A herb on its own is only half the story. What turns a dried leaf or a fresh root into something you can actually use is the preparation: the simple, time-honoured craft of drawing a plant's goodness out and into a form you can drink, dab on, spoon or soak in. Learn a handful of these methods and almost any herb becomes useful to you. This is an overview of the classic herbal preparations, what each one is, how to make it, and when to reach for it, written to sit alongside the wider world of herbalism and our herbalism hub.
How preparations work
Most of what we value in a plant, its aromatic oils, bitter compounds, tannins and soothing mucilage, is locked inside the leaf, flower, root or bark. A preparation is simply a way of persuading those compounds out into a medium that carries them: water, alcohol, oil, honey or vinegar. Which medium you choose depends on the plant part you are working with and on how you want to use the result. Delicate leaves and flowers give up their goodness to a splash of hot water in minutes. Tougher roots and barks need long, gentle heat. Oil-loving compounds prefer oil. Once you understand that, the methods below stop being a list to memorise and start making intuitive sense.
Water-based preparations
Infusion (a herbal tea)
An infusion is the gentlest and most familiar preparation of all: a herbal tea. It suits the soft parts of a plant, the leaves and flowers, where the goodness sits close to the surface.
How to make it: pour freshly boiled water over the dried herb, roughly one to two teaspoons per cup, cover it, and let it steep for five to fifteen minutes. Covering matters, it keeps the fragrant oils from drifting away as steam. Strain and drink.
When to use it: reach for an infusion for everyday herbs like chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm and nettle, and any time the plant part is a leaf or flower. It is also the base for a good many rituals and blends. For putting infusions together thoughtfully, see our guide to herbal tea blends.
Decoction (for roots, bark and seeds)
A decoction is the tougher cousin of the infusion. Where a splash of hot water is enough for a leaf, the dense parts of a plant need real heat and time to release what they hold.
How to make it: place the chopped root, bark or bruised seeds in a small pot, cover with cold water, bring to a gentle boil, then reduce and simmer with the lid on for fifteen to thirty minutes. Strain while warm.
When to use it: reach for a decoction for hard, woody or fibrous material, ginger root, cinnamon bark, dandelion root, fennel seed. As a rule, if you could not tear it easily with your fingers, it wants decocting rather than steeping.
Concentrated and preserved preparations
Tincture (a concentrated extract)
A tincture is a concentrated liquid extract, most often made by steeping herbs in alcohol, which draws out a broad range of a plant's compounds and preserves them beautifully. For an alcohol-free version you can use food-grade vegetable glycerine instead, which makes a sweeter, gentler extract called a glycerite.
How to make it: pack a clean jar with the herb, cover completely with a spirit such as vodka, seal, and leave it somewhere dark, giving it a shake every day or two, for around four to six weeks. Strain, bottle in dropper bottles, and label. Because the alcohol preserves it, a tincture keeps for years. For the full step-by-step, see how to make a tincture.
When to use it: reach for a tincture when you want something concentrated, portable and long-lasting, or when a herb tastes too bitter to drink as a tea. A few drops in water is all it takes.
Syrup (preserved with honey or sugar)
A syrup is a strong decoction preserved and sweetened with honey or sugar, which makes an otherwise sharp herb pleasant to take. Elderberry syrup is the classic example, a winter favourite in many households.
How to make it: make a strong decoction, strain it, then while it is still warm stir in honey or sugar (a common ratio is roughly equal parts liquid to sweetener) until dissolved. Bottle and keep refrigerated. The high sugar content is what preserves it, so use it within a few weeks and watch for any change in smell.
When to use it: lovely for soothing, palatable preparations, especially ones you would like a whole household to enjoy. Never give honey to a child under one year old, because of the risk of infant botulism; use a sugar syrup for very young children instead.
Oxymel (herbs in honey and vinegar)
An oxymel is one of the oldest preparations there is, herbs steeped in a blend of honey and vinegar. The name means "acid and honey", and the sweet-sour result is both a preservative and a pleasant way to take pungent or savoury herbs.
