BUYING AND STORING HERBS

In these times, when wild lands are being developed at an alarming pace and cultivation of medicinal herbs has not yet caught up with the rate of their use, it is critical that each of us takes responsibility for where our herbs are coming from and who is growing and harvesting them.  You must insist on high-quality organically grown herbs!  Though they may cost a bit more, they are far better for our medicines and, ultimately, for our planet.

Buying High-Quality Herbs
The single most important factor when purchasing herbs for making remedies is recognizing and obtaining the best quality available.  Buy your herbs from reputable companies, those that have a conscience and are concerned about both the quality of the products they sell and the environment.  (My favorite company to buy bulk herbs from is www.mountainroseherbs.com)  Whenever possible, use your herbs fresh!  However, this is not always feasible - but quality dried herbs will generally retain all of their medicinal properties.  A good dried herb should look, smell and taste almost exactly as it does when it’s fresh!

Growing Medicinal Herbs
The best way to ensure that you’re getting quality herbs is to grow your own.  Many of the plants that you use for medicine can be grown as part of your flower/vegetable garden.  They might even be growing wild already in your backyard or in the woods.  Incorporate them into your landscape and use them as they grow and thrive.  A great book on the subject is Growing 101 Herbs that Heal by Tammi Hartung.  I rent a duplex that doesn’t really have a yard, so I set up a container garden of herbs for medicine and cooking.  Fortunately, most herbs thrive in a small container on a sunny windowsill.  :) 

Storing Herbs
Herbs retain their properties best if stored in air-tight glass jars, away from direct light, in a cool storage area (a kitchen cabinet will do).  You can store them in all kinds of containers, but I’ve found that durable glass bottles do best.  I try to re-use any kind of jar I have… I just make sure to wash it out REALLY REALLY WELL.  You don’t want your herbs smelling like pickles or marinara sauce.  I’ve mentioned labeling before and I’ll speak of its importance again, so remember to label all of your jars with the plant name and date.

(Photo credit: http://www.etoday.ru/2011/12/pharmacy-museum-new-orleans.php)