Herbal Medicines 101

If you’re new to the world of herbal Products, welcome!

If you’re well-versed in using these types of products, you may find something here you don’t already know, but this page is really intended to provide an overview of the types of herbal products in the shop for those who don’t already have a baseline knowledge of these types of products and formulations and how to use them. Also, on this site (and in life, honestly), I use the terms “herbal medicine”, “products”, “remedies”, “potions” interchangeably.

So, what are herbal medicines?

Here’s a few definitions from quite different sources:

The National Cancer Institute defines herbal medicines as “a type of medicine that uses roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or seeds of plants to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness.”

In ‘The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide’ by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne, they state that herbal medicine is, and always will be, “the medicine of the people. No matter what political party is in power, no matter what is deemed legal versus illegal, not even the FDA… can prevent someone from stepping out their door and using nature’s free medicine.”

Rosemary Gladstar, in her foundational book ‘Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide’, adds that “while conventional or allopathic medicine is particularly effective in life-threatening situations and unrivaled in its ability to save lives, herbal medicine is the medicine of the home. It is used most effectively for the myriad non-emergency health problems that arise in everyday life: simple first-aid situation, the bumps and bruises of life, headaches, colds and fevers and flue, coughs and aches and pains, and chronic illness.” She also shares that “plants play a great role in preventing [illnesses]. Rich in nutrients, herbs are the supreme preventive medicine, bolstering our body’s ability to fight off pathogens that cause illness.” I highly recommend this book and just Rosemary in general… buy this book, go on YouTube and find her!

Let’s Begin at the Beginning…What is an Herbal Extract?

If you own a few products already with herbal extractions in them, you might see the blanket (and incredibly vague) word ‘extract’ used. An extract is not a specific formulation or way of making medicine, it just refers to something that is a product of infusing an herb into a solvent (alcohol, glycerin, oil, vinegar, honey, etc.), so that it can become more readily available for use. Extracts are usually further categorized by the solvent used to make them and/or by their form. HerbPharm (a great company!) further says that “some of the more common solvents that are used include water, alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar. The inherent qualities of each of these solvents will attract different phytochemicals in an herb. Watery extracts made by infusion or decoction are used as teas, rinses and the base for syrups and other products….and that the main advantage of using extracts over raw herb is that once extracted from the plant matrix, the phytochemicals bypass the need for digestion and are far more readily absorbable. Liquid extracts also offer greater convenience than consuming an herb in its raw form.”

To summarize all that … all of the herbal medicines and products I create are extracts!

