What Are The Best Herbs To Preserve For Herbal Remedies?

“I’ve been getting more into home herbal remedies, and I want to start growing and preserving my own herbs this year. There are so many different ones out there, though, and I’m not sure which ones are the best to focus on. What are the best herbs to preserve for making easy herbal remedies at home, and how should I go about preserving them? I would also love some tips on troubleshooting any common issues when harvesting or preserving them since I’m pretty new to this!” Thanks, Sharon, Brisbane, Australia.

What Are The Best Herbs To Preserve For Herbal Remedies?

Great question, Sharon! I love that you’re diving into herbal remedies and are keen to grow and preserve your own herbs. It can be so rewarding to have a stash of homegrown, dried herbs ready to go when you need them. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to save money and know exactly where your remedies are coming from. So let’s break down some of the best herbs to preserve for medicine-making at home, how to preserve them properly, and a few tips for troubleshooting along the way.

1. **Chamomile** – A Classic for Calming

Chamomile is one of my absolute favorites! Whether you’re dealing with an upset stomach, struggling to fall asleep, or just need a little calm in your life, chamomile is your go-to. Chamomile flowers are best harvested when they’re fully open and bright, typically around mid-spring.

How to Preserve Chamomile:

• **Drying:** After picking the flowers, spread them out on a mesh screen or paper towel in a dry, well-ventilated space. Chamomile dries quickly, so check it after a few days—they should be crispy and fragrant.
• **Storage:** Store the dried flowers in a glass jar, away from sunlight. I personally like reusing old jam jars for mine.

Once dried, you can use those flowers in teas or infusions. It’s just so comforting to sip on a warm cup of chamomile tea before bed.

2. **Peppermint** – For Digestive Relief

Peppermint is another amazing herb you’ll want to grow, especially if you’ve ever experienced a stomach ache or bloating. Here’s a quick little cheat: mint grows like wildfire, so make sure to keep it somewhere where it can’t take over, like a container or isolated bit of garden space.

How to Preserve Peppermint:

• **Hanging Method:** Let the mint leaves dry by tying bunches of stems together and hanging them upside down in a dark, dry spot. It will take about a week for the leaves to dry completely.
• **Or if you’re short on time**: Use a dehydrator or oven on the lowest setting with the door cracked open. It should take 1-2 hours this way.

You can use dried peppermint in teas or to make a digestive tincture. It’s great to have handy when your stomach’s not feeling its best or has decided to rebel after a rich meal!

3. **Lavender** – For Restful Sleep

Lavender does it all. From creating a soothing atmosphere to easing stress, insomnia, and mild headaches, it deserves a spot in every herbal remedy toolkit. I’ve grown it around the edges of my garden, and the aroma when it’s in full bloom—let’s just say it’s enough to make me daydream during a mid-afternoon watering session!

How to Preserve Lavender:

• **Drying:** Just like mint, lavender can be dried by hanging small bunches upside down in a dark, dry room. You can also lay sprigs flat on a mesh drying screen.

Lavender smells heavenly when dried. You can make calming sleep sachets, add it to bath salts, or steep dried buds to make tea that helps you wind down. Sharon, if you’re craving better sleep or even a more relaxed atmosphere in the house, lavender’s your guy.

4. **Echinacea** – Immune-Boosting Powerhouse

Echinacea is fantastic for boosting the immune system and helping to fight off colds. While many people focus on the bright pink flowers, the roots are where most of the medicine lies.

How to Preserve Echinacea:

• **Harvesting the Root:** Wait until fall to dig up the roots of echinacea (at least two-year-old plants) for the most potency. Clean them thoroughly, slice them up, and dry them in a dehydrator or on screens.

Once dried, you can grind up the root or steep it as tea at the start of any cold. It gives your immune system a little kick to help fight off infections.

5. **Lemon Balm** – Uplifting & Calming

Lemon balm is one of those multitasking herbs. It’s great for anxiety, stress relief, and gently lifting your mood. Honestly, even during a dreary day in late fall, lemon balm in your tea can feel like a cozy, mental pick-me-up.

How to Preserve Lemon Balm:

• **Harvesting Tip:** It’s best to harvest lemon balm in the early morning when its essential oils are at their peak. Pick your stems just before the flowers begin to bloom for the most potency.
• **Air dry it:** Just like the other leafy herbs, hang stems upside down in a dark, airy spot, or use a dehydrator on the lowest setting.

You can use dried lemon balm in calming teas or tinctures—perfect for when stress feels like it’s cranking up a notch.

6. **Calendula** – Soothing for Skin

Calendula is amazing for your skin! It’s anti-inflammatory, works wonders on cuts and scrapes, and can even help with rashes or irritations. It’s super easy to grow as well, making it a great choice for beginners.

How to Preserve Calendula:

• **Drying the Petals:** Snip off fully bloomed flowers and dry them either in a dehydrator or on a screen. These blooms dry faster than you might think—be sure to check them after a day or two.

You can infuse dried calendula petals into oil and use it in balms, creams, or salves for skin issues. I’ve found this especially useful to have on hand during gardening season when my hands need a little extra love.

Common Mistakes When Preserving Herbs

1. Harvesting at the Wrong Time

One common hiccup folks run into is harvesting their herbs at the wrong stage. For most herbs, the best time to harvest is in the morning, just after any dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot. The essential oils that give the herbs their medicinal properties are bursting at this point!

2. Over-Drying Herbs

This one gets me sometimes. If you dry herbs too long or at too high of a temperature, they’ll lose potency. To avoid this, always check your herbs after a couple of days and crumble them gently between your fingers to see if they’re ready. They should feel crumbly, but not overly brittle.

If your herbs are looking discolored or overly crunchy, they might have dried out too much, meaning a loss of flavor and potency—this is key for herbs like mint and chamomile where you want to capture every little bit of goodness.

Creative Ways to Store Your Herbs

Once you’ve successfully dried your herbs, storing them properly is the next big step.

• **Glass Jars:** Use dark-colored glass jars, like amber or cobalt blue, to block sunlight, which can degrade your herbs.
• **Label Everything:** Trust me, herbs start to look pretty similar when they’re dry. Grab a marker and some sticky labels and jot down the date you harvested each herb.

You want to keep herbs in a cool, dry, and dark place like a pantry. Avoid the temptation to store them above stove ranges or on a bright kitchen shelf—they’ll lose potency much faster!

Dealing with Mold or Mildew

I’ve had this happen a time or two! Mold and mildew can sneak up when drying herbs. It’s mostly due to high humidity or packing them up before they’re fully dry. If you notice any mold, toss those herbs out. Mold can be harmful, and those herbs just aren’t safe to use anymore.

To avoid mold, always dry in well-ventilated rooms, and space herbs out to ensure air circulates around them naturally.

Final Thoughts…

Sharon, I’m so glad you’re embarking on your herbal remedy journey. Growing and preserving your own herbs can be so empowering—it takes time and patience, but the rewards are well worth it. Focus on a few key herbs to start like peppermint and chamomile. Once you feel confident with those, add more to your garden, like echinacea and lavender.

Enjoy the process, and thank you so much for sending in your question. You’re well on your way to becoming your household’s go-to herbalist!