Hello herbalists! Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the never ending tasks before you? I certainly do! often. When I was working as an herbalist and selling my products in town I was really on top of the organization and cleanliness of my herbal apothecary. But as I have scaled back and focused on my own health and making remedies for my family & close friends my apothecary has been ignored. Still, that is no reason to let my apothecary go from sacred to messy. Time for a change!
Over the days resting from the heat and enjoying the beauty of summer I set a small goal for myself. Instead of spending an entire day cleaning my apothecary - or, more likely, a few days in a row as there is so much to do there. I set the goal of spending an hour every day sorting, cleaning, and bottling all the preparations I have in there.
And there is a lot of bottling to do! This day I decided to focus on filtering the echinacea tinctures that have been macerating for a while on one of the shelves and that is what today's short video is all about.
I personally use the entire plant when I make Echinacea tinctures and tend to craft my tinctures at the end of summer or mid-fall as that is when the plant is healthiest and the roots most potent. But, there are times when I need to make a tincture outside of the ideal timing.
The most potent part of echinacea is the roots. Most seasoned herbalist recommend harvesting roots when they are about 3 or 4 years old. It can be hard to wait so long but totally worth is as only after three years does the root accumulate the immune-boosting properties that we are so eager to receive with this herb.
It really is that simple: grow, harvest (mindfully), macerate in alcohol, separate, and please (please!) label everything. Okay so maybe it isn't so simple but I promise you; Herbalism isn't an elite process. Herbalism is the people's medicine!
What an exciting world... I admire people who know so much about plants and natural remedies. You have the best office in the world to work in! 😍
Thanks for sharing this.
You do a great job, it is true that it can be tedious to clean and order everything but I see that you have already found the solution.
That waiting time for the roots to have their time to use them is wonderful, in this we can see the cycle of life
I really liked your blog today.
I love to hear this and am so glad that you enjoyed this blog. Keeping an orderly apothecary should be fun & congruent with your lifestyle so, I like to share these daily apothecary posts and will continue to do so. Thank you!!