Tools And Household Alternatives to Make Your Own Remedies

Preparing herbal remedies can require specific tools to ensure proper extraction, mixing, and storage of the ingredients. This is my list of the most important tools for preparing herbal
remedies, along with some household substitutes:

Mortar and Pestle
They are used for grinding herbs and spices. As a substitute, you can use a coffee grinder, blender, or food processor.

Double Boiler
It provides gentle heat for infusions, decoctions, and melting ingredients. But a heatproof bowl or jar placed in a saucepan with water will work just as well.

Strainer/ Sieve
You will be using these to strain herbal infusions or decoctions. A clean cotton cloth or coffee filter can be used as substitutes.

Cheesecloth and Nut Bags
These have a fine mesh cloth used for straining and filtering. Use a clean cotton cloth or coffee filter as substitutes.

Glass Jars, Bottles, and Tins for Salves
You will use these for storing herbal preparations. As substitutes, you can use food-grade plastic containers or resealable bags.

Medicine Dropper
You’ll probably need for of these if you want to make many tinctures. These are used for precise measurement and administration of liquid herbal remedies. A clean and sterilized dropper from an already purchased medicine bottle will also do.

Labels
You will use these for proper identification, to remember what’s in every jar from your apothecary, and dating of herbal preparations. You can also write on adhesive tape or masking tape, as a replacement.

Funnel
To help you pour herbal preparations into bottles or jars without spills.
Measuring Spoons For accurate measurement of herbs and other ingredients.

Clean Cloth or Towel
You will use these for covering and protecting herbal preparations during drying or infusion. You can easily replace them, however, with paper towels or parchment paper.

Amber or Dark-Colored Glass Bottle
This protects herbal preparations from light degradation. If you don’t want to make that purchase, you can also wrap clear glass bottles in aluminum foil or store in a dark cabinet.

Herb Scissors
To make clean cuts on the plants you wish to harvest. These are specialized scissors with multiple blades for cutting herbs quickly. Regular kitchen scissors or a sharp knife will also do the trick.

Glass Stirring Rod or Wooden Spoon
You will need these to stir ingredients during preparation. A metal spoon or spatula can be great substitutes as well.