tropit

Anyone out there make their own herbal/food concoctions? I've tried a few things, but I'd love to hear how other people are making their own products such as herbal remedies, flavor extracts, medicinal items, balms, scents, etc.

I've made a couple of herbal medicinal oils in the past. Right now, I want to learn how to make almond extract.

~ C

SusieQOH

I make all my body creams, salves, etc. I got interested in essential oils a few years ago and have really enjoyed using more natural products. I buy very few already made items. I make my own cleaning supplies as well as laundry detergent. My next adventure is to make a shampoo bar. I use a natural deodorant but I don't make it. I buy it from a person on Etsy.
I got my sister hooked on these products. That surprised me because she isn't too much into natural things.
I also want to learn how to make soap.
There's a ton of info and recipes on the internet. One person I especially like is Sophie Uliano. Her website is Gorgeously Green.
I also like Rosemary Gladstar's books.

tropit

Oh fun! Al of your projects sound wonderful! Rosemary Gladstar is the queen of herbs and remedies. I think that she lives up near me. She's always on our local radio station.

I've made a few things. I love fennel liqueur and make that every year from the seeds of a single fennel plant that pops up each year in my veggie garden. I've also made some CBD oil (it's all legal her in CA) that really helps relieve the aches and pains from gardening. I was going to make it in a salve, but the oil works just fine, so I just left it in that state and put it in a pump bottle. I also make my own window cleaner...just apple cider vinegar and water. (I also make my own vinegars.) I've made soap many years ago. It was messy and a lot of work, but the soap was very nice. This season, I want to tackle almond extract and a lavender mist for the linens.

~ C

tropit

I bought some vodka yesterday, in order to make almond extract. I always feel so self conscious buying booze. I'm waiting for my big stash of raw, organic almonds to arrive from ordering online and then I'm going to make a big batch of almond extract...I might make some mint and fennel extracts too...maybe even some orange. Hummm...strawberry too!

~ C

tropit

One site that I'd like to recommend is Grow Forage Cook Ferment, written by Colleen Codekas: https://www.growforagecookferment.com . She has a lot of cool recipes on there. I want to try her fermented honey garlic and also her fermented elderberry honey. One more...infused dandelion vinegar. Sounds interesting.

I've put in a Mother's Day gift request for one of her books, Healing Herbal Infusions. (But, I also put a request in for the DVDs of the Godfather Parts 1 and 2, so we'll see what I get...LOL.)

~ C

peaceandjoy

I make my own extracts, but do not do almond as DH is allergic to almonds. There are many recipes/tutorials available on Pinterest.

My standard, that I use most often, is of course vanilla. I always have that going. Before the beans took a huge price jump, that is what I gave for Christmas gifts to lots of people. Gift exchange at guild holiday party, the people i worked with (have since retired) that you want to give a little something to. Most everyone can use extracts!

tropit

Yesterday, I got out my book, The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them
by J.J. Pursell (I think that this book is available for online reading at scribd.) I hadn't read it in a long time. A lot of times, I find that the herbalist lingo is vague and perhaps a little flowery. Ex: "This herb will make you feel centered"...what? I'm still trying to get used to all of the jargon.

However, Pursell has a very clear and concise way of describing the way to make things and what the different methods are, like explaining the difference between a, "decoction" and an "infusion." She also advises on dosages. We have so many plants that are mentioned in the book right on our land. I'm going to try to make a few things from her recipes.

One thing that I did make yesterday was Rose Geranium tincture. I wanted to make a spray out of it for freshening up my linens. I also made Rose Geranium syrup for using in sodas and cocktails...maybe even Christmas gifts. If you have never smelled Rose Geranium...OMG...it is so lovely. One leaf can perfume the whole room. Both recipes were super easy and took only a few minutes to make.

~C

romanojg

That is what I use to make vanilla extract. so much cheaper than trying to buy it.

tropit

Arnica salve is another one that I want to make. (Arnica is a wonderful pain reliever. It works great just as soon as it is applied.) I tried and failed at starting some arnica seeds last year. I'm going to try again this spring. Here's a recipe that I've found: https://learningandyearning.com/arni...erm=2019-05-21

As for my almond extract...it looks cloudy. Not spoiled cloudy, but almond milk cloudy. I may have ground the almonds too fine in the blender. I'm hoping that the cloudiness will strain off when I run it through a coffee filter.

~ C