Gathering and Storing Herbs for Medicinal Purposes

Many gardeners like myself grown herbs grow their own herbs to use for medicinal purposes. Whether you want to make decoctions and tinctures or just herbal teas, growing your own herbs is not only rewarding but also much cheaper than buying these products at your local health food store. There are certain practices, however, you should follow when gathering and storing your own herbs to ensure that they hold onto as much of their medicinal properties as possible.

Harvesting herbs
Most herbalists advise that herbs be picked in the mornings when it is sunny and right after the dew has dried. This is actually good advice, because the beneficial oils are more concentrated than later in the afternoon after the sun has had a chance to bake your herbs. (The essential oils begin to concentrate once again after sundown.) Waiting, however, until after the dew has evaporated helps to eliminate much of the moisture. (Wet herbs will mildew.) Fresh herbs can be used immediately in teas, infusions, decoctions, and tinctures. [If you are unsure about how these differ from one another, read my article on Herbal Teas, Infusions, Decoctions, and Tinctures.] You might, however, want to save some of your herbs for later use. This means that they will need to be dried.

Drying herbs
To dry herbs, simply hang them upside down in a warm shady spot away from direct sun. (Direct sunlight will bake away the beneficial oils.) The ideal temperature for drying herbs is 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit; therefore, a shed or barn is usually perfect. Another option is to arrange your herbs on sheets of newspaper and place them in your car -- parked in the shade, of course -- with all of the windows closed. This can also be a very quick way to dry small quantities of herbs, requiring just a few hours. (Your car will also be left smelling good.) Whatever method you employ, make sure your herbs have good air circulation to prevent mildewing. The herbs are ready when the leaves and stems make a crackling sound and the flowers are light but still holding their shape. (Your dried herbs should also still smell like they did when you originally picked them.) Roots are ready when they break easily.

Storing
You may be tempted to grind your herbs before storing; however, you really should refrain from this seemingly time-saving action. Grinding releases the volatile oils and can weaken the medicinal qualities of your herbs.

You should store your herbs in a cool, dark, dry place. Use nonmetallic containers for storage, such as plastic, wood, or opaque glass. When you are ready to use the herbs for medicinal purposes, use a mortar and pestle to pulverize or simply crumple them up using your hands.

Fresh herbs versus dried herbs
As I previously mentioned, you can use the herbs you just harvested to make your herbal remedies. Fresh herbs, however, contain mostly water; therefore, you need more fresh than you do dried. A good rule of thumb is to use twice the amount of fresh herbs as you would dried.

Precautions
When making any herbal remedies, follow the recipe. Do not be tempted to use more herbs than recommended. More does not mean that the remedy will work better. In fact, more may make you sick. Some herbs, in fact, can be toxic when used in large doses. Before whipping up your own herbal remedies, you should first know the herb that you are using. I always recommend that you consult a certified herbalist before using any herbal remedy. In addition, if you are on any prescription medications, consult your primary care physician before using any herbal remedies to avoid any possible adverse drug-herb interactions. [See my article on Warnings Concerning Herbs: Drug Interactions.] Finally, do not harvest herbs in the wild. You may think that you are picking one herb when actually you are gathering something totally different, which can even be one that is toxic.

References:

Houdret, Jessica. Practical Herb Garden. London, England: Hermes House, 2003.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1998.