial properties. It is the fastest cure for a baby’s serious diaper rash. It is also exceedingly expensive (about $239/lb). Use sparingly, and again, a little bit goes a long way.
- Powdered herbs are also used when making poultices, something that we will cover a bit later.
Blend powdered herbs with a bit of honey to bind the mixture. Pinch off bits of the resulting sticky substance and roll into balls, then flattening them. (If the balls seem too moist, roll them in a bit of flour to soak up the excess moisture.) Dry the herbal pills in a dehydrator, an oven set on pre-heat, or outdoors on a warm day, covered with a cloth. Store the dried pills in an air-tight container.
This is not something that I generally prepare, nor would it be something prepared often in Renaissance times. However, for a quick method of traveling with medicine that won’t take up much space, it’s not a bad concept. Herbs that you might consider powdering and putting into pill form might be Echinacea, Goldenseal, Chamomile, White Willow Bark and Ginger.
Teas
Pour boiling water over fresh or dried herbs and let sit 2-3 minutes. There is little medicinal quality to a tea, but because of warmth and weak herbal quality, people will often feel better.
In class, we made a weak tea, at 2 minutes, and a strong tea at 5. It’s entirely to your taste.
Infusions
If you can make a cup of tea, you can make an infusion. Fill a teapot with one quart of boiling water. Then throw a large handful of fresh herbs or an ounce or more of dried herbs in. Add some honey, if desired, and let the mixture steep for ten (weak infusion) to twenty (strong infusion) minutes. Now strain and drink.
We made a strong infusion of chamomile, which would be used to treat nausea or ulcer-type symptoms. You must be careful, however, when dealing with pregnant women or children. It is preferable not to use chamomile during the first three months of pregnancy, as it can bring on uterine contractions and cause miscarriage. However, if you have nothing else, use a weak infusion or strong tea only. Children do not need anything stronger than a weak infusion, so any under 12 or who are small should only be given the weak.
Infusions are also used for baths – a later topic.
Decoctions
Making a decoction involves boiling your mixture. It is usually made from the tougher parts of a plant -- the roots, seeds or bark. Put one ounce or more of the herb parts, cut or crushed, in a quart of water and cover the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Steep and strain the mixture. Drink or cool and apply externally.
We had a couple of examples of how decoctions could be used. We made a combination of comfrey and black cohosh decoction, and Angelika told the story of learning of comfrey from her mother. For whatever reason, I can’t tell the story without the Irish accent. Comfrey, being a demulcent, and black cohosh, being a pain killer – this decoction would be good for healing open wounds. However, I showed how a decoction could then also be infused, and we added marigolds (calendula) to the cooling decoction as an antiseptic. If there was the chance of infection, I recommended adding either Echinacea or Goldenseal root to the decoction. This could then be used in a compress – see later section.
Additionally, one of the things one can do with a decoction is reduce the amount of liquid through boiling. If you take marshmallow root and boil it until it is about half the liquid amount you started with, then let it cool, you have a mouthwash that can be used to heal toothache pains. Be advised, and advise anyone you give this to, that it is not a cure for the tooth problem, and they will still need to see a dentist, even if the pain stops. It’s symptom relief, not cause relief.
Tinctures
You can use organic apple cider vinegar or as close to 100 proof alcohol as you can get. Most use a good brand of Vodka. Everclear would be the best. Life span of apple cider vinegar is reported to be about 1 year where as alcohol is indefinite. Apple cider vinegar has its own health benefits and children can take the tinctures as well. Put your herb in a glass jar that has a tight fitting lid. Cover the herb completely with your choice of liquid. Next day top off your jar to be sure the herb is totally covered after absorbing the liquid. Shake your jar a couple of times a day. Keep it in a dark place. You can leave your herb in from 2 weeks to 6 months. After 6 months the liquid will no longer extract the medicines from the herb. Strain the herb through several layers of cheese cloth. A rice press works well to really squeeze the juice out from the herb. Put the liquid in a dark glass jar and store in a cool, dry, dark place. Tinctures can then be taken 15-30 drops at a time, depending upon size.