How to make it: half fill a jar with herbs, cover with roughly equal parts raw honey and apple cider vinegar, cap it (use a non-metal lid, as vinegar corrodes metal), and steep for two to four weeks before straining. It keeps for several months.
When to use it: a fine choice for kitchen herbs like thyme, sage, garlic and rosemary, taken by the spoonful or stirred into water. The same honey caution applies: not for children under one.
Topical preparations
Infused oil
An infused oil is a carrier oil, such as olive, sweet almond or sunflower, in which herbs have been steeped so their oil-loving compounds move into the oil. It is the foundation of most homemade skincare and the first step toward a salve.
How to make it: there are two methods. The cold (or solar) method is to fill a jar with dried herb, cover with oil, and leave it in a warm, sunny spot for two to four weeks, then strain. The warm method is faster: gently heat the herb and oil together in a double boiler on the lowest setting for one to two hours, keeping it well below a simmer, then strain. Always use thoroughly dried herbs, as any water left in fresh plant material can turn the oil rancid or mouldy.
When to use it: for anything applied to the skin, calendula for calm, comfrey for the body, plantain for the everyday. Use it straight as a massage or body oil, or set it into a salve.
Salve (a herbal balm)
A salve is simply an infused oil set firm with beeswax into a soft, spreadable balm that stays put on the skin.
How to make it: gently warm your strained infused oil and melt in beeswax at roughly one part wax to four or five parts oil (more wax gives a firmer balm). Pour into clean tins or jars and leave to set. Test the firmness by dipping a cold spoon in and letting it cool, then adjust the wax before it all sets.
When to use it: whenever you want your infused oil in a tidy, portable, non-drip form, a lip balm, a hand balm, a soothing balm for dry patches.
Poultice and compress
A poultice and a compress are the simplest topical preparations of all, applying the herb directly to the skin.
How to make them: for a poultice, mash or bruise fresh herb (or moisten dried herb with a little hot water) into a paste, spread it over the area, and hold it in place with a clean cloth. For a compress, soak a clean cloth in a warm, strong infusion or decoction, wring it out, and lay it over the skin, refreshing it as it cools.
When to use them: for localised, in-the-moment soothing of a small area of skin. Always patch-test first, keep everything clean, and never apply herbs to broken skin without proper guidance.
Herbal bath and steam
A herbal bath or steam lets you take in a plant's aromatic qualities through warm water and fragrant vapour, the most restful preparation of them all.
How to make them: for a bath, tie a generous handful of herb in a muslin bag or an old clean sock and hang it under the running tap, or add a large strained infusion to the water. For a facial steam, pour hot (not boiling) water over herbs in a bowl, drape a towel over your head, and breathe gently for a few minutes with your eyes closed, keeping a comfortable distance from the heat.
When to use them: for calming, aromatic, whole-body ritual. A herbal bath is a beautiful way to close a day; see our guide to the spiritual bath for the ritual side of it.
Choosing the right preparation
Once you have the methods, choosing between them is mostly a matter of matching the preparation to the plant part you have and the result you want. This little table is the quickest way to decide.
| Plant part or goal | Best preparation |
|---|---|
| Leaves and flowers | Infusion (tea) |
| Roots, bark and seeds | Decoction |
| A concentrated, portable dose | Tincture or glycerite |
| Long-term storage (years) | Tincture |
| A palatable, sweet form | Syrup or oxymel |
| Anything applied to the skin | Infused oil or salve |
| Localised, on-the-spot soothing | Poultice or compress |
| Whole-body calm and ritual | Herbal bath or steam |
As a herbalist, I find the simplest preparations are usually the ones you actually reach for. A jar of dried chamomile and a kettle will serve you more often than the most elaborate salve, so start with a tea and build from there. To gather the tools and jars you will want, see our guide to setting up a home apothecary.
Making preparations safely
Herbal preparations are simple, but a few plain cautions keep them safe and pleasant.
