Is anyone an herbalist here?

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I have a couple of questions. We go to an alternative naturopath, and spend a lot of money there. So..... I was wondering about tinctures, teas, and essential oils made at home for less.

Some really good essential oils are a hundred plus dollars a bottle for 80drops-- especially a high quality rose. I know it is very difficult to make them yourself well. But can you do it? And can you do it easily rather than pressing or cooking four pounds of blossoms? What happens if you just take sage or rose petals or hips or whatever, cover it with oil similar to a vodka tincture, and then use the oil? Would that retain any of the elements of the plant in the oil after it aged a while?

And when you do make tinctures, for instance ginger or cherry, do you add extra water to "tone down" the alcohol? I can imagine a spoonful of ginger root would really help you feel better in flu season if it were simply flavored vodka.

Does anyone have any experience doing these things? I've made teas, but this is my first try at oils and tinctures.

[bookwormom]

yes you can make oils, these are for external use. My mom makes St. John's wort oil, it turns ruby red as it matures. I make broadleaf plantain oil for healing scrapes and cuts. I used to dry sage and we gargled with the tea from it. But I found that H2O2 works faster. I make a tincture that is very potent out of comfrey roots. we also tincture arnica blossoms, calendula, peppermint, and Swedish herbs, which is a mixture of herbs.
I am afraid you can forget about the roses. It takes a great many to make a few drops of oil. what do you use it for? There are lots of recipies for all kinds of tinctures for specific ailments, I have not made them as I do not have the ailment. Hope I never will.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Rose oil has the highest frequency of all oils, so it is used for tumors. I don't use it, but my husband does. Well...... sometimes I do use it but just for the beautiful fragrance not the medicinal quality.

I would love to find some arnica to plant. It is so useful.

[bookwormom]

well, this is very new to me. Does your husband have tumors and has the rose oil helped? If so, how much?
rose oil is made from a specific rose grown for that purpose, I think it is called Damaszene rose. They have fields of it in Bulgaria and European Turkey, if I remember correctly. I used to use glyzerin and rosewater, have not seen it in ages.

[tomato204]

Nicholsgardennursery.com has some oils and things that might be cheaper than what you've been paying.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

A lot of the cheaper oils are not simply cold pressed and pure. They have glycerin or propylene glycol in them. That's why they sell cheaper. This is the one I buy.
http://www.youngliving.com/essential-oils/Rose

Both Frankincense and Rose are used in cancer. I believe Helichrysum is also, but would have to look it up to see for sure.

Here's a good book on medicinal uses of essential oils.
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Integrative-Medical-Guide-Therapeutic-Grade/dp/0943685346

As far as it working to cure cancer? Who knows? There are lots of alternative treatments, and people use them in multiples, so who knows which one actually helps the most if you are doing ten things at once. I do believe chemo kills, and tortures people while it kills them, so the alternative route is much better IMO. But opinions are like hair, most everyone has some.

[cookfor4]

I don't know much because I am still learning, but very interested in herbalism. Right now I just mainly make teas and some tinctures. From what I have read I'm not sure about making the rose essential oil, but many other herbs would be great in a oil. I know for ear aches I have used olive oil (a good brand) and minced garlic. I'm assuming if that works as an oil that many herbs would as well, but I'm not completely sure.
Wish I could be more help!
Amy