Ever wanted a very quick lesson in Herbalism? This is it! Clare Kritter and I chose a great starter-set of herbs and distilled their uses into a night and tight reference. Follow these instructions to get the most out of your concoctions. How to make a medicinal cup of tea: steep 1 tablespoon herb per cup of water. Cover, and let sit for 15-30 minutes. If you're using roots or bark, let sit overnight. Strain and enjoy! How to make a folk method tincture: fill a jar with as much herb as you can leaving space on top. Fill the jar with 80+ proof alcohol until the herbs are completely covered. Close tightly and place in a cool, dark area. Let sit for 2-6 weeks. Strain and bottle.Typical tincture dose: 1-2ml, 3 times a day (this varies depending on the herb). How to make a vinegar infusion: follow the same steps as a tincture, only using vinegar instead of alcohol. Just be sure to put wax paper between the lid and the vinegar. This method works well for mineral-rich herbs. How to make an infused oil: follow the same steps as a tincture only use oil of choice instead of alcohol. Or, place the herbs in an oven-safe pan and cover with oil. Place in the oven at 200° for 2 hours. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain and bottle. Tip: oils are easier to make with dried herbs over fresh ones. RECIPESCalendulaColorful addition to winter soups. Pairs well with Marshmallow, Chamomile, Dandelion, Peppermint and Plantain. ChamomilePairs well with Peppermint and other aromatic herbs. Add to other blends to improve flavor and add a relaxing quality. Dandelion Add the root to other teas to add mildly bitter liver support. Useful addition to digestive teas. Elder Make a syrup or tea with other sweet and spicy herbs: cinnamon, clove, cardamom, allspice, etc. HawthornPairs well other herbs in the Rose family. Berries make a sweet syrup. Flowers are a gentle addition to relaxing teas. Horehound Pairs well with mullien, elder, yarrow and peppermint as a cold and flu season tea. Lemon BalmA great addition to digestive teas. Pair well with chamomile and peppermint. Add to other teas to increase palatability. Marshmallow RootPairs well with Calendula, Chamomile, Dandelion root, Peppermint, and Plantain. Make a cold infusion by infusing the root in cold water in the fridge. MulleinPairs well with Horehound, Marshmallow, & Peppermint to support the respiratory system. Nettle Add to other teas to increase nutrients. Pairs well with Dandelion leaf and Marshmallow to support the urinary tract. Often paired with Raspberry leaf during pregnancy. PeppermintAdd to other formulas to improve flavor. Combines well with other aromatic herbs. Useful addition to digestive teas. PlantainPairs well with aromatic herbs to support gut health. Externally, combine with calendula, chamomile or yarrow to support skin healing.Raspberry LeafAdd to other teas to increase nutrients. Pairs well with Calendula or Yarrow for menstrual irregularities. Often paired with Nettle during pregnancy. RosemaryInfuse into oil for a warming topical application. Pairs well with Hawthorn and Yarrow and to support cardiovascular function. Pairs well with Lemon Balm for clarity of mind. Strong flavor, use sparingly. SkullcapAdd to any blend to increase relaxation. Pairs well with Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and St. John's Wort. St. John's WortAdd to blends to increase relaxation and support liver function. Pairs well with Lemon Balm to uplift the mood. YarrowImmune support: pair with Elder, Horehound and Peppermint. Menstrual support: pair with Chamomile or Calendula. Liver support: pair with Dandelion root and St. John's Wort. Topically: pair with Calendula or Plantain. 8"x8"Letterpress PrintedCopyright 2018 Archie's Press ABOUT THE IDEAInformation is more fun to read when it's beautiful. I've designed these charts and maps with hours of research, reassembling data into a brain-friendly aesthetic. I edit the information significantly, avoiding the "dazzle" effect which occurs when our eyes are battered with too much information. Letterpress makes it even more gorgeous. ABOUT LETTERPRESS PRINTINGLetterpress is a very complicated and expensive printing method that I am obsessed with. All letterpress prints are slammed with 600 pounds of pressure, creating a deep, tactile texture. The ink gets embedded into the thick soft paper so it won't fade within your lifetime. Read more about letterpress printing here. FRAMING Your local frame shop is going to do a better job than anyone else. There's a reason this craft endures and cannot be automated: It's skilled work that is best done face-to-face in physical space. See more framing ideas here. Copyright 2020 Archie's Press
