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To dry fresh herbs, bundle them together and hang them on a wooden rack.
For now, love yourself and enjoy this one ...
How to Store Dried Herbs for Freshness and Durability
Written by Meghan and Juliet Blankespoor Photographed by Juliet Blankespoor
What are the best herbs for a home herbal apothecary to begin with? What medicinals can I grow and dry easily? Where can I find dried herbs?
If you are growing your own herbs, or purchasing them in bulk, properly storing dried herbs will ensure that they have a long shelf life and retain their potency. We'll cover the basics of storing dried herbs, including tinctures, herbal oils and salves.
Visit our article 10 Best Herbs for Your Home Herbal Apothecary to learn more about how you can start your own herbal medicine cabinet. You'll also find information below on where to buy your bulk herbs and medicine-making materials.
Want to create an herb garden that you can use to dry and collect the best medicine in the world? You can find a wealth of information in our Medicinal Gardening Hub, which includes:
- Plan the medicinal herb garden of your dreams with these 9 tips
- Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Herb Gardens
- Herbal tea gardens: How to grow them
- There's so much more to discover!
Stored in a dark cabinet, dried herbs will last longer.
How can I store dried herbs to keep them fresh and long-lasting?
You should store your dried herbs, and any other medicinal preparations, in airtight jars, either inside a cabinet or on a shelf that is dark, away from direct sunlight. The shelf life of your medicines will be extended if you store them in a cool, dry place. Label each bottle and keep your medicine out of reach of children. It's easy to forget what is in a medication that hasn't been marked over time.
Roots and dried leaves can last up to two years.
You'll find that the following guidelines are useful for storing dried herbs:
- The shelf life of dried leaves and flowers is 1-2 years
- The roots, seeds and barks of trees can survive for up to two years
You can use your senses to determine the health of herbs stored in a cupboard. If the herb is still vibrant and has most of its aroma and/or flavor, it is still good medicine.
img alt="Storing dry herbs in glass containers prolongs their freshness." class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" decoding="async" height="1137" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet.jpg 1000w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet-264x300.jpg 264w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet-901x1024.jpg 901w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet-768x873.jpg 768w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-jar-dried-violet-640x728.jpg 640w" title="A labeled jar of dried violet" width="1000"/>
Where can i find dried herbs of high quality?
Look for the best herbs by contacting small herb growers and herbal medicine makers. (Or even top-notch large suppliers). We recommend that you purchase herbs in the following order:
Small sellers and local growers. Visit local herb farms to see the medicine and support local businesses. Some growers offer the option to pick your own herbs. Find local sources by visiting Rosalee de La Foret’s list of sustainable herb farms and ethical wildcrafters or our list of bulk herbs suppliers.
Local Medicine Manufacturers. Ask your local apothecaries or medicine makers about freshly stocked bulk herbs, tea blends and other products. Do not hesitate to ask where the herbs are sourced!
Online and Mail-Order Sellers. It is easy to purchase bulk dried herbs by catalog or online. Browse our List of Bulk Herbs & Medicine Making Supplies.
Dry your own herbs. To learn how to dry fresh herbs in your garden, read Mountain Rose Herbs article on Harvest, Dry & Store Herbs From The Garden.
How should I store tinctures, herbal preparations and other herbal products? How long will tinctures last after they are made?
Other herbal remedies, like dried herbs, will benefit from being stored in a cool and dark place, such as a cabinet, hutch or pantry, or a wooden pie safe. You'll find shelf life and storage information for:
- Herbal Tinctures
- Herbal Vinegars
- Herbal Honeys
- Herbal-infused oils and Salves
- Powdered herbs and capsules
img alt="Amber Glass are the best bottles to store herbal tinctures." class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" decoding="async" height="855" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-tincture-bottle.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-tincture-bottle.jpg 1000w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-tincture-bottle-300x257.jpg 300w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-tincture-bottle-768x657.jpg 768w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/labeled-tincture-bottle-640x547.jpg 640w" title="Labeled tincture bottle" width="1000"/>
Place clear packing tape on your labels to prevent ink dripping from the bottle.
Storing Herbal Tinctures
Properly stored tinctures, prepared with alcohol at a high percentage (50% or more) can last for many years. Our tinctures, as well as syrups, vinegars infused oils and simple syrups are stored in amber dispensing glass bottles. These bottles are useful for several reasons:
- The brown glass is opaque and blocks out light which can degrade medicines over time.
- As it was designed for chemical storage, the inside of the polyseal caps is resistant to solvents. Although I dislike that the plastic is used to line the cap, I have not yet found a more suitable system.
- I have had dozens of bottles for more than a decade.
