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General Information

SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING EXTRACTION AT A CHEMICAL LEVEL

Most people stop at “this herb does this.”

That’s surface-level.

If you want real capability, you need to understand:
– why different methods extract different compounds

Why This Matters

If you:

Make everything into tea → you miss key compounds
Only use tinctures → you miss hydration + minerals
Only use oils → you limit internal support

Each method fills a gap the others cannot

SECTION 2: BUILDING A COMPLETE HERBAL SYSTEM

Think in layers:

Layer 1 – Daily Support

Teas
Nutrient herbs
Gentle regulation

Layer 2 – Targeted Support

Tinctures
Concentrated intervention

Layer 3 – External Treatment

Oils & salves
Injury, skin, inflammation

SECTION 3: TINCTURES — MASTER LEVEL

Fresh vs Dried Herb Ratios

Fresh Herb:

1:2 ratio (1 part herb, 2 parts alcohol)

Dried Herb:

1:5 ratio

Advanced Extraction Techniques

Double Extraction

Used for mushrooms (like reishi)

Step 1:

Alcohol extraction

Step 2:

Water decoction

Step 3:

Combine both

This pulls BOTH water + alcohol compounds

Glycerites (Alcohol-Free Option)

Use vegetable glycerin instead of alcohol
Good for:
- Children
- Alcohol-sensitive individuals

Field Use Scenario

Grid-down:

No pharmacy
No supply chain

A tincture kit gives:

Antimicrobial support
Pain support
Sleep support

All in pocket-sized form

SECTION 4: TEAS — MASTER LEVEL

Cold Infusions (Often Ignored)

Best for delicate herbs:

Nettles
Marshmallow root

Method:

Soak in cold water 8–12 hours

Preserves nutrients that heat destroys

Strong Infusions

Used for:

Mineral loading
Long-term support

Example:

1 oz herb per quart water
Steep 4–8 hours

Decoction Enhancements

Add:

Lid (prevents volatile loss)
Long simmer (up to 1 hour)

Field Use Scenario

If you only have:

Water
Fire
Plants

You can still produce:
Medicine + hydration

SECTION 5: OILS — MASTER LEVEL

Solar Infusion Method

Place jar in sunlight
Rotate daily
2–4 weeks

Advanced Salve Formulas

Basic:

Oil + beeswax

Advanced:

Add essential oils (small %)
Add vitamin E (preservation)

Topical Use Cases

Wound healing
Anti-inflammatory
Joint pain
Burns

SECTION 6: BUILDING A PREPPER HERBAL KIT

Tier 1 (Basic Kit)

3 tinctures
3 dried herbs
1 salve

Tier 2 (Intermediate)

10 tinctures
10 herbs
Multiple oils

Tier 3 (Advanced System)

Full herb library
Extraction station
Rotation system
Storage + redundancy

SECTION 7: LOCAL SOURCING & FORAGING

Key Skills

Plant ID (non-negotiable)
Seasonal awareness
Ethical harvesting

Rule of Thumb

Never harvest more than 30% of a plant population

SECTION 8: STORAGE, ROTATION, AND LONGEVITY

Rotation Strategy

Label everything
Track dates
Use oldest first

SECTION 9: SAFETY & REALITY CHECK

Important Points

Not all herbs are safe
Dosage matters
Some interact with medications

Golden Rule

When in doubt, don’t use it

SECTION 10: REAL-WORLD APPLICATION

Example: Cold & Flu

Tea → hydration + comfort
Tincture → immune support
Oil → chest rub

Example: Injury

Clean wound
Apply herbal oil
Support internally with tincture

ADVANCED HERBAL REFERENCE — 50+ HERBS WITH EXACT RECIPES

IMMUNE & ANTIMICROBIAL HERBS

1. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)

Best Form: Tincture

Tincture Recipe:

Dried root: 1:5 ratio (1 part herb, 5 parts 50–60% alcohol)
Steep 4–6 weeks

Use: Immune activation, infection support
Dose: 20–30 drops every 2–3 hours (short term)

2. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Best Form: Tea or Syrup

Tea Recipe:

1 tbsp dried berries
Simmer 20 minutes (decoction)

