Picking and collecting herbs implies a good knowledge of them. Before you set out to pick a particular herb be sure that what you are picking is the herb you are looking for.
Picking herbs
There are three important prerequisites for the medicinal plant to have the best properties - to be harvested at the right time, in the right place and in the right way.
- The right time –
- for the colors for herbs it is the beginning of flowering
- The leaves are harvested either shortly before or during flowering
- The roots they work best in either early spring or fall
- The fruits are collected during ripening
- The right way:
- Only healthy and clean plants are harvested
- plants that are free of parasites are harvested
- The plants are harvested on sunny days, preferably in the morning after the dew has passed.
- Never pull plants by the roots
- do not use plastic bags - the leaves in them steam, blacken and lose their properties. Use textile bags, baskets and other similar tools.
- The exact places:
- These are clean spaces - in mountains, forests, meadows
- to avoid agricultural lands that have been treated with fertilizers and insecticides, the banks of polluted rivers and streams, near industrial plants, roads and highways.
Drying and preparation
After picking, herbs and plants must be prepared and dried. Herbs do not need to be washed, depending on the type of herbs they can be cut into small pieces or dried in bouquets.
After cutting, the herbs are best spread out on towels made of natural material or on paper. Drying is best done in warm rooms - for example ceilings, as the herbs must be in the shade and it is good for the rooms to be ventilated.
If drying roots or very juicy plant parts, different drying methods can be used. Many appliances for home use can now be found on the market. It is important that drying is carried out at a temperature not higher than 30-35 degrees.
Only herbs that are extremely well dried can be used for subsequent storage.
Cardboard boxes with lids, glass jars or boxes are best used for storage. It is recommended not to use plastic containers.
Dried herbs should be kept in the dark (no direct sunlight)
Herbs should not be used for more than a year after they are collected - they lose their properties, so do not overstock each season, prepare only as much as you will be able to use the following year.
Using the above tips you will always have highly effective and highly charged with grace herbs and medicinal plants.
Author: Nikola Belopitov