People store their medicines in glass jars as an alternative. Be aware that vinegar and alcohol will corrode the canning lids, which in turn will contaminate your medicine with plastic compounds. Use natural waxed papers as a barrier to prevent this.
Store your alcohol-based products away from any potential fires in the kitchen and stove. They are highly flammable.
img alt="Four Jars of Vinegar Infusing with Various Herbs." class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" decoding="async" height="567" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/infused-herbal-vinegars.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/infused-herbal-vinegars.jpg 1000w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/infused-herbal-vinegars-300x170.jpg 300w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/infused-herbal-vinegars-768x435.jpg 768w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/infused-herbal-vinegars-640x363.jpg 640w" title="Infused herbal vinegars" width="1000"/>
While your herbs infuse in vinegar, place a layer on the inside lid of natural waxed papers to protect them from contamination.
Storing Herbal Vinegars
Vinegar extracts are less stable than alcohol tinctures. They should be consumed within 6 months to 1 year if prepared with fresh herbs and stored in the refrigerator. For vinegars made with dried herbs, they can last from one to 5 years. We prefer to store vinegars extracts in amber-colored glass bottles with polyseal cap, just as we do with alcohol tinctures.
How to Store Herbal Honey
Herbal honeys that are made with dried herbs can last for decades, centuries or even millennia. Infused honeys are stored in glass jars that come in different shapes and sizes. Honey prepared from fresh herbs will have a shorter shelf life due to the water content. Herbal honeys that are made with fresh herbs should be refrigerated. Infuse honey with:
- Hawthorn, berries (Crataegus spp.)
- Angelica root
- Elecampane root
- Elderberry, fruit (Sambucus nigra var. Sambucus canadensis
- Schisandra, berries (Schisandra chinensis)
Elderberry honey can be used as a stand-alone remedy or transformed into an herbal medicine syrup.
How to Store Herbal Oils and Salves
Refrigerated oils and salves can last up to three years, and unrefrigerated for one year. This depends on the stability and quality of the oil. Herbal-infused oils will last longer if you use dried herbs.
Storing powdered herbs and capsules
The plant material used to make herbal powders is so finely ground that it has a shorter shelf-life than loose teas or bulk herbs. Powdered herbs should be used within 6-12 month, and stored in the fridge or freezer to maintain maximum freshness.
Herbal Storage & Shelf-Life Chart
Here's a chart that will help you keep your herbal medicines fresh and potent. This information is intended to help you and your community maintain a healthy lifestyle for many years. Happy medicine making!
Print as PDF
Meet Our Contributors:
MEGHAN GEMMA teaches Chestnut Herbal School of Medicine through written lessons. She is also the primary pollinator for the school's online community, sharing herbal and wild food wisdom to a growing number of herbalists and gardeners.
She has had a long-standing relationship with the Chestnut school since 2010. She was an intern at the Chestnut herb nursery, a student who loved plants "back in those days" when programs were taught on the farm and a member of the professional team for the women-powered school. Meghan lives just north of Asheville in the Ivy Creek Watershed.
JULIET BLANKESPOOR, a professional matchmaker and plant geek, is the founder, principal instructor, as well as the Creative Director of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. This online school serves thousands of students around the world. She is a bonafide herb geek and a professional matchmaker between plants and humans. She has a degree from botany, as well as over 30 years' experience in teaching, writing, and researching herbalism, medicine-making, and organic herb farming. Juliet's passion for medicinal weeds, herb gardening and organic farming has led to many botanical businesses over the years.
She channels her botanical obsession in her writing and photography on her blog Castanea and her new book The Healing Garden: Handcrafting and Cultivating Herbal Remedies. Juliet lives with her family in Asheville in North Carolina, in a house overrun by books and houseplants.
Would you like to become a contributor?
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, chestnutherbs.com and its affiliates (2011-2024) are hereby granted a perpetual license. It is prohibited to use or copy this material in any way without the express written permission of the author and/or site owner. Excerpts or links may be used as long as full and clear credit and specific directions to the original content are given to Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, chestnutherbs.com and chestnutherbs.com.
Would you like to learn more about medicinal herbs and their applications?
Our 1,000 hour herbal immersion program is our most comprehensive online herbal course, covering botany and foraging, herb cultivating, medicine making and therapeutics.
img alt="The Chestnut Herbal School online Herbal Immersion program." class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" decoding="async" height="1400" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1082px) 100vw, 1082px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion.jpg 1082w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-232x300.jpg 232w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-768x994.jpg 768w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-300x388.jpg 300w" title="The Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine online Herbal Immersion Program." width="1082"/>
The post Storing Dried Herbs for Freshness and Durability appeared first on Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine.
