“The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.”

-Ecclesiasticus 38:4 (KJV Apocrypha)

Modern medicine hasn’t really been around that long when compared to the entirety of human history. Medicine has certainly been around much longer than the modern pharmaceutical industry. The medicines that were used before our modern knowledge of science were natural medicines made from what God provides us in nature.

Though the number of people with knowledge of them has dwindled, these herbal medicines still work today, just as they have throughout history. Mainstream medical professionals may scoff at herbal medicine but many of today’s medicines attempt to replicate what nature already provides. Most of what we call medicine these days are artificial creations altered from nature. A patent can’t be filed on something that exists naturally so big pharma has to come up with a suitable alternative that can be patented. This typically results in a chemical product that often has serious side effects.

This isn’t to say modern medicine doesn’t have it’s place or that modern medicine and herbal medicine can’t co-exist but many medicines can be easily replaced by herbs at a fraction of the cost and risk.

For ultimate control over the quality of your ingredients, consider growing your own herbs or wild harvesting them. Be sure to harvest at the appropriate time to ensure maximum potency. If you are wild harvesting, ensure you can accurately identify the plants you are planning to harvest and only harvest sustainably from abundant populations. Alternatively, research reliable suppliers who provide organic and sustainably sourced herbs and ingredients.

If you are harvesting your own, whether from your garden or nature, timing is important. It is also important to understand that the whole plant does not necessarily carry the same chemical compounds. And different parts of the plant may need to be harvested at specific stages of growth. For example:

• Leaves and Flowers: Leaves are usually harvested right before a plant blooms, and flowers are best harvested the day that they open. Collect them on dry mornings after the dew has evaporated.
• Roots: Harvest roots in the plant’s dormant season, usually in the fall after the leaves have died back. Carefully dig around the root to avoid damaging it.
• Bark: Harvest bark in the spring when the sap is rising or in the fall when the plant is preparing to go dormant.

It is important to be mindful of where you are harvesting from as well. Choose places far away from traffic or other sources of pollution that you are certain haven’t been sprayed with anything. Process your herbs promptly and properly to maintain its medicinal properties.

There are many methods that can be used to preserve your herbs. Traditionally, herbs are air-dried by bundling them together and hanging them in a warm, dry place. Optimally the temperature should be above 85*F with humidity below 60%. Other options are drying racks or baskets, brown paper bags, screen drying, oven drying, or a dehydrator. The dehydrator works especially well for roots, mushrooms, and berries.

Herbs can also be frozen or freeze dried. This is particularly useful for herbs you plan to use for cooking.

You can, of course, utilize fresh herbs rather than dried but keep in mind that this may affect the concentration and potency. Depending on the herb and your intended use, fresh or dry may be better. Fresh herbs contain a higher water content and volatile oils, which can result in more potent and aromatic medicinal properties. It may take double or triple the amount of herbs if using fresh as opposed to dry.

Note: always do your diligence and check the particular herb before using as some plants are toxic unless dried or cooked.

Dried herbs have the water removed which concentrates the active compounds responsible for their medicinal effects. Fresh herbs generally retain more of their nutritional content and are more visually appealing but dried herbs have a much longer shelf life and are readily available year-round. Dried herbs are also easier to store but they may alter slightly in flavor from fresh.

Okay, so you have decided to either grow your own, wild harvest, or purchase your herbs and have a general idea of how to preserve them. What can be done with them?

• Encapsulated Powdered Herbs
• Herbal Water Infusions: Hot, Cold, or Solar
• Herbal Teas
• Decoctions
• Oil Infusions
• Tinctures/Extracts
• Glycerites
• Double Extractions
• Herbal Vinegars
• Oxymels
• Distillation
• Medicinal Syrups and Elixirs
• Poultices, Compresses, and Washes
• Herbal Baths and Steams
• Lozenges, Gummies, and Capsules
• Balms, Salves, Creams, Soaps, and Lotions
• Essential Oils and Hydrosols

As you can see, there is a lot that can be done with herbs and I would love to hear from you! What would you be most interested in digging into? Maybe there is an herb you’ve been curious about growing, or something you’d like to learn how to actually make and use. Perhaps you’d like to know how to find a trusted source for high-quality herbs or learn about beginner-friendly herbs and remedies. Drop your thoughts in the comments or send me a quick message – your ideas will help guide what I dig into in detail. God has filled the earth with so many good things – I can’t wait to explore more of them with you!