Use: Viral support, cold/flu

3. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Best Form: Tincture or raw

Tincture Recipe:

Fresh chopped garlic
1:2 ratio in 40% alcohol
Steep 2–4 weeks

Use: Antibacterial, antifungal

4. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Best Form: Oil or tincture

Oil Infusion:

Dried leaves
Olive oil, infuse 4 weeks

Use: Antimicrobial

5. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Best Form: Tea

Tea Recipe:

1–2 tsp dried leaves
Steep 10–15 minutes

Use: Respiratory infections

6. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Best Form: Decoction

Recipe:

Fresh sliced root
Simmer 20–30 minutes

Use: Circulation, nausea, colds

7. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Best Form: Decoction or tincture

Recipe:

Simmer root 30 minutes
Add black pepper (critical for absorption)

8. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Best Form: Tincture

Recipe:

Dried root 1:5 (60% alcohol)

Use: Strong antimicrobial (short-term only)

9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Best Form: Tea

Recipe:

1–2 tsp dried herb
Steep 15 minutes

Use: Fever, wound support

10. Usnea (Usnea spp.)

Best Form: Double extraction tincture

Recipe:

Alcohol extract 2 weeks
Water decoction 30 min
Combine

Use: Natural antibiotic

DIGESTIVE & GUT SUPPORT

11. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Tea:

1–2 tsp leaves
Steep 10 min

Use: Digestion, cramping

12. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Tea:

1 tbsp flowers
Steep 10–15 min

Use: Calm stomach, sleep

13. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Tea:

Crush seeds
Steep 10–15 min

Use: Gas, bloating

14. Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

Decoction:

Simmer 20–30 min

Use: Liver support

15. Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)

Decoction:

Simmer 30 min

Use: Detox, blood support

16. Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Tea:

Simmer 10–15 min

Avoid long-term use

17. Plantain (Plantago major)

Tea or Poultice

Use: Gut + wound healing

RESPIRATORY SUPPORT

18. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Tea:

1 tbsp leaves
Steep 15 min
STRAIN WELL (hairy leaves)

19. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)

Tincture only (potent)

1:5 ratio

Strong herb—small doses

20. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

Tea:

Steep 10 min

21. Elecampane (Inula helenium)

Decoction:

Simmer 20–30 min

STRESS / SLEEP / NERVOUS SYSTEM

22. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Tincture:

1:5 dried root

23. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Tincture or decoction

24. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Tea:

Steep 10–15 min

25. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Tea or tincture

26. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Tea or oil

27. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Tincture preferred

PAIN / INFLAMMATION

28. Willow Bark (Salix spp.)

Decoction:

Simmer 20 min

29. Cayenne (Capsicum spp.)

Tincture or topical oil

30. Arnica (Arnica montana)

EXTERNAL ONLY

Oil infusion

31. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Oil/salve

External only

SKIN / WOUND CARE

32. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Oil infusion (4 weeks)

33. Aloe Vera

Fresh gel

34. St. John’s Wort

Oil infusion (sunlight method)

35. Tea Tree

Diluted oil use

CIRCULATION / HEART

36. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

Tea or tincture

37. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Tincture

ENERGY / ADAPTOGENS

38. Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

Tincture

39. Ginseng (Panax spp.)

Tincture or decoction

URINARY / KIDNEY

40. Uva Ursi

Tea (short-term only)

41. Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Strong infusion (4–8 hrs)

ADDITIONAL CORE HERBS

42. Rosehips

Tea (vitamin C)

43. Clover

44. Horsetail

Tea (silica)

45. Chickweed

Fresh or tea

46. Kelp

Powder or broth

47. Alfalfa

48. Sage

Tea (antimicrobial)

49. Basil

50. Rosemary

Oil or tea

51. Oatstraw

Strong infusion

52. Slippery Elm

Powder (mucilage)

FINAL SYSTEM INSIGHT

If you build this out:

You now have:

Internal medicine (teas + tinctures)
External medicine (oils + salves)
Daily nutrition support
Emergency treatment capability

That’s not “natural remedies”

That’s a parallel medical system

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER (KEEP THIS IN YOUR GUIDE)

