Cannabis Chronicles

Over the years I have acquired a bit of knowledge in using herbs. If I was to compare my know-how to many others I am really just a beginner. And, I very much depend on what other people have learned, and draw from their and my own experiments.

Quite often over the years as I have share what I know with others I see an expression of awe and wonder of my vast stores of information and inevitably they ask how one learns so much. My response is always the same one I heard when I was just beginning to explore this study.

To begin the study of herbs one begins with a few. Or even just a couple. I read and research a lot. I am often looking for what types of herbs might apply for a certain condition. There are usually a number of options anyway. Of those I might select a prominent one and work on getting very intimately familiar with it.

The most fun ones for me were learning to make wonderful teas with the mint family. The choices are so many and the flavors and aromas of drying herbs bath the senses with their wonder. I have grown the wonderful Bergamot, Lavender Mint, Lemon Balm, Catnip, Hyssop, Chocolate Mint, Spearmint, and Peppermint. I had already grown up with Chamomile and Yarrow. Those are great ones for anyone to begin with.

Teas are so simple. Teas can add a spiritual dimension when it is sipped while watching the last rays of the setting sun. Teas are relaxing and calming and most tea herbs can be combined. The same potion when you begin the day is invigorating. Hot or cold, teas are refreshing and delicious. Quite often I will pluck a fresh spray of herbs and infuse them with an ordinary tea bag. Here are some commonly accepted methods for making herbal infusions.

OUTLINE OF PREPARATION METHODS

COLD INFUSION
After pre-moistening a bit, wrap one part herb (dry weight) in cloth and suspend it in 32 parts of water (by volume) at room temperature, overnight. Squeeze out the herb into the tea in the morning, and add enough water to bring it back to 32 parts.

STANDARD INFUSION
Boil 32 parts of water, remove from heat, and steep one part (by weight) of the herb in the water for 20-30 minutes. Strain, and pour sufficient water through the herb in the strainer to return the volume of tea to 32 parts.

STRONG DECOCTION
Combine 32 parts of water with one part of herb (by weight), bring slowly to a boil, and continue for ten minutes, cool until warm, and strain. Pour additional water through the herb to return the volume to 32.

A WEAK DECOCTION
Is the same, but using half as much herb in the same volume of water.
Except for the weak decoction, the above teas end up with an ounce having the constituents of a gram of herb. If the dosage recommends 4 ounces of Strong Decoction, and you only want a single batch, use 4 grams of herb, or divide an ounce of herb into eight equal parts and use one part for the tea. (Yes, they aren’t quite equal…4 grams and an eighth of an ounce…but these are HERBS…lighten up already).

DO NOT MAKE MORE THAN A DAY’S WORTH OF TEA AT ONE TIME.

Many thanks to Michael Moore - Director, Southwest School of Botanical Medicine P.O.Box 4565, Bisbee, Arizona 85603 for his site which so rich in information.

Thanks also to Henriette Kress, who made these materials available by FTP.

Most of the images have been reproduced from Michael Moore’s archives, which we plan to describe and feature in more detail at a later date.