How to Work with Plants TeaA beautiful and easy way to work with herbs is to brew them into a cup of tea. This can be done with a strainer, reusable tea bags, or disposable tea bags. You can blend mixtures of herbs, add boiling water, allow the mixture to steep, and then sip away! Different herbs have different steeping times, so as you get to know the plants, you’ll get to know the ideal amount of time to brew your favorite cup. Teas are a marvelous way to bring herbs into your daily rituals. They are delicious, affordable, and supportive, providing a pause for quiet contemplation or shared enjoyment.
InfusionAn infusion is a wonderful way to receive the nutrients of the plants and herbs you’re working with. The first step is deciding whether it will be hot or cold. Some herbs respond better to cold infusions, others to hot infusions, so you’ll want to assess your herbs and your intention before deciding (for example, mucilaginous herbs respond better to cold water!). For a hot infusion, add herbs to a boil-safe container such as a mason jar (be careful that the jar isn’t cold, because adding hot liquid can cause it to crack!). Then, boil your water and pour it over the herbs in the jar. Cover the mixture with a lid, to keep volatile oils in, but don’t over tighten—it’s better to keep a little bit of give. Allow the jar to sit in the refrigerator for a period of time. Some herbs are best left overnight, while others need only a few hours. With time and experimentation, you’ll discover what works best. When the infusion is ready, strain the mixture, pressing out the plant material to release the fullest amount of nutrients. Don’t throw away the spent herbs—compost the plant matter to return it to the earth. (Note that some plants can be used in a second infusion.) Get to know your plants and try an infusion—they’re delicious. Drink them much like a tea! (That is, a tea with more nutrients packed in.)
Tincture or GlyceriteA tincture is a method of preparing plant-based medicine that uses a solvent like vodka, brandy, vinegar, or glycerin to extract nutrients from the plant. There are a few different methods of tincture making, but the kind that I’m most familiar with is the folk method. First, depending on what you have on hand, decide whether you will be using fresh or dried herbs. Next, macerate the herbs, which entails chopping them up to help the tincturing process along. Take your fresh or dried herbs and fill a mason-type jar 1/2 to 2/3 full of the plant material. Then, pour your solvent over the plants, filling the jar to the top. Store the jar in a dark and dry place for six weeks, shaking it every couple of days. The final step is to decant the tinctures: strain the mixture through clean cheesecloth, squeezing the out the plant material before pouring the mixtures into dropper bottles. If your process calls for a more exact method, you may want to learn the weight method of making a tincture. We don’t cover that here, but you can find explanations online or study with a more experienced herbalist.
ElixirAn elixir is similar to a tincture, but with a touch of added sweetness, ideally from honey! This is delicious and works especially well with plants like elderberry.
Infused OilTo make a plant-infused oil, first select your herb(s) and an oil—olive, sunflower, and jojoba are a few favorites. If the herbs are fresh, allow them to dry for one or two days, because water in the oil will cause mold to grow. Fill the jar with plant material, and then cover it with oil. Before sealing the jar, poke out any air bubbles. Check it regularly, and as it settles, you may want to top off the jar with more oil. Leave it in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks, then strain into jars. Squeeze the plant material to get out all the nutrients, then return it to the earth.
SalveFor a salve, you will first make an herb-infused oil, as described above. You’ll need a glass jar, and either beeswax or shea butter. You will also need a double boiler for this preparation method. (If you don’t have one on hand, the internet has loads of creative ideas for rigging one up yourself.) When the oil is ready to decant, boil down the beeswax or shea, then stir in the oil. You’ll want to make a tester first to make sure the ratios are correct—do this by filling one of your jars and putting it in the freezer for a few minutes, then see if the texture is what you want.
DecoctionA decoction is simply a tea that is simmered. This process is frequently called upon when using bark and roots. Using a stovetop-safe pot (made of glass or stainless steel), place the herbs in the water, bringing it to a boil, then simmer the mixture for twenty minutes. When the preparation is ready, strain, squeeze the materials, and then sip!
SyrupWhen they said that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, they were talking about herbal syrups. To make one, prepare a strong decoction and simmer it down to half of its volume, then add honey to taste. Allow the syrup to cool, then store it in a dark bottle. These can be kept for six months (the perfect amount of time to last through winter).
HoneyYou can infuse herbs into honey to make a tasty delivery system for herbal medicine. A favorite infusion of this herbalist is garlic in honey, which is perfect for the winter months. Add your plant material to a jar, and cover with honey. Allow it to steep for four to six weeks, and then enjoy. Reminder: young children (less than twelve months old) shouldn’t have honey, as they are at risk from bacteria that can cause a very serious condition called infant botulism.