This is for educational use
Herbs can interact with medications
When in doubt, start low and go slow
Avoid using new herbs during pregnancy, for infants, or with serious conditions unless you’ve researched deeply

OILS / SALVES

Apply 2–3 times daily
For injury or acute use: apply every few hours as needed

CHILD DOSAGE GUIDE

Clark’s Rule (Simple Method):
Child dose = (weight ÷ 150) × adult dose

Example:
50 lb child ≈ one-third adult dose

CORE CONTRAINDICATION RULES

Avoid or use extreme caution if:

Pregnant or breastfeeding
Taking prescription medications (especially heart, blood pressure, antidepressants)
Chronic illness
Liver or kidney conditions

HERB-SPECIFIC DOSAGE AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

Echinacea

Dose: 20–30 drops, 3–5x/day (short term)
Avoid: Long-term use with autoimmune conditions

Elderberry

Dose: 1 cup tea, 2–3x/day
Avoid: Raw berries must not be consumed

Garlic

Dose: 1–2 cloves daily or 20 drops tincture
Avoid: Use caution with blood thinners

Oregano

Dose: 1 cup tea 2x/day or diluted oil
Avoid: High doses during pregnancy

Thyme

Dose: 1 cup tea 2–3x/day
Avoid: Large amounts during pregnancy

Ginger

Dose: 1–3 cups tea daily
Avoid: High doses with bleeding disorders

Turmeric

Dose: 1–2 teaspoons daily with black pepper
Avoid: Gallbladder issues without guidance

Goldenseal

Dose: 10–15 drops, 2–3x/day (short term only)
Avoid: Pregnancy and long-term use

Yarrow

Dose: 1–2 cups tea daily
Avoid: Pregnancy

Usnea

Dose: 10–20 drops tincture
Avoid: Long-term heavy use

Peppermint

Dose: 1–3 cups tea daily
Avoid: Severe acid reflux

Chamomile

Dose: 1–3 cups tea daily
Avoid: Ragweed allergies

Fennel

Dose: 1–2 cups tea daily
Avoid: Large amounts with hormone-sensitive conditions

Dandelion Root

Dose: 1–2 cups decoction daily
Avoid: Use caution with gallstones

Burdock Root

Dose: 1–2 cups decoction daily
Avoid: Monitor with blood sugar medications

Licorice Root

Dose: Short-term use only (max 2 weeks)
Avoid: High blood pressure and heart conditions

Plantain

Dose: Tea or topical use
Generally safe

Mullein

Dose: 1–2 cups tea daily
Note: Strain thoroughly

Lobelia

Dose: 1–5 drops only
Avoid: Overuse can cause nausea

Valerian

Dose: 20–40 drops before bed
Avoid: Combining with sedatives

Ashwagandha

Dose: 20–40 drops or tea daily
Avoid: Hyperthyroid conditions

Lemon Balm

Dose: 1–3 cups tea daily
Generally safe

Passionflower

Dose: Tea or tincture
Avoid: With sedative medications

Lavender

Dose: Tea or oil
Safe in moderate use

Skullcap

Dose: Tincture preferred
Avoid: Combining with sedatives

Willow Bark

Dose: Decoction as needed
Avoid: Children and blood thinners

Cayenne

Dose: Small amounts internal or topical
Avoid: Sensitive stomach

Arnica

External use only

Comfrey

External use only
Avoid internal use

Calendula

Safe for topical and tea use

St. John’s Wort

Dose: Oil or tincture
Avoid: Many medication interactions

Hawthorn

Dose: Tea or tincture
Avoid: Monitor with heart medications

Ginkgo

Dose: Tincture
Avoid: Blood thinners

Rhodiola

Dose: 10–20 drops
Avoid: High doses may increase anxiety

Ginseng

Dose: Tincture or decoction
Avoid: High blood pressure

Uva Ursi

Dose: Short-term use only (5–7 days max)

Nettle

Dose: Strong infusion
Safe and highly nutritious

CRITICAL RED FLAGS

Stop use immediately if:

Rash
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Heart irregularities

FINAL SYSTEM RULE

Start low
Observe response
Increase slowly

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