How to Choose Equipment for Herbal Remedies

If you make your own herbal remedies--or plan to--the equipment that you use will affect how they turn out, writes Joyce A. Wardell in her book "The Herbal Home Remedy Book." Luckily, making natural remedies does not require specialized equipment; you may already have all or most of what you need.

Instructions

1




Prepare herbal remedies in non-reactive, non-toxic utensils.

Prepare your herbal remedies in equipment that is made from material that is as non-reactive as possible, to avoid residue from contaminating it. Aluminum, for example, is a reactive material that will leave aluminum residue in your herbal remedy. Rosemary Gladstar, in her book "Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health," notes that aluminum has been proven to be a toxic material, and heat causes its toxicity to be released easily into our food. Glass, ceramic, stainless steel, enamel, marble or cast iron are excellent non-reactive, non-toxic equipment materials.

2




Colored glass helps protect your herbal remedies such as tinctures and essential oils from sunlight.

Use colored glass bottles and jars to make and store herbal remedies, rather than clear glass ones. Colored glass helps protect your formulations from sunlight, particularly herbal tinctures and essential oils. Disinfect your bottles and jars before using them by washing them in hot water or steaming them. You may also rinse them in a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, which is available at your grocery store or pharmacy.

3




An herbal tea infuser saves you the need to strain your herbal tea.

Strain your herbs using unbleached muslin cloth or cheese cloth. Alternatively, prepare your herbal infusions and decoctions using a bamboo or stainless steel herbal tea infuser, which will save you the trouble of having to strain your herbs.

4




Grind or powder your herbs in a wooden, ceramic or marble pestle and mortar.

Grind or powder your herbs in a wooden, ceramic or marble pestle and mortar. You can also use a coffee grinder, but ensure that you reserve it specifically for your herbal remedies, or else your coffee will taste like herbs and your herbal remedies will taste like coffee.