Past to Present Apothecary

04/14/2026

💧🫖Water extraction

⏳️Sometimes you simply cannot wait for a tincture/glycerite to sit and extract. With water you have the ability to extract in a number of ways, and get faster results.

🌿Every herb is made up of different constituents. Some water soluble constituents include volatile oils, mucilages, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. The way you decide on your extraction method is by understanding how the different constituents interact with water.

🔥💧Hot water infusion/Tea (10-15min steep): best for dried or fresh leaves/stems/flowers, and some roots. This method will extract alkaloids(caffeine), aromatic volatile oils, and tannins(antioxidants). Keep in mind that dried herbs tend to have a higher concentration of volatile oils than fresh herbs. To execute this you can use a covered tea pot, french press, or coffee mug with a cover of some kind. Steep, strain if needed, and enjoy. A few ideal plants include chamomile, cayenne, green tea, ginger, mints, lemon balm and more.

🫕Decoction (30-45min simmer): best for roots, barks, berries, and dense herbs. This method will extract tannins, saponins, minerals, and glycosides. To execute, coarsely grind up contents for more surface area coverage and add to a pot. Cover the contents with cold water and bring to a simmer over med-low. Let simmer per recipe or standard for herbs being used. Strain and discard left over plant materials. Drink decoction as you would tea, or you can go on to make a more potent tincture with it, known as a double or dual extraction. Most mushrooms work in decoctions as well as, blackberry roots, elderberries, echinacea root, willow bark and more.

❄️💧Cold water infusion (2-10 hours steep): best for fibrous plants, barks, and some flowers. Certain plant material/constituents will break down and dissolve in high temperatures. Antioxidants, crucial vitamins and minerals can all be lost in heat. Choice herbs to use for cold extraction are chamomile, crampbark, nettle, uva ursi and marshmallow root. To execute this method simply add the coarsely ground contents to cold water and let sit refrigerated for the needed time.

♨️🫙Hydrosols (20 min-3hr) best for aromatic herbs, leaves, and flowers. This method is used to capture the aromatic volatile oils of plants. A way to harness those powerful scents and combine them into cosmetics, culinary dishes, or use as is topically and internally. The process uses steam distillation for extraction. This is more complex than the others and requires more in depth explanation. I will make a separate post soon. The best plants to use in hydrosols are rosemary, rose petals, lavender, lemon balm, and orange blossoms.

⁉️All of these methods are great to learn and remember in a pinch. I love to make a warm cup of tea before bed to get relaxed. What is your favorite form of water extraction?

04/12/2026

🌿🍋Lemon balm, Melissa Officinalis

🌿A member of the lamiaceae family (mint), lemon balm was originally grown in North Africa and parts of the Middle East. It went on to be naturalized in Europe by the 1500's, and by the 1700's in North America. Growing up to 5ft in height and the aerial parts (leaves and steams) are harvested for a variety of uses.

🍋If you even wonder if you found mint or lemon balm, gently rub the leaves and smell the fragrance left behind. Bees and other pollinators adore the flowers, but it is best to get your harvest before they emerge. Right before the flowers begin to show up is when the plant has its highest concentrations of volatile oils.

✨️Constituents:
-Triterpenes
-Polyphenols
-rosmarinic acid
-caffeic acid
-chlorogenic acid
-Flavonoids
-Essential oils
-Citral
-linalool

✨️Actions:
-Relaxant
-Neuroprotective
-Antispasmodic
-Antimicrobial
-Antiviral (works against herpes simplex virus)
-cold sores
-shingles
-Cardiotonic

✨️Ways to use:
-Essential oil
-Tinctures
-Oil Infusions
-Salve/lotions/balms
-Tea infusions
-Ointments

⛑️Lemon balm is known as the herb for longevity. It can be taken on a daily basis and is great both fresh and dried.

🩹Aids with:
-Nausea caused from anxiety
-Fevers
-Cold sores
-Shingles
-Muscle aches from cold/flu
-Stomach spasms
-Restlessness/agitation
-Depression
-Nervousness
-Panic
And more!

📖There have been multiple studies done involving lemon balm involving Alzheimer's and cold sore relief. In both instances lemon balm was of great use. Research has also been done showing it has an antithyroid effect on those with overactive thyroids.

⚠️As always with any herb that has effects on multiple areas of the body, be mindful taking it without prior research. Consult a doctor if you are on any OTC or prescription medications. Lemon balm is a relaxant and can enhance the effects of certain anxiety/depression medications. It could interact with certain HIV and thyroid medications.

04/12/2026

Infusing comfrey, lavender, and lemongrass in unrefined sweet almond oil.

This oil infusion sits in my window for about 4 weeks. After I strain it and use it to make a topical salve.