For this class, we prepared a tincture of Echinacea – something most everyone can use. There are a few things to keep in mind about Echinacea. First, it’s an herbal antibiotic or antimicrobial that is specific to the lymphatic system – in other words, it helps your body’s lymph nodes do what they’re supposed to do, only better. Next, when choosing the Echinacea, make sure that it is Echinacea Purpurea, and not any other species. While Echinacea Augustifolia will work, it’s about 1/3 the strength of Echinacea Purpurea. Echinacea Pallida is a plant with pretty purple flowers. This tincture is one to use when you want a short-term boost to your immune system – for instance, if someone in your household or work area has a cold, take it so that you won’t catch the cold. Also keep in mind that people with auto-immune disorders, such as Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis, may not want to take something that boosts an immune system that already attacks itself. Echinacea has been shown in studies published by the German E Commission (get familiar with this one, it’s a great resource) to significantly reduce the likelihood of catching a cold or reducing the length and severity of it if you do catch it. It will do you little good to take it once you have the cold, unfortunately.
Tinctures are good to use when you have need of a fast working remedy. The alcohol puts it into your blood stream very quickly. So, if you had a tincture of willow bark, you could take it for a headache. For those who are experienced enough, they could make a tincture of foxglove, which acts in the same manner as digitalis. That’s not one I’d recommend for a beginner or even intermediate student, and it’s not one I’d ever use, without a whole lot more letters behind my name.
Infused Oils
Herbal infused oils are made by steeping the plant material in oil, and alternatively, keeping the infusion warm over a short period of time, or cold over a longer period of time, to extract the beneficial constituents of the herb. In the past, herbal infused oils were extensively used for all medicinal, cosmetic and perfumery applications.
Infused oils are similar to essential oils, in that they have many of the same properties, and can also retain the benefits of other plant constituents that are not present in essential oils. Another advantage of herbal infused oils is that they can be easily prepared at home, and do not require any special equipment. Also, because they are not as concentrated as essential oils are, infused oils can often be used without further dilution.
As the water content in fresh herbs might encourage the growth of fungi (mold) and bacteria, infused oils are best prepared from fully dried plant materials.
After choosing the herb or combination of herbs based on application and skin type, prepare your herbal infused oils as follows:
Half-fill a mason jar (a heat resistant glass jar, with an air-tight cap) with well dried plant material. The plant material should be crushed or crumbled, but not powdered.
Add to the jar with the herbs a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for every cup of oil that you're going to use. As with the plant material amount, this is based on the volume of the jar. Place the lid on and shake vigorously to distribute the vinegar. Shake the jar several times, over a few hours. Vinegar acts as a mild solvent, and helps release constituents that are not oil-soluble.
Fill the jar with a cold pressed oil that has good keeping (shelf life) qualities. Jojoba, macadamia and high-oleic sunflower oil are all suitable for herbal infused oils.
Firmly fasten the cap, and keep the jar with the oil infusion in a warm place (45ºC / 113ºF) for at least 24 hours.
Gentle heat and a sufficiently long steeping time are fundamental to extract from the plant material its beneficial properties without losing the most volatile constituents, which would evaporate if the infusion is exposed to high temperatures. You can for instance keep your jar on a sunny windowsill, or place it in an "incubation box" heated by a reading lamp, or use a crock pot on the appropriate setting (remember, the temperature should never go above 50ºC / 122º F).
At the end of the steeping period, filter the oil through a sieve and then through a cheesecloth.
If you want to keep your oil as a "single infusion", squeeze well the cheesecloth to reclaim as much oil as possible.
Double and triple strength infused oils are made by adding the infused oil to a new batch of plant material, and repeating the process.
The oil that we worked on in class was a cold-pressed oil that Tristi and I started at Escondido in the Fall. It has been sitting on my shelves, being shaken twice a day for four months. They got to see the process of making the oil into a salve, and we talked about the uses that the oils can have. These can be used in liniments, salves, ointments, etc. They can be made in advance, and then combined as needed into proportions that are appropriate for the project. Shelves and bottles are very useful for these longer-term projects.
We also discussed that you should use glass wherever possible, but for time-period correctness, it would have been pottery, particularly between 1200 and 1600, when for whatever reason, glass was in very short supply. If you got lucky, you could pay a fortune for blue glass found in the London markets, but most herbalists didn’t make that kind of money.
