First, however, it is good to know how to make a tincture:
Get your hands on some decent quality, 80 or 100 proof potato vodka(I use Luksusowa). Warm apple cider can also be used, from what I've heard. Mix one part herb per five parts alcohol and let it sit for at least four weeks, preferably six. While it is brewing, I recommend putting them in a canning jar and tightly sealing the lid; store in a cool, dark place as well. At the end of the brewing time, strain the herb out, squeezing it strongly to get all the fluid you can. Store it in amber bottles to protect from sunlight damage and make sure it's away from children, as they are very potent and can cause harm if misused.
Another Warning: Do not ingest essential oils of herbs unless you have the
expressed consent of a medical professional. Most are highly toxic in even small amounts.
Thyme - This stuff is truly a lifesaver. It is a potent anti-septic(especially if you have the refined oil, though that is dangerous to use internally, a few teaspoons will kill you), a digestive aid, and an excellent cough remedy. To make thyme tea, seep 1-2 tsp in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. The stronger the tea, the better really. Also, if you mix in around 2 tbsp of honey per cup of extremely strong thyme tea and cook it down, you can make your own cough syrup. To use as an anti-septic, make a tincture and apply a few drops to the cleaned wound.
Cayenne(Red Pepper) - It is more proper to say "Red Pepper", as Cayenne is not actually a very common pepper in terms of quantity of sale in the US and any truly hot pepper will do the job. It can be used as a digestive aid, chronic pain, shingles, and cluster headaches. It is most commonly taken as an infusion, where 1/4-1/2 tsp will be used per cup of water after a meal(it will probably upset your stomach if you haven't eaten). To help with chronic pain, mix 1/2 tsp of the powder per cup of warm vegetable oil and apply to the areas in pain. Before you think that's just going to burn and feel unpleasant, remember that capsaicin, one of the active constituents of Red Pepper, is commonly used in pain creams and lotions. And don't forget to just put some in your food for some spice!
Cloves - I unremittingly love cloves in pretty much any context. I love clove tea, cloves in my smoothies, cloves in my hot toddies, and cloves in my baked goods, naturally. Cloves, besides being delicious, can serve three very useful functions: a digestive aid, a disinfectant, and an oral anesthetic. The last is most commonly done with the essential oil: as your doctor about that stuff that they rub in your mouth before shots; it most likely contains clove oil. If you drink clove tea it is much less potent but it will still cause a slight numbing of the tongue and mouth. As a digestive aid, make the tea out of 1-2 tsp of ground cloves per cup of boiling water and let it steep for at 10 minutes. I warn you,
however, that if you're new to the tea you'll want to err on the side of less, not more, as the tea is very strong tasting. The tea can also be used as mouthwash.
Allspice - This is actually the berry of a large tree found in the Caribbean(native) and south of the Border in various places. It can do basically all the same functions as cloves can, though it is not an anti-bacterial. The tea of 1 tsp of the powder per cup of boiling water is a good digestive aid and a slight oral anesthetic. If you live somewhere that you can get the fresh berries, you can crush them and apply that to painful joints and muscles for some relief. For us northerners, it is just a delightful tea and spice.
Cilantro(Coriander) - As a digestive aid, it is not a very potent one compared to peppermint or chamomile. However, coriander seeds have an amazing citrus and sage flavor that is a delight in a tea. Seed 1 tsp of bruised seeds(or 1/2 tsp powder) per cup of water for five minutes. The fresh, bruised leaves can also be used as a temporary anti-septic.
Pysillum - I guarantee you that you have seen this plant more than pretty much any plant in your life. It grows literally anywhere; it pops through sidewalks, in fields, in your yard, even through the heat of blacktop. The brand named laxative aid Metamucil is basically ground pysillum seeds. What is this prevalent herb? The plant in flower:
If you still don't recognize it, get the hell out of your house and go look at your sidewalk. You will find that, and its' large broad leaves fairly shortly. The leaves are what I'm more interested in anyway. Take the leaves, crush them, and apply them to rashes, bites, burns, or anything that itches and it'll take away all that sensation within a few minutes. The small leaves can also be eaten as a salad green; the larger ones are more bitter and stringy, so avoid them.
As a general rule of thumb, limit the intake of tincture to 1-3 mL(.2-.6 teaspoons. A shallow 1/4 tsp to shallow 3/4 tsp) and infusions(tea) to three cups a day. Always check for verification, as some herbs you want a very small amount; I'll mention that in my next herbal post.
