Containers of all shapes and sizes are useful. Bottles with tight fitting tops or corks are good to have for tinctures, juices, and tonics. Empty lip balm containers (the small round ones with the lids, not the tube-shaped ones) are good for small quantities of homemade lip balm and other ointments. Canning jars work well for making and storing tinctures and extracts in larger quantities, and also for storing larger quantities of dried herbs or herbal tea mixes. A variety of jars, bottles, and containers for homemade remedies and products is good to have, whether they are plain or ornate. A tea strainer is a must for anyone using loose tea. Reusable drawstring bags of cheesecloth or muslin can also be used for this purpose, as long as the bags are washed well after each use.
Cheesecloth, muslin, or gauze bandaging is also suggested to have on hand. These things come in handy for poultices, compresses, wrapping wounds, making tea, making aromatherapy pillows or sachets, and for a variety of other purposes. A variety of weaving is necessary, due to the fact that you would want a tighter weave when making tea as opposed to, say, making a poultice. These items can be found at fabric stores and can be relatively inexpensive. Herbs, of course, are necessary. It is recommended to grow your own, though you can order or buy fresh and dried herbs. If you do not have a very large clientele beyond yourself, you might want to grow several herbs indoors as opposed to planting a garden. It is easier as you dont have to worry about weather conditions and you can control the amount of light and other factors easily. If buying ones herbs, be sure to research the quality of the herb you are getting. Many herb companies are selling lower quality herbs that are unsuitable for herbal healing. The general rule when buying herbs is that if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Herbal kitchen supplies are good to have. These can include mixing bowls, mixing spoons, a food processor or blender (for those busy people who do not want to deal with the mortar-and-pestle route), a double boiler or double boiler setup (i.e. a container set in a pot of water), and a steamer or steamer setup (a colander set over a pot of water). These things are extremely handy when making herbal remedies and you can never have too many of these items when you have several patients.
Mortar and pestle are always nice to have for those with the time and patience to hand-grind their herbs. I prefer the mortar and pestle over a blender or food processor because it allows the healer to be in control over how well an herb is ground. In some instances, one only needs to bruise up the plant a little and, where a mortar and pestle allows for this, a food processor or blender does not.
Honey and beeswax are necessary for anyone who makes teas or balms and ointments. Honey is known for its ability to soothe the sick and is the preferred sweetener in herbal teas, as it adds its healing qualities to them. Beeswax is great for thickening lip balms and ointments and is good for dry patches of skin. I prefer to use fresh honey, though that is not always an option for people. Some supermarkets carry honey with the comb still in the jar, and these tend to be fresher than mass-produced honey. I prefer clover honey over other types of honey for herbal healing since it seems to bring some of the refreshing qualities of clover to the remedy.
Pure spirits, such as vodka and gin, is a necessary ingredient when making tinctures and extracts. If alcohol content is a worry when adding tinctures to a tea or other hot remedy, one can note that the alcohol evaporates out of the remedy as it cools.
The last basic items one may wish to get are measuring spoons, measuring cups, and an electronic kitchen scale. These are important as getting accurate measurements of herbs contained in your remedies can sometimes be the difference between life and death, especially if working with potentially dangerous herbs such as mistletoe, mandrake, or wormwood.
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