How to Make an Herbal Extract

To make an herbal extract, you will need dried or fresh herbs and enough vodka to cover the herbs by three inches. Buy cut or shredded dried herbs and grind them in a coffee grinder or blender until they are a coarse powder. Some roots and barks will not grind easily-don't worry about it, the medicinal properties will still be extracted. If you are using fresh herbs, chop them finely.

Pack the herbs loosely into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and add enough vodka to cover the herbs plus an additional three inches. Stir well, and cover. Keep in a warm, dark place for three weeks. Shake the jar daily to thoroughly mix the herbs and vodka. After three weeks, strain the liquid into a bowl through a colander or strainer lined with several layers of cheesecloth. Wring the herbs in the cheesecloth, squeezing them to extract any remaining liquid. Pour the liquid extract into dark glass bottles for storage.

Alcohol is the best liquid for extracting the medicinal properties of the herbs, but if you want to avoid alcohol, you can use vegetable glycerin. Follow the same steps as if you were making an alcohol extract, but replace the alcohol with a mixture of equal parts of vegetable glycerin and water. If you are using fresh herbs, use a mixture of three-quarters vegetable glycerin and one-quarter water to adjust for the water content of the fresh plant material.