- Sterilise your jars and bottles. Wash in hot soapy water and dry thoroughly, or run them through a hot dishwasher, before filling. Clean equipment is the single biggest thing standing between you and a spoiled batch.
- Use only fully dried herbs in oils. Water trapped in fresh plant material can turn an infused oil rancid or grow mould. Dry your herbs properly first.
- Dilute and patch-test anything topical. Before using a new oil or salve widely, dab a little on the inside of your forearm and wait a day to check for any reaction. This is doubly true if you have sensitive skin or known allergies. For more on essential oils specifically, see our essential oils hub.
- No honey for babies under one. Syrups and oxymels made with honey are not safe for infants under twelve months, because of the risk of infant botulism.
- Mind the alcohol in tinctures. Alcohol-based tinctures are not suitable for children, in pregnancy, or for anyone avoiding alcohol; reach for a glycerite instead.
- Identify every plant with certainty. Only ever prepare a herb you have identified beyond doubt as the correct, safe species. If you are not completely sure, do not use it.
- Mind interactions and cautions. Some herbs interact with medication (St John's wort is a well-known example, as it affects how the body processes many prescription drugs) and some are best avoided in pregnancy or breastfeeding. When in doubt, leave it out and ask.
Above all, remember that herbalism is a gentle companion to good medical care, not a substitute for it. If you are unwell, pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking any medication, please speak with your doctor or a qualified herbalist before taking a herb internally. Ritual preparations, a bath, a steam, a fragrant sachet, are ritual rather than medicine, and the honest pleasure of making something with your own hands is a real part of why these preparations have endured for so long.
Keep exploring
Start at the herbalism hub, or read what is herbalism for the wider picture. When you are ready to make something, follow how to make a tincture, put together some herbal tea blends, and set up your own home apothecary so you always have what you need to hand.
Frequently asked questions
An infusion is a tea: you pour hot water over the soft parts of a plant, the leaves and flowers, and steep for five to fifteen minutes. A decoction is for the tough parts, roots, bark and seeds, which are simmered gently for fifteen to thirty minutes to draw their goodness out. As a rule, if you could not tear the material easily with your fingers, it wants decocting.
A tincture is a concentrated liquid extract made by steeping herbs in alcohol for around four to six weeks, which draws out a broad range of compounds and preserves them for years. For an alcohol-free version, steep the herbs in food-grade vegetable glycerine instead, which makes a sweeter, gentler extract called a glycerite. See our full how-to-make-a-tincture guide for the method.
Match the method to the plant part and the result you want. Leaves and flowers suit infusions, roots and bark suit decoctions, skin suits infused oils and salves, and long-term storage suits tinctures. Sweet syrups and oxymels make sharp herbs pleasant to take. When in doubt, start with a simple tea.
For an infused oil, steep fully dried herb in a carrier oil either cold in a warm, sunny spot for two to four weeks, or gently warm in a double boiler for one to two hours, then strain. To turn it into a salve, warm the strained oil and melt in beeswax at roughly one part wax to four or five parts oil, then pour into tins to set.
An oxymel is one of the oldest preparations there is: herbs steeped in a blend of roughly equal parts raw honey and vinegar for two to four weeks, then strained. The sweet-sour result is both a preservative and a pleasant way to take pungent or savoury kitchen herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary. It is not suitable for children under one because of the honey.
They are simple to make, but a few cautions matter. Sterilise your jars, use only fully dried herbs in oils, patch-test anything you put on your skin, never give honey to a child under one, and keep alcohol tinctures away from children and pregnancy. Only ever prepare a herb you have identified with certainty. Some herbs interact with medication or are unsafe in pregnancy, so check before taking anything internally.
No. Herbalism is a gentle companion to good medical care, not a substitute for it. If you are unwell, pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking any medication, speak with your doctor or a qualified herbalist before taking a herb internally. Ritual preparations such as baths and steams are ritual rather than medicine.