Balms/Salves/Ointments
Skin balms, salves and ointments are easy-to-make semi-solid blends of beeswax (or some vegetable wax) with one or more liquid oils. The distinction between these applications simply depends on their cosmetic or therapeutic properties.
In a wide sense, skin balms are general purpose cosmetic applications, designed to soften and nourish the skin. Typically made from oils that have superior emollient, soothing and nourishing properties, they are ideal for hands, feet and elbows, and to soothe extra dry, chapped skin.
Being anhydrous (waterless), these applications are absorbed slower than creams, and offer therefore the best choice for those skin, muscular and joint conditions that benefit from long, slow massage. Simple skin balms, made from healing oils (such as avocado, virgin coconut, corn, sweet almond, apricot kernel, rice bran, and mango or Shea butter) are a great way to restore suppleness and softness to tired feet, hands that suffer from contact with irritating substances, chapped elbows or rough knees. The mechanical action of massage and the friction of the massaging hands on the skin generate extra heat, which contributes to opening the pores and making the skin more receptive to absorb into its deepest layers the active principles contained in the wax-and-oil blend. For this reason, skin balms are typically used as bases for healing salves, therapeutic ointments and pomades.
When healing herbs are infused in one of the base oils, the nourishing and warming action is combined with the benefits of the chosen herbs, reaching the deepest layers of the skin. It is important to keep in mind that, since possible skin problems would be magnified by these "deep reaching" preparations, synthetic fragrances and herbs that might cause skin irritation should always be avoided when preparing salves and ointments.
A simpler alternative to infusing herbs is adding, at the end of the process and just before pouring the base balm into storage containers, a few drops of one or more essential oils, chosen depending on skin type and desired effects
Preparing a skin balm base
The ingredients in a skin balm are basically two: one or more liquid oils, and some beeswax or vegetable wax. Skin balms, salves, ointments and pomades are relatively soft and easy to spread, and require 4 to 7 parts of liquid oil(s) for each part of beeswax.
Measure out the ingredients by weight into your chosen melting pot.
Place this container into the double boiler, half-filled with water, and heat until the beeswax is melted.
Remove from the heat and let cool for several hours.
Once the balm is set, check its consistency and "feel". If the balm is too hard or feels "waxy", add an extra part of liquid oil, and remelt it in the double boiler.
Repeat the previous step until your balm reaches the desired consistency. Remember to take notes, which will help you when you wish to replicate the same recipe.
When the desired consistency has been reached, melt down the balm once more if you would like to add any essential oils or Vitamin E, which act as a preservative for the oil base. If essential oils or Vitamin E are used, mix well before pouring into individual storage containers.
For making salves you follow the recipe above for oil. After you have your herbal oil to the scent or strength you desire you warm it up just enough so it will melt wax. You add approx. 1 Tbls. of organic beeswax or solidified butter (i.e., Shea) for every cup of oil. Stir your beeswax into the warmed oil until it’s dissolved. Pour into dark glass containers and close with a lid. If you find your salve is not as thick as you wish you can reheat it and add more beeswax.
There’s not a lot to add to this – the class had to see that the amount of wax that gets added depends on the other solidifiers that are used, such as the Shea butter or Coconut oil, which is solid in cold form. One thing that I learned, because I used Coconut oil for the first time, is that there is more of a gel-like quality than waxy quality to a salve made with it.
Baths
When used in the tub, the medicinal properties of an herbal infusion will be absorbed through the skin. Add 2 quarts of a strained infusion to your bath water.
Here is where an infusion in large quantity comes in very handy. We discussed that when my son was little, he was prone to urinary tract infections, and grew to hate going to the doctor. Adding a decoction of dandelion root and either Echinacea or Goldenseal, with an infusion of parsley, into his bath generally took care of the infections. Baths are particularly useful with children.
Again, I wanted to point out that what goes onto your body goes into your body, and suggested that when they return home, they do the experiment where you take a piece of onion or garlic and put it on the bottom of your foot, and then time how long it takes for you to taste it. It is a great method of showing how the skin is an organ that is very effective. It’s also an excellent way to explain why you want to be careful what goes on your body.
Poultices
For making poultices, you can use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs can be bruised and applied directly to the skin, or if the skin is particularly sensitive, the poultice can be placed between layers of gauze.