And more!There are many other wonderful ways to work with herbs. Some herbalists feel called by flower essences, some by medicinal and ritual baths. There are fire ciders, which come in many varieties and can be a great way to work with culinary herbs in medicine. Vinegars are a delicious way to infuse medicine. Some herbalists craft scrubs, plant-based makeup, and more. Experiment with the plants you feel most called to and then see what they teach you. Listening to plants is step number one for making plant magic! To help you get started, we have included suggestions for each of the herbs in this book, including small ritual ideas and recipes. While reading about herbs and plant magic is fun and potent, actually getting dirt under your fingernails and working with the plants is the best way to learn.
Gathering plantsWhen gathering plants, it’s important to do it mindfully, paying attention to your actions, choices, and impact on the environment. Research to learn which plants in your area are at risk or endangered; there are websites like United Plant Savers that provide up-to-date information. You’ll want to gather in a place that hasn’t been sprayed for pesticides, on land that you’re familiar with. There are many look-alike plants, with some of the look-alikes being toxic. Before gathering plants, gain as much knowledge as you can. Find an expert local plant identifier, or go for a weed walk with a knowledgeable herbalist or gardener. It’s best to get to know the plants intimately before gathering them for yourself.
Another way to learn about plants is to grow and cultivate them yourself. Keeping a garden is a special way to tend to your relationship with the natural world. I was taught to do the best you can with what you’ve got, so when purchasing herbs, buy the best that you can afford (organic, etc.) and support trusted, small, local shops whenever you can. The happier and better tended the herbs, the better the medicine.
Asking PermissionBefore gathering from a plant, it’s important to ask the plant permission.Approach respectfully and quietly. Notice in your body what a “yes” and a “no” sound like. And even if you don’t understand at first why you’ve heard a “no” from a specific plant or herb, trust that nature has reasons.
The Importance of ReciprocityI was taught to be in reciprocal relationship with the herbs that I gather from, trying to give back and not just take. This might mean leaving a bit of dried herbs as an offering to the plant; offering something of yourself, such as a tear or a hair; or even reading a poem or a prayer—sharing whatever is sacred or meaningful to you. Know that the plants can feel your gratitude and sense your presence. Develop relationships of reciprocity with the plants and trees on your land and they’ll be glad to see you each day—and,
happily, this feeling is contagious.
Sample Herb Entry
BlackberryRubus villosus“The Protector”
Blackberry is a bramble plant that grows 5—8 feet (1.5—2.4 m) tall. It contains single shrubs growing up to 8 feet (2.4 m) wide, and is often found in thickets, that is, growing through the middle of other plants. Thorny canes grow to produce a white flower with three to five petals and a berry that is deep-violet to black in color.
Parts Used: Leaves, root, bark, berries
Historical Medicinal Uses: Dating back over two thousand years, medicine made from the blackberry plant has been hailed as a cough suppressant and fever reducer, as well as a treatment for lung infections, bowel issues, bug bites, and boils. The berries are packed with vitamin C (a well-known antioxidant), and the leaves can be made into a tea that helps soothe a sore throat.
How to Use: Tea, tincture, poultice; culinary uses
Ritual and Lore: When collected under certain phases of the moon, blackberries were believed to protect against spells, curses, and other spiritual attacks; they were used in this way in ritual. The thorny bushes were often planted around European villages and homes to protect against intruders and enemies. Some believe that the biblical burning bush shown to Moses was a blackberry bush. Magickal Uses: Use blackberry on your altar—clip a piece of branch or pick some berries to put in a bowl as an offering to Brighid, the Celtic triple goddess of springtime and fertility. Place clippings from the thorny brambles near thresholds to protect the premises from negative energies.
Easy Potions and Recipes: Create a magickal intention letter with the leaves and berries of the blackberry bush by pressing them onto paper and writing with the berry ink. Simply pluck the berries and leaves from their stems, thanking them for their offering in your magickal workings. Crush the berries in a mortar and pestle until you have a liquid or juice- like consistency. Using a quill pen or stick from the bramble, write your intentions on a piece of paper. Do not worry about the neatness or clarity, you are simply infusing your intentions through the berry ink. You can draw lines, symbols, or string together words . . . it does not matter. When you are finished, take the leaves and press them onto the berry-stained paper. Fold the paper three times, with the leaves inside. Depending on your intentions, you can burn the letter in a candle while “letting go” of that which is written, or bury it beneath a blackberry bramble to plant your intentions for future growth.
Copyright © 2023 by Bundy, Shelby. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
