$50/mo in tea & supplements?
Grow your own medicinal herbs, and learn to make teas, tinctures, and salves at home.
Preparations
How to turn what you grow into teas, tinctures, salves and more. Each guide walks through one method, start to finish.
- Elderberry Syrup Recipe: How to Make It (and Any Herbal Syrup) Simmer 1 cup dried elderberries in 4 cups water to about half, strain, cool, add ½ cup honey; fridge 2 weeks (UMaine). Destem, cook the berries; don't can it.
- How to Dry Herbs: Air Drying, Dehydrator, and Oven Methods Air-dry sturdy herbs in small bundles; tender leaves usually take 5–10 days (Oregon State). A dehydrator at 95–115°F takes 1–4 hours. Dry when leaves crumble.
- How to Make an Herbal Compress A compress is a cloth soaked in strong herbal tea: 3–4 tablespoons dried herb per cup of water, steeped 15–30 minutes for soft herbs, then used warm or cool.
- How to Make an Herbal Decoction A decoction is herbal tea made by simmering tough plant parts, like roots, bark, or seeds, in water, then straining. Start in cold water and simmer covered.
- How to Make an Oxymel (Herbal Vinegar and Honey) An oxymel is an herbal preparation made with vinegar and honey instead of alcohol. Make one from dried herbs, apple cider vinegar and honey, cold or warm.
- How to Make Cold Herbal Infusions Cold infusions steep 4–6 hours for delicate leaves and flowers, 8–12 hours in the fridge for roots and bark, 6–12 for mucilaginous herbs like marshmallow root.
- How to Make Herbal Creams & Lotions Melt herb-infused oil, beeswax and butter, blend in warm herbal tea with a stick blender, and add extras below 110°F. Keeps 1–2 weeks refrigerated, unpreserved.
- How to Make Herbal Infusions (Herbal Teas) An herbal infusion is herbal tea: steep about 1 tablespoon dried herb (2–4 tablespoons fresh) per cup of hot water, covered, about 10 minutes.
- How to Make Herbal Liniments A liniment is an herbal extract steeped in alcohol or vinegar, rubbed on skin and never swallowed. We suggest 80–100 proof vodka or apple cider vinegar.
- How to Make Herbal Salves and Balms Salve is infused oil set with beeswax, by weight; a maker's rule of thumb is 1:5 wax to oil (soft), 1:4 firmer, up to 1:3 firm balm. Dried herbs only.
- How to Make Herbal Vinegars at Home Per pint of vinegar, use 3–4 fresh sprigs or 3 tablespoons dried herbs. Heat the vinegar to 190–195°F, pour it over, and steep 3–4 weeks (Clemson).
- How to Make Herbal-Infused Oils For skin oils, our advice: fully dried herbs only. Steep them for weeks at room temperature, or hours in a water bath under 140°F. Oils you eat need more care.
- What Is a Tincture? How to Make Herbal Tinctures at Home A tincture is an herbal extract made by steeping herbs in alcohol, then straining. Our suggestion: cover dried herb with 80–100 proof vodka; shake daily.
The Plants
Discover how to grow and harvest many varieties of medicinal plant in your own backyard or windowsill garden. Each guide walks you through planting, tending, and harvesting specific herbs, with clear instructions for beginners and practical tips for small spaces. Learn which herbs are easiest to start with and how to use each one for your family’s wellness.
The Methods
Turn your homegrown herbs into teas, tinctures, salves, and more with our simple kitchen-based preparation guides. We’ll show you exactly how to make each one using equipment you already have—no fancy tools or complicated techniques required. Master the basic methods that will let you create dozens of different herbal preparations throughout the year.