Hello friends,
Join me today as I make a fresh plant tincture from Monarda fistulosa also known as Bee Balm or Wild Oregano from our land.
Monarda fistulosa, a native on our land. You may be familiar with this perennial in your gardens in a vast array of colors! They’re medicinal too!
Monardas are in the mint family and are known for their warming and spicy antibacterial and digestive calming properties. This plant in fact was one that helped heal my sinuses last week after my flu virus.
In this video, I walk you through the basics of making a tincture using fresh plant parts, including when to tincture, what to look for, how much herb to put in and how much to take from the plant.
Never take more than 10-20% of a plant you’re harvesting. Plants are our allies and must be respected, not exploited. Always pick in morning after the sun has burned off the dew and when the plant is at the peak of its vigor.
For a fresh plant tincture using leaves make a 1:1 ratio (fresh leaf to alcohol). I usually fill the jar full to achieve this and use over 60% alcohol solution (it varies based on plants, but this is a good guideline).
Making herbal medicine is a joyous process and one that always brings me pleasure and nourishment and reminds me why I love working with herbs for healing!!
Making your own medicine is one of the most empowering acts that we can do and I hope to equip many with these skills!
It’s really quite easy and I hope this video will convey that message.
Monarda fistulosa tincture on the left and two other tinctures I made today: raspberry leaf and a combo one for relaxation including holy basil, lemon balm, chamomile, St. John’s wort, skullcap and catnip.
Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to ask questions.
My video is also at YouTube.
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