Looking Torwards a License , Faster Than I Thought

In my search to combine herbal medicine and psychology, I was struggling to find a school that I could attend that didn't mean I had to move. Already being in collage pursuing a mental health career meant that I might have to wait until I was done with the first degree to focus on such a specialized study. Well today I decided to just dive in and see what I could find for this study in an online teaching environment.

I really want to gain licensing not so much for all the knowledge, because over time I can learn that on my own, but for the degree. I may attain years of first hand experience, and know a million things at some point, but to the public its the best way to tell another person your really do have all this knowledge. 

As much as a piece of paper could mean, I'd like to assure my customers, and eventually patients some piece of mind in my area of specialty. 

So without further ado here's my plan!

American College of Healthcare Sciences

I will be studying the

Associate of Applied Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine with Herbal Medicine Major degree (Online)

Graduate Certificate in Herbal Medicine (Online)

 Master of Science in Herbal Medicine degree (Online)

Each link will tell you more about each part of each degree and whats required. I am also going to elect to take the rest of the herb classes they do offer just to assure myself well rounded. My current college experience is almost a head with an associates degree in art, then to move forward with a bachelor and masters in Psychology.

In the end I intend to specialize in Attention deficit disorder, all 6 types. I then want to treat the disorder and its complications using herbs. As I go through my study I will be able to use herbs in other fashions to help those of you interested in other uses for herbs but mainly I would like to develop herbals that really fix this problem we have so much of, that's entirely too misunderstood.

Glycerin Method Two ... Using Heat To Extract

Glycerin Method Two

Using the double boil method to extract plant medicine.

  This method requires the use of heat, from either your stove or you can also use a crock pot.

The benefit of using this method is that you don't have to wait 2 months for the tincture to cure.

Your tincture will be ready in just a few hours.

As I mentioned in the previous post, glycerin tinctures require equal ratios. The glycerin needs to be per-diluted with 50% water, before you add it to your herbs.

• Gather up the items you need to make your tincture. You will need a large pot, water, herbs, a mason jar. and your glycerin mixture.
• Next you will add water to your pot, and turn the heat on the lowest setting you can.
• Add your herbs to your mason jar.
• Then pour your glycerin mixture over your herbs and cap.
• Submerge the mason jar, with the mixture of herbs and glycerin, in the pot of water you are heating.
• Be sure that your water level in the pot is over the level of plant and glycerin material you have in your mason jar.
• Keep your heat on the lowest setting the entire time you are cooking the tincture. This is so you don't burn the plant.
• You will have to watch this for most of the day. Some tinctures made in this manor, take 3 hours some take up to 8 hours. This depends on what plant you choose.

You will want to watch for possible burning to avoid ruining your tincture. When your tincture has finished, you strain out the material through cheese cloth to collect your tincture.

*Note*

Using a crock pot makes burning the plant material easier. In order to use this item to make your tinctures, you will have to watch very carefully.

 Blessed be 

When Making a Tincture, What Do I Use?

 Method One

Anyone can make a tincture, it's easy. The hard part is finding a plant that fixes your problem, then figuring out how much you should take after you make the tincture.

So you're probably wondering exactly what is a tincture? Tinctures are medicines made by soaking a plant for several weeks in either alcohol or glycerin. This process extracts the plants medicine properties into a more concentrated form; it also makes taking your herbs much quicker in the long run.

In order to make a tincture you're going to need a few items.

Any size mason jar

.

Your plant of choice, or mix of choice

( be aware of each plant's properties before combining plant material together. You will also need to know how much of each plant you want to use, and write these down.)

100% Grain alcohol

The highest proof you can buy to make your tinctures with, is 190.

(Please keep in mind using lower proofs, lowers the potency of the tincture)

In order to use this method, you will need to know two things. Math and how much you want to make. Most roots, bark, and seeds usually take a 1:1 ratio of plant to alcohol, flowers and leaf are a 1:3 or 1:5, depending on how strong you want your tincture.  So if you're making a tincture from a root; for sleep, you would use 1 part plant material to 1 part alcohol. If a leaf or flower is what your using 1 part plant material to 3-5 parts alcohol.