When using dried herbs they must be moistened first. Make a paste by adding hot water or apple cider vinegar to the dried plant material. Keep the poultice warm. You may want to cover the skin with a thin layer of oil as this protects the skin and may make removing the poultice easier.
In a compress, an infusion or decoction is made first and a piece of clean cloth or gauze is soaked in the resultant liquid. The cloth or gauze is applied to the affected area as hot as can be tolerated. You can cover the compress with plastic wrap, to keep it hot longer, and change it when it cools off.
Mustard Plaster
A mustard poultice is a time-honored therapy: Your great-grandmother may have used mustard poultices and plasters to treat congestion, coughs, bronchitis or pneumonia. A mustard plaster offers immediate relief to discomfort in the chest and actually helps to treat infectious conditions - a much needed therapy. It works mainly by increasing circulation, perspiration and heat in the afflicted area.
The person receiving the treatment should sit or lie down comfortably. The best poultices are made from black mustard seeds ground fresh in a coffee grinder, but ordinary yellow mustard powder will do in a pinch. To prepare a mustard poultice, mix 1/2 cup mustard powder with 1 cup flour and stir hot water into the mix to form a paste. Spread the mixture on a piece of cotton or muslin has been soaked in hot water. Cover with a second piece of dry material. Lay the moist side of the poultice across the person's chest or back.
Leave the poultice on for 15 to 30 minutes; promptly remove it if the person experiences any discomfort. The procedure is likely to promote perspiration and reddening of the chest. Give the individual plenty of liquids during the procedure and encourage them to take a warm or cool shower afterward, then rest or gently stretch for 1/2 hour. Do not administer this treatment to a young child, elderly person or the seriously ill without consulting a health care professional.
Here, there are several things to note. First, with any compress, you want to make sure that you include everything that you’re going to need. If a wound needs to first be cleaned, use an infusion of marigold flowers (calendula) to wash it out. If there’s pain along with it, add chamomile flowers to the infusion, which acts as a mild topical anesthetic. We discussed a friend of mine who put his hand through a printing press, removing many layers of skin and all his fingernails. Using a combination that would eventually become what Ravenwood affectionately refers to as Goop, we had his skin growing back within a day, and fingernails within 3. When he did it again, all the way up to his shoulder six months later, we let the doctors deal with the broken bones. There are places where you need to stop if there are more qualified modalities available.
Specifically with the mustard plaster, watch those who have fair skin – you will most likely want to put a piece of gauze between the skin and the poultice, because mustard can burn and cause blisters. It’s very effective, but be careful not to do more harm than good.
Compresses
In a compress, an infusion or decoction is made first and a piece of clean cloth or gauze is soaked in the resultant liquid. The cloth or gauze is applied to the affected area as hot as can be tolerated. You can cover the compress with plastic wrap, to keep it hot longer, and change it when it cools off.
In showing decoctions and infusions, we made a decoction of comfrey root and black cohosh root. This slimy mixture could then be used in a compress for a wound that was open and in pain. Comfrey is a demulcent, that will knit the skin back together, and black cohosh is a pain killer. However, with an open wound, you also want to be able to prevent infection, so we added an infusion of marigolds to the decoction, to act as a powerful antiseptic.
Juices
Chop and press fresh plant parts to make juice, then add a bit of water and press again. This is excellent for getting vitamins and minerals from the plant. Drink the juice right away for the best results.
This is not something I’ve tried, but it is a method of obtaining certain elements from the plants. I’m afraid I’m one of those who will take a vitamin, or actually eat the vegetable in question. But, it is a method of preparing herbs.
Syrups
1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup glycerin, 1 cup strong herb infusion. Combine honey and infusion in a pan and bring to a boil. Add glycerin. Pour into clean bottles and let cool. Keep refrigerated. Yield is about 2 cups.
Here, we talked about using a decoction of cherry bark (a cough suppressant) with slippery elm, another bark (a demulcent to sooth the throat), and an infusion of marigolds to combine with the honey (an expectorant), so that any coughing that someone did was productive only, and not hacking. Make sure when using a syrup that you shake the bottle before using it, particularly after it’s been in the refrigerator a while.
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