How to Use Herbs: Unlocking Herbal Goodness for Skin Health

Our philosophy is simple: clean and conscious beauty.

With the rising demand for green formulas, we wholeheartedly embrace this movement.

According to the 2020 Soil Association report, sales of certified organic and natural beauty products increased by 14% annually.

But how do you harness and incorporate all the goodness nature offers into your skincare?

At The Naked Chemist, transparency is key, and our ethos is built on delivering beauty through nature’s finest ingredients.

So, let’s explore how to use herbs effectively in your skincare routine to unlock their full potential.

HOW TO USE HERBS 

Herbs in decoctions and infusions

Many plants have skin-beneficial properties such as flavonoids, antioxidants, tannins, mucilage, resins, acids, and volatile oils.

Depending on the plant, these components can originate in the stems, leaves, bark, roots, and other parts.

There are several ways you can extract the healing benefits. Join us as we look at how to use herbs:

1. Infusion: Steeping plants in water or oil to harness their beneficial properties. One of the most common infusions is a herbal tea.
2. Decoction: This involves boiling a herb or vegetable in water to extract its soluble constituents.
3. Tincture: This is a solution of alcohol or alcohol and water containing plant material used for medicinal purposes.
4. Steep: The liquid must be thoroughly saturated with the plant material, which can take several weeks to months.
5. Maceration involves softening by soaking in a cold liquid. This method is generally used for delicate plants, such as calendula.

Join us here for tips on preparing a herbal infusion.

Advantages of decoctions and infusions

• They are safe and cheap to use, especially if you grow your herbs
• They allow the herb to be easily absorbed
• Many herbs have good nutritional content
• They provide an alternative to tea and coffee
• The best way to harness the herb’s potent properties

Most herbs release their active compounds in water or alcohol; there are two water-based techniques: INFUSION and DECOCTION.

Herbs as decoctions

This method involves boiling the roots, seeds, and bark, which helps to release the herb’s active properties.

As a general rule, a decoction usually consists of 30 g chopped and dried woody herbs; ideally, you should be looking to use one part herb to 30 parts water:

• First, crush or bruise the herbs
• Next, please place them in a saucepan and cover with boiling or cold water
• Place a lid on the saucepan and let everything steep overnight
• The following morning, bring the mixture slowly to the boil
• Then let everything simmer for around 20 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to around 600 ml
• Strain the decoction through a fine sieve or a piece of muslin and measure. If the ratio is less than 1:20, pour hot water through the muslin to make it up to the correct quantity.

How to use herbs as a tincture

Unfortunately, many herbs don’t release their active properties in water; they only become active in alcohol, which is where a tincture is more helpful:

• Seal the tincture in a container with a tight lid
• Let the tincture stand in a sunny area where it can get the full benefit from the sun
• steep for around a week, and strain
• After a week, pour off the liquid through a nylon cheesecloth strainer
• You will know when the extract is effective because the alcohol retains the character and smell of the herb
• Add 1% Vitamin E to make the herb last longer

Use one ounce of crushed or powdered herbs diluted in 12 ounces of alcohol and 4 ounces of water.

This article is a good read for more information on making a herbal tincture.

To conclude. The naked truth

If you’re considering using herbs, there are many reasons to make your own herbal skincare at home.

Therefore, learning to use herbs is a valuable and creative skill.

While it is enjoyable, we advise against making creations for commercial use.

They can contain contaminants that cause serious problems when introduced into a watery environment.

You don’t want anyone to have unhealthy microbes on their skin.