Now you're probably wonder what's a part?

A part is a desired amount of herb that you add alcohol to. That's it, you decide how much tincture you want to yield and adjust your herbs accordingly.

Measure out your plant and alcohol ratios, then add your herbs to the jar. After, pour the alcohol over the herb. If your plant matter is above the alcohol, due to absorption, then add more alcohol. An easy way to judge your ratio, is if your alcohol level is about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch above your herb material, you know you have enough alcohol to complete the process.

How long do you store it?

Well I've heard and read different things, some people say 1 to 4 weeks some say longer, I let the plant judge. I usually only soak between 4 and 6 weeks. Once you have combined the herb and alcohol, cap the container and give it a good shake. (remember that plants, especially root, seeds, and bark take time to extract) Label and place your jar in cool dry place for the duration of the extraction process. Remember to check on it every day and give it a little shake. 

A word to the wise about making your own tinctures, and using websites for information. I have learned over the years of research that some people like to think they can make tinctures, and give you wrong information. Make sure you take care to assure yourself good directions. Here's a few red flags I have found over the years.

1.       If the person tells you that your tincture should not turn colors, run because they do not know basic plant anatomy. Each green plant contains chlorophyll, it makes the leaf the color green. If you're extracting from green plants, you will also extract the chlorophyll. This will turn your tincture different shades of green. The same goes for roots, flowers, and bark. If you are working with bark or roots you can expect the color to resemble shades of dirt, for flowers expect some different colors, but never think your tincture should be clear.

2.       If someone tells you that you can let the jar sit for "only hours," and extract plants medicine. Is wasting your plants. You will extract a very small amount, but it won't work like it should. A real extraction takes time for the alcohol to pull from the plant.

3.       If anyone tells you to make your internal tinctures with rubbing alcohol!!! You can use rubbing alcohol, but only if you are making for tinctures for external use only. NEVER, NEVER ingest rubbing alcohol!

Look for the second method to making tinctures coming up soon, and I'll be adding a dosing guide page for help on finding your dose.

Blessed Be

Things I Have Been Up To...

The Past Year..

Has taught me a lot of things. I have have acquired quite a reference selection, learned more about how to make tinctures, infused oils, and found a direction for a college degree. 

My study of plants over the last year has brought me into extracting plants I know about. I'm currently only working with your most common found herbs; for making tinctures. I also have begun to share what I've learned with others; because its not OK just to suggest someone use something they know nothing about. The person should know what plant it is and how it works, in order to decide if they want to use it. 

Infusing oils has been pretty fun. I like the solar method and my climate really helps keep the moisture down. I have found a few good herbs that you can use for healing. Different herbs like Calendula and Burdock Root are often used on the skin to heal. My daughter had bad reactions to most bites; and I had been trying to come up with something that might take the itch and sting out of the bite, and maybe do something about the inflammation. I wanted an oil so I could just rub it on her skin and let the skin absorb it. So I used Calendula flower for its healing properties, decided on using the solar method to make an herb infused oil, and bottled the strained oil. I have been using it for every bite since! My daughter comes up to me when she has an "ouchy" for some oil. So I decided to add it to the store, as a wonderful "Ouchy" healer!

Later on my friend explains to me whats going on with the skin on his hands, he tells me that he has Psoriasis, but couldn't find anything to make it go away, or at least manage it. I thought a lotion might help best for him since he needed it on his hands. So I got some Burdock infused oil and made a lotion before I made the oil on my own. I wanted to see how the herb worked on his problem. We watched it for weeks and his hands got a little better, but the skin was still over producing. That's when we decided that maybe the infused oil directly on his skin would help more. Today the overgrowth of skin is no longer an issue and he told me its been months since he had to use it. I'm just glad I was able to help his hands out. No one should have to deal with a condition like that without a real treatment.

School has taken back up my time, but I'm enjoying the classes that I am taking. About a semester away from an associates and looking forward to continuing my education. With the store, school and my busy family its been a hard juggle, but I'm adjusting to fit what universe designed.