Free to read · nothing for sale · no ads, no sponsors · funded by donation
Open Source Apothecary At Home / The twelve-month course
The month the two-and-three-year plants pay out, and the extraction technique that suits a hard root.
guideOctober is when the perennials planted in year one finally get harvested, and when the extraction methods that suit hard, dense material matter.
Why roots are harvested now. Root energy peaks at dormancy. The plant has spent the season building root mass and then stops, and the active-compound content of the root is at its highest after top growth dies back. The instruction is a stage — after dieback — rather than a date.
Roots need different treatment from leaf at every step.
| | Leaf and flower | Root, bark, seed | |---|---|---| | Drying temperature | Ambient, shade | 45-55 C | | Preparation | Infusion (steep) | Decoction (simmer) | | Drying detail | Whole, gentle | Slice — whole roots mould inside | | Storage life | 6-18 months | 2-3 years |
Decoction is the technique of the month. A hard root will not give up its constituents to a five-minute steep. Simmer it: bring to the boil and hold for 15-20 minutes, covered, then strain. Cover the pan — the same volatile logic applies, less sharply.
Vinegar extracts are the other technique. Acetic acid extracts alkaloids and some minerals well, and it is the solvent for someone avoiding alcohol. It is weaker than alcohol for most resins and oils, and it is genuinely good for mineral-rich material. It is also the correct way to acidify a garlic-in-oil preparation to make it safe.
The two roots of the month are also the two-honesty roots. Echinacea has small and inconsistent cold evidence; valerian has mixed insomnia evidence and is beaten comprehensively by the behavioural programme. Both are worth growing, and neither should be oversold.
However, these results should be considered preliminary because of the unconvincing sample sizes, together with the potential effectiveness of placebos.PubMed 35378276 ↗
While there is insufficient evidence to support the use of herbal medicine for insomnia, there is a clear need for further research in this area.PubMed 25644982 ↗
Echinacea products have not here been shown to provide benefits for treating colds, although, it is possible there is a weak benefit from some Echinacea products: the results of individual prophylaxis trials consistently show positive (if non-significant) trends, although potential effects are of questionable clinical relevance.PubMed 24554461 ↗
Studies on the combination treatment of insomnia with hypnotics and cognitive behavioural therapy up to now were not able to show a superiority of the combination treatment versus monotreatment with behavioural therapy or hypnotics.PubMed 19506825 ↗
There is some evidence that preparations based on the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea might be effective for the early treatment of colds in adults but results are not fully consistent.PubMed 16437427 ↗
Future studies should assess a range of doses of standardized preparations of valerian and include standard measures of sleep quality and safety.PubMed 17145239 ↗
In season: root harvest
| Plant | Harvest now | Notes | |---|---|---| | Echinacea | Second or third autumn | After top growth dies back | | Valerian | Second or third season | Wash, slice, dry — the smell is normal | | Dandelion | Root | After dieback; also roast it | | Comfrey | Root | Invasive — container only | | Ginger, turmeric | Lift before frost | Tropical; save rhizome to replant | | Marshmallow | Root, year 2-3 | For cold infusion |
Also plant now
Project: a root decoction, a tincture, and a vinegar extract
Decoction (roots and bark)
Tincture
Vinegar extract
Dry the roots properly