By: Carrie Faye HarderTitle: Storing Dried Herbs and Herbal Preparations for Freshness and Longevity
Sourced From: chestnutherbs.com/storing-dried-herbs-and-herbal-preparations/
Published Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:19:52 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mother of all herbs?
The answer may surprise you!
It is a common garden herb known as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Rosemary has long been associated with fertility, longevity, and protection from illness. In some cultures, it was believed that the fragrance of rosemary could ward off evil spirits.
As such, it has been used for centuries in various medicinal, culinary, and spiritual applications. Rosemary has a unique flavor that pairs well with many dishes, making it a popular choice in the kitchen. Its fragrant leaves also add flavor to sauces, herbs, and meats.
Rosemary is a powerful medicinal herb used throughout the centuries to treat various ailments. Rosemary essential oil can treat respiratory tract infections, digestion problems, skin irritation, and inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it helpful in treating headaches and muscle pain as well. In addition, the oil has been used to improve cognitive function and memory recall. Rosemary can also be taken as a supplement, tea, or tincture for its many benefits.
It's no wonder rosemary is known as the mother of herbs! It truly is a versatile and valued herb.
Is basil good for kidneys?
The answer is yes. Basil is an excellent food for kidney health. It contains potassium which helps reduce high blood pressure. It also contains vitamin K, which is essential for bone strength. As well as this, it is rich in antioxidants which help protect against heart disease.
Basil is great for digestion too. It contains digestive enzymes that break down protein and carbohydrates. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients from your meals.
Basil is a wonderful addition to any diet. Try sprinkling some over pasta dishes, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Or add little stir-fried vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, and tofu.
It's delicious in pesto sauce and fresh in salad dressings. You'll find many recipes online where you can learn how to cook with basil.
Try making basil oil by adding a few drops of pure olive oil to a jar filled with chopped basil leaves. Let it steep overnight, and then strain out the leaves. Use the oil as a massage oil or rub it onto your skin.
It will leave your skin soft and smooth.
What plant helps with infection?
There are plants out there that help fight infections. Some even contain anti-bacterial properties. One of them is mint.
Mint has been used for centuries to treat respiratory infections such as cold symptoms and flu. Mint also supports digestion and relieves gas pains. You may find relief with peppermint tea if you have an upset stomach. Peppermint oil has antibacterial properties, which make it effective against germs.
Peppermint tea contains menthol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. These nutrients support healthy immune systems and provide energy to keep your body strong.
You can make peppermint tea at home by adding one teaspoon of dried mint leaves to boiling water. Let steep for five minutes and drink hot three times per day.
Or you can buy peppermint tea bags at any grocery store. Simply add two teaspoons of dried mint leaves to a cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Drink hot three times per day for best results.
What herb heals all wounds?
The answer to this question varies depending on the type and severity of the wound.
The herb comfrey (also known as knitbone) has long been used for its healing properties, particularly for skin injuries such as cuts and bruises.
Studies suggest that comfrey contains allantoin, which helps speed up healing. Other herbs commonly used for healing wounds include calendula, plantain, and yarrow. These herbs help to reduce inflammation, stop bleeding and speed up the skin's healing process.
In addition to herbs, honey has also been found to have powerful antimicrobial properties that can help prevent wound infection.
Herbs for wound care is an age-old practice that continues to be used today. However, herbs should not replace medical treatment, and always consult your doctor before using herbs for healing. With the right herbs, you can give your body the support it needs to heal naturally.
Statistics
- For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15% (72Trusted Source73Trusted (healthline.com)
- The herbs market is highly competitive, with over 1,000 herb suppliers and over 15,000 herbs products available in the United States alone.
External Links
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- Peppermint oil (Mintoil®) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial
- Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression, and phosphorylation of CREB
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How To
How do I know if my herbs have been treated with pesticides?
If you see a pesticide label on your herbs, the plants were sprayed with chemicals before being sold to you.
These chemicals harm human health and could cause cancer or other serious illnesses.
Unfortunately, this practice has become common around the globe. Many countries allow farmers to spray their crops with pesticides without proper regulation.
In order not to harm themselves, consumers should always ask about the source of their produce. If it comes from a farmer near you, it’s safe to assume it was not treated with pesticides.
However, there are still ways to ensure that your herbs are free from harmful chemicals.
However, if you want to ensure that your herbs aren’t contaminated, you can purchase organic herbs directly from the farm.
This way, you won’t need to worry about the safety of your herbs. You can trust that they weren’t exposed to harmful chemicals.
Resources:
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