This combination helps with healing. Good for bug bites, scrapes, cuts, and rashes. Do not apply to open/broken skin.

We use this often and it works wonders.

04/09/2026

🌼🫙Glycerite: A herbal preparation made by mixing or dissolving a substance in glycerin.

🍶I get asked often if there is an alternative to an alcohol tincture. The answer is yes- but not for all herbs. A glycerite uses glycerin as the menstruum (liquid solution) for extracting certain constituents from a substance (herb).

🚨Some quick things to note:
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it draws out moisture. That moisture is usually drawn from the surrounding air, however, in especially dry climates it can draw the moisture from your skin and cause irritation. Keep this in mind if you are utilizing it for cosmetic applications. It is sometimes referred to as glycerol and belongs to the class of alcohols, but it does not contain any ethyl or methyl alcohol. Being clear, odorless, zero sugar content, but still sweet to the taste has made glycerin a highly used product in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries. As it is derived from animal fats or plant oils, be sure to source your product and not end up with synthetic goods. I encourage everyone to research glycerin more in depth if you are planning on utilizing it with your herbs for preservation.

🌿Glycerin does not extract volatile oils. It does work well at extracting and preserving tannins, which are often lost during alternative extraction methods. It is vital to understand the constituents you are looking to extract. That way you are harnessing the full potential of the herb. Otherwise you are just making flavored water/syrups/tinctures and more.

🫙You can use either dried or fresh herbs when making a glycerite. Fresh herbs can go straight into glycerin and sit for extraction. Dried herbs are a bit different because they need to be rehydrated. You do not soak them prior, but instead you add the glycerin and distilled water together first, and then add the liquid mix to your dried herbs. This mixture is usually 75% glycerin and 25% distilled water. Interestingly, glycerin is the only menstruum that can be mixed with others (water, alcohol) for extraction purposes. The extraction process is done much the same as a tincture, where you combine all and then let sit out of sunlight 4-6 weeks and then strain and bottle. The storage is anywhere from 1-2 years if kept in the right container and out of sunlight.

🌼🌿I expressed at the beginning that not all herbs are meant to be used with glycerin. There is still an abundance of herbs/flowers/roots that can be used. My top 5 picks for a glycerite are
Chamomile
Echinacea
Fennel
Nettle
Peppermint

📝⁉️ I will share a few recipes in the coming days, because I have found countless preparation methods and want to ensure I am sharing the highest quality information. Feel free to comment your questions, experiences, and other information.

04/08/2026

🌙🥛Moon Milk: This recipe is perfect for anyone who has been feeling run down and struggling with extra stress. Get a full night's sleep and help your body recover from every day exposures.

🗒Ingredients:
1 cup milk of choice
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp cinnamon powder
¼-½ tsp ashwagandha powder
½ tsp-1 tsp raw honey
Optional add-ins
¼ tsp optional mushroom powder (chaga or reishi)
½ tsp-1tsp lavender syrup

🗒Directions
Heat up milk on stove top over med-low head. Once the mixture is steaming, remove from heat and add dry ingredients. Stir well and cover for 5-10 min. Remove cover and add in honey and syrup if using. Stir and enjoy.

🌙🥛Moon milk is most known in Ayurvedic medicine and helps promote relaxation, immune support, and sleep support. This is a delicious way to prepare for a good night's rest.

Benefits of ingredients:
🪾Ashwagandha is a wonderful adaptogen that aids in recovery after illness, and adapts to the body’s different stressors.
🌰 Nutmeg aids in sleep and eases pain.
🍮 ️Cinnamon is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and helps regulate blood sugar.
✨️Optional:
🍄Chaga mushroom is antioxidant, has anti tumor activity, and is Immunomodulating. It has an earthy, woody, slight bitter taste.
🍄Reishi mushroom regulates blood sugars and cholesterol levels. It also relieves pain and activates immune function. This has a bitter, earthy taste that can be strong to some.

What are some of your favorite ways to relax?

04/06/2026

My favorite wild flower that comes up in March and April- wild violets, (Viola sororia).

Heart shaped deep green leaves with deep purple flowers. 💜 oh they make my heart happy to see. && We found a giant patch growing behind our house.

A 1:1 ratio of hot water to flowers. Let steep about 15 minutes and you will get a beautiful blue/violet water. Add in a squeeze of lemon, and watch it change to a beautiful pink 💗

Violets are one of a few flowers that are a pH indicator. Very cool feature that can be enjoyed with family and friends. You can make a lemonade with them as well. Wild violet jam is also a delight of the season.

Let me know in the comments if you have done this or use wild violets for anything special!

