There are many books, magazines, articles etc. which speak about the power of the herbs and medicinal plants. Undoubtedly, they are right, but when deciding to take this ancient science in your own hands you have to inform yourself properly. It is wrong to believe that once you take up this alternative lifestyle, you are on the road to paradise, for there are many steps to take and much patience to have to achieve the expected results.

To begin with, if you want to collect the plants on your own, you have to know how they look like. This may be very tricky because there are lots of herbs which look pretty much the same, so you have to either look carefully at the pictures in a very well researched book, or ask a person who knows better to teach you the ropes of botany. Be careful with what you collect, because there are plants which don’t have any curative properties and there are also toxic ones. Once you overcome this problem you can proceed doing the following:

Collection

1.When – between February and late November - usually, each species of plant and each part of plant (root, leaves, flowers etc) has its own period of time during which it is filled to the maximum with active substances. Generally, roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes of perennial or biannual plants should be collected in early spring when the first leaves appear, or in late autumn. Buds and twigs should be collected in spring when the tree pith starts to circulate. Leaves and flowers must be collected before or exactly at the moment the flowers bloom, because it is in these periods that the plants contain the maximum quantity of active substances. Fruits and seeds must be collected in late autumn when they reached full maturity.

2.Where – the best areas from which you can collect medicinal plants, are clean, off-the-beaten-track places, far from the intensely circulated roads or polluted cities. Avoid areas with artificial fertilizers or areas with high-level waste.

3.How – if you don’t need the root, do not take it. Cut the plant 1-2 inches above the soil level and do not be greedy in what quantity is concerned. When collecting them, use a wicker basket or paper bags (plastic bags are not recommended). Be careful about protected areas or plants protected by law. Some herbs are quite rare and it is illegal to collect them.

Storage

4.Why – fresh plants have a greater power than dried ones, but they cannot remain fresh too long. That’s why you can either use the plant immediately after collection, or you can dry them. The reason why fresh plants must begin to dry immediately after collection is that the water they contain may modify active substances they contain.

5.How – it is preferable that you don’t wash them (except for the roots). Chop the plants before leaving them to dry. After they are dried do not put them in plastic bags or metal recipients because they might harm the substances. For tisanes use plants which have dried for less than a year. Use older plants for baths and other external uses.

6.Where – keep the plants in a dark, dry place, on a piece of cloth, or paper, or wood. The place must not collect dust and most be isolated from insects or animals. After they are dried store them in cardboard boxes, paper bags or dark-colored glass jars.

How to use them

7.Quantities - it is preferable not to ingest large quantities of tisanes, because they may cerate problems to the organism. The impression that by using large amounts of tea will have a grater effect is wrong. It is more important to believe in their power to cure illnesses and to have patience and let nature do its job.

8.Separation - even though it is important to store them separately, especially in the case of plants which contain volatile oils, bear in mind that herbs do not annihilate each other’s effect, so if you happen to drink a tea made of various plants, or if you happen to make a mistake using the wrong plant, do not worry! They don’t have side effects and if the body doesn’t need their substances they will be eliminated.