Check out the different types below to see what each type is best used for…

Types of Herbal Medicine

Very concentrated liquid extracts of herbs, they are one of the most popular ways to consume herbal medicine. They are convenient, and easy to take in your bag, when you’re away from home. Depending on what the dosage is on the specific formula, you generally put anywhere from a few drops to two dropperfuls into a small amount warm water, tea, or juice, and consume it in this way. Children can consume tinctures, too, though are generally recommended 1/4-1/3 the adult dose.
Generally, tinctures are taken internally. Liniments are very similar to tinctures except they are only meant for external use. If I offer one on my site in the future, I’ll specifically name it as such.
There are some situations that can be helped with a topical administration of a tincture. If indicated, this will be clearly stated in the product description.
All of the products called tinctures (or extracts!) in my shop are extractions of the herb in alcohol.
Check Out Tinctures in the Shop!
Glycerites are the second most concentrated type of herbal medicine in my shop. These herbal extracts are made by infusing dried or fresh plant material into Organic Food Grade Vegetable Glycerin. These are a great alternative to tinctures for those who are avoiding alcohol, for kiddos, or for anyone who would rather have their medicine taste sweet. Keep in mind that even though this formulation is more child-friendly, a reduced dosage is still recommended.
My favorite way to take glycerites is by putting a few dropperfuls into a small cup of plain, carbonated water. YUM.
Glycerites are good for both internal or external use. Glycerin is naturally softening to the skin, therefore a glycerite is a soothing way to medicate the skin with the healing benefits of the plants.
Check Out Glycerites in the Shop!
I won’t always have these in the shop, but when I do, make sure to grab one, because they are GOOD.
Oxymels are an herbal elixir in which the plant material is extracted with a combination of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and raw honey. The ancient Greek word oxymeli literally translates to “acid and honey.” If you purchase oxymels elsewhere, they might use a different type of vinegar, but mine will 99% of the time use Organic ACV (or be very specifically noted if it’s a different acid).
They are delicious and can be taken by the dropperful plain, enjoyed in plain, carbonated water, or used to make salad dressing! There are so many creative and delicious ways to work with oxymels. Fire Cider is probably the most commonly known oxymel, though there are many, many others! Sage and ginger is one of my favorites.
Oxymels are internal use only. Though not harmful to use topically, not recommended as they can be sticky.
The most incredible and decadent air purifying fragrance mist! All of the hydrosols, or mysts as I like to call them, in my collection are made from steam and water distilling pounds of fresh plant material with spring water in an Artisanal Portuguese Copper Alembic Still.
These mysts can be used as a skin fragrance, a facial toner, an aftershave, hair refresher, deodorant, or room fragrance/refresher. You can also use them in a diffuser (yes, the same kind you use for Essential Oils, or EOs). To do this, just pour hydrosol into the container and dilute 1/3-1/2 with water. Or just go for it and infuse as is. It is heavenly!
Mysts can also be used to energetically cleanse spaces, rooms, or people. You can ground your energy and your spirit by spraying before or after meditation, bringing you back to the present moment. They can be used in much the same way that sacred smokes (White Sage, Palo Santo, Rosemary, Mugwort, Juniper, Cedar, etc.) are used and are really handy when you cannot produce smoke or light anything on fire.
They can also be used in recipes - rose or lavender hydrosol is especially incredible in baked goods as an accent flavor. Or you can put a little spoonful in sparkling water!
The possibilities are endless with this gorgeous plant preparation!
Check out the Hydrosols in the Shop!
Let’s get this out of the way first: herbal infused oils are not essential oils!
Herbal Infused Oils - which are all the oils I make and sell in my shop - only include plant material slowly infused into an oil (olive, jojoba, or avocado are the typical ones I use) for a minimum of 6-8 weeks. All of the properties and fragrance of the plants are slowly infused into the carrier oils, leaving you with a pure, safe, and completely natural balm.
With the exception of St. John’s Wort and a few others (Evergreen and poplar buds, for example), dried herbs are best for these types of preparations.
The Salves in the shop are made with an herbal infused oil and organic beeswax. Some salves may also have cocoa butter, mango butter, shea butter. They may have also include organic menthol crystals or other organic, natural add-ins for added medicinal effects.
Check out the Infused Oils + Salves in the Shop!
This preparation harkens back to that ole’ tune…”just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down”!
An electuary, or an herbal honey, is simply powdered herbs mixed with raw honey to make a delicious and medicinal paste.
It is an incredibly delicious (not to mention efficient!) way to get your adaptogens in, for yourself, or for your kiddos. It’s really amazing mixed in a warm cup of milk (dairy or alternative mylks). Or tea. Or coffee. Or just straight off the spoon!
Syrups are delicious, sweet, and the most enjoyable way to partake in herbal medicine for many!
Elderberry syrup is one of the most commonly known types of herbal syrup, especially during the flu and cold season, and is used for its incredible immune-supporting properties.
Syrups are made of a strong decoction (long, slow simmer) of herbs in water, with honey added, which not only makes it tasty, but preserves it, too!
One of my favorite syrups is Hawthorne and Rose… strong and incredibly tasty medicine for the heart!
These drops are made from fresh or dried plant material, extracted in alcohol or glycerin (read the item description to find out solvent was used) with honey added, so they can be taken more readily than a traditional tincture.
This type of herbal medicine is fantastic for more acute situations, that might heighten your anxiety, aka when you really something immediately. The honey provides a slight sweetness so the potent medicinal benefits can be delivered quickly into your system and your system can come back into balance as quickly as possible.
Check out the Elixirs in the Shop!