04/03/2026

🌼Chamomile tincture🍶

✨️If you struggle with digestive problems, have harsh menstrual cramps/menstrual symptoms, or struggle with irritability and stress this is a great tincture to keep on hand.

🫙I have made chamomile and lemon balm tincture in the past using grain alcohol. It did not have such a robust scent, and the alcohol taste was stronger. I found that chamomile is a delicate herb and using an alcohol that is 80 proof works best. I use brandy in my chamomile tincture.

🫙🌼Recipe
1 cup dried chamomile flowers
2 cups 80-100 proof alcohol (vodka or brandy)
Pint Mason jar

🗒Directions
-Place dried herbs in a clean/sanitized mason jar.

-Pour alcohol into the jar and make sure the chamomile is fully submerged.

-Close, shake well, place in a dark cool area.

-Set a reminder to shake daily. Record in a notebook herbs & alcohol used, and the date created.

-This will sit and extract for 6-8 weeks.

-Once tincture is complete strain with cheesecloth or other mesh cloth. May have to repeat to get all particles out.

-Add tincture to amber glass tincture dropper bottles.

-Label tincture bottles appropriately and store in a cool, dry place.

🔡Dosage:
-Adults take 1-2 droppers. Dilute with juice or water if the taste is harsh.

-Children 6 and up ½-1 dropper (depending on weight). Dilute in water or juice.

📝Label information:
Date bottled
Herbs used
Alcohol used & proof
Also record this information in a notebook. Write down observations (color, scent, taste) and update with new findings as your tinctures age.

⚠️If taking blood thinners, sedatives, NSAIDs or other prescription medications talk with your doctor before trying. If allergic to ragweed, you may have a reaction to chamomile as both are from the asteraceae plant family.

Follow along for more information 🤍

💬Comment what recipes you would like to see next

04/02/2026

My herb spiral garden is thriving.!

I appreciate all of you for following along. - this dream of mine is slowly coming to life- and it is exciting!

Are there any herbs you struggle with or want to learn how to grow? I would love to help.

03/31/2026

Protect the watershed, steward the lands, and help preserve this land for future generations ♥️

A quiet 30 acres in Washington County just became something much bigger.

Streams, springs, caves, and forested ridgelines, now permanently protected thanks to a conservation easement led by the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. This land sits in the War Eagle watershed and helps protect the water that flows into Beaver Lake, a drinking source for hundreds of thousands of Arkansans.

In a region growing as fast as Northwest Arkansas, wins like this matter.

This is what conservation looks like, one property at a time.

👉 Read more in the comments

💧🌲 Northwest Arkansas Land Trust

03/31/2026

🏵Calendula Salve🏵

🫙Calendula salve promotes wound healing. This works great for rashes, bug bites, stings, and sun burns. It is moisturizing to the skin, helping with skin conditions like eczema. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce redness and swelling. This is one to keep around for your little ones' cuts and scraps.

⚠️ Do not apply to any open wounds/sores. Wait for it to close and a scab to form.

🌿Ingredients:
1 cup Calendula infused oil (Using more oil will make your salve softer, using less oil will make it more firm)
1/8 -1/4 cup Beeswax
Double boiler
1oz OR 2 oz amber glass jars (for longer storage)

🗒Directions:
-There are 2 ways to obtain the oil infusion for this salve. The first is by purchasing pre-infused Calendula oil. If you are purchasing the oil pre-infused ensure it is from a reputable place. Second is by infusing dried calendula in your choice of a carrier oil.

-Get your clean/dry glass jars set out on a towel or drying rack and ready to fill.

-Prepare a double boiler. Add in an inch or two of water, turn heat on low, place pot over top ensuring the bottom is not sitting in water.

-Add in your beeswax and let it melt. Stirring occasionally.

-Once beeswax is completely melted, pour in infused oil. This will rapidly cool the beeswax and re-harden it. Let this melt back down.

-As the mixture is melting slowly, stir it gently. Ensure the beeswax and oil are completely mixed together and melted.

-After the mixture is melted fully, continue to stir for another minute to mix the salve thoroughly.

-Remove from heat. (There are no essential oils added in this recipe, but this is the time to add them if they are listed)

-Gently pour the mix into prepared glass jars. Let cool completely uncovered.

-Prepare labels and record information in a notebook.

📝Label:
Herb/s used
Oil Used
Date created

🪔I recently posted about how to make an oil infusion. It is simple and allows you to have more control over your end product. For this specific recipe I recommend using almond oil or coconut oil for the carrier oil. Choose an oil that is beneficial for the skin and has a decent shelf life.

🔍Always research all products you are using in your salve. This is a single herb salve, but some have many herbs mixed together and have essential oils added. Make sure that if you are utilizing multiple herbs that they work well together.