How (and why) to Make an Herbal Elixir

What is an herbal elixir and how do you make one? Well since we are going to dive into oner of my favorite subjects, herbs, pull up a chair and sit for a spell. This is about to get exciting!

I don’t know maybe it it just me but everything about herbs just make me happy.

I would love nothing more than a room in my house stocked with jars of herbs and liquids with handwritten words scratched on the front. You know those images you conjure up when you think of some old apothecary or a wise woman living out in the woods somewhere?

I love what herbs can do, I love that they heal, rejuvinate, and that little ol’ me can learn to both use them and grow them.

I suppose I have this feeling about herbs because I know it’s what our ancestors did, and in so many ways I think they were far superior to us now days. They had know-how, strength and naturally built lives.

What is an Herbal Elixir?

Well since the word herbal is involved I think they should be called Elixir of Life… However, if you would rather we could talk about the much more boring but “actual” definition.

Herbal Elixer in Pharmacology has traditionally meant a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.

An herbal elixir can be a single or a variety of herbs combined in an alcohol or apple cider vinegar solution, then sweetened and used for medicinal or health-enhancing purposes.

Why you should make your own Herbal Elixirs

When we look at herbs we often find mainstream medicine will speak against them. Claiming they have had little studies. And I am sure that is true. There is little if any financial incentive for studying them. Herbs can be easily grown and are cheap to buy. If a little of this or that herb were to fix a problem they would like to give you a monthly prescription for, they would stand to lose a lot of money.

Financial incentives for pharmecuticals aside, herbs have been the main medicine for the history of the world. And yes, herbs do need to be understood a little bit before using them. In many cases many herbs are so gentile you can’t get too much of them. For example, Calendula is so gentle you will never have any negative side effects. Yet the positive side effects are many.

Reasons for making and/or using herbal elixirs:

easy to grow and or cheap to buy
makes a medicine easily
a very long history of use can be researched
make custom herbal blends based on needs
much more sustainable less packaging, waste, etc.
side effects are never as bad as the lists seen on major pharmaceuticals

How to Make an Herbal Elixir

First off you will want to know what herb(s) you may want to use in your elixir, depending on exactly what results you are wanting. Secondly, decide what your liquid will be. Alcohol is most common however apple cider vinegar makes a great alcohol-free option. And believe it or not, this is the most difficult step. Everything else is as easy as pie!

Then you will want to take a glass jar (plastics can leach into your elixir, and thats just a no-no) fill your jar 1/3 to 1/2 full of your herb or herb mixture. Then fill your jar with your liquid of choice.

Let that steep, or infuse, if you prefer for at least a month. Then using a fine mesh strainer, strain your herbs out. You you have a lot of herb dust that settled to the bottom in this case, make sure to also strain through a coffee filter.

If you want a super potent elixir, you can repeat this step by doing this whole step again. Taking new herbs and infusing it back into your freshly strained liquid, and letting it sit for another month. This will give you a double-strength herbal elixir.

After you have a fully strained liquid, stir in raw honey to your taste. Depending on what liquid you used like a high quality vodka or a apple cider vinegar, will most likely have you adding more or less honey.

Pour your creation into an amber or fun apothecary bottle , and keep on hand for whenever you need. This stuff will be good forever, or at least for years to come.

Herbal Elixer ideas

Calendula in Apple cider vinegar. This is a good option for anyone needing to deal with internal inflammation, digestion, yeast overgrowth, in need of speeding cell repair, and keeping infections at bay.

Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Tribulus Terrestris in ACV, or high-quality alcohol. This is a great combo for men, stress and workout recovery, boosting testosterone, and improving fertility and stamina without the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Spearmint & Lemon Balm in Apple Cider Vinegar. This little duo would be great for calming kids with hyperactivity or anxiety, in a drug-free natural way!

Valarian & Lemon Balm in a high quality alcohol. For anyone who struggles to sleep from time to time this would be one great elixir to promote a restful nights sleep without sleep medications.

St. John’s Wort & Calendula in alcohol or ACV. This herbal combo is a great, negative side-effect free, mild antidepressant, mood lifter and fighter of seasonal affective disorder.

As you can see the options for homemade elixirs are as endless as the herbs that are out there. And the herbs really are many!