Collecting and Drying Wild Herbal Remedies

How to find and store herbal remedies.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Find out what plants grow in your area, and what locations to search for them.

Step 2: Have a Bag for Your Collection

I carry a small spade, and some zip-lock baggies.

Step 3: Locate Your Medicinals

Go for a walk around your neighborhood. You'll be surprised how many plants you think of as weeds, actually have beneficial medicinal purposes, and aren't eyesores to be eradicated.

If you're going to be picking for medicinal uses, please do it away from traffic or pollution. You want the most natural herbs available. In other words, don't pick on the side of the highway, or street. Get into a local park, the countryside, a friend's land, or a wilderness area.

A few of the local plants I was able to identify and gather are:

Yarrow

Mugwort

Fireweed

Wild Chamomile

White Clover

Red Clover

Step 4: Dry Your Harvest

The best way to dry your wild medicinals is slowly and naturally. Unfortunately not everyone has the room or time to do the best job. That said, even fast dried medicinal plants have their uses.

When using a dehydrator, follow the instructions for that make and model.