If you are thinking about becoming an herbalist, here are some basic items that you need to assemble your herbalist tool kit to get started.
First of all, the tools that a herbalist uses have to be carefully selected like a philtre, which we all know as a strainer, but we can’t use it cause it is made of metal. It might change the chemical action of the herb, so make sure to avoid metal strainers or anything metal. They can lead to hazardous metallic oxides in your preparations.
1. Philtre
The philtre is used to strain out the plant substances. That leaves us with a nice, clear liquid that is easily digested into a persons system.
You can use a natural uncolored cotton, or linen cloth, or even coffee filters, or the plastic coffee cone filter. It needs to be new and never used to make coffee.
2. Bamboo Tea Strainer
There is also the bamboo tea strainer that can be used but it lets finely grounded herbs pass thru it.
3. Infuser
An infuser is another essential tool that is really used to heat up the water that the herbs will be put in. It can be a tea pot, but something that will seal the steam in and not let it escape, and again no metal.
If you find a pot glazed with enamel that has a tight lid, you can use that.
4. Measuring Cups
The measuring device for determining the ideal amount of an herb is the most important tool for the herbalist. Again, no metal, but it needs to be the measuring device that you use for all your preparations, that is always precise when you use it.
I have seen people just use the palm of their hand if they can’t find the right measuring tool.
Miscellaneous Tools
here are a variety of things an herbalist should have on hand, like,
5. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit with lot of bandages, lots of gaze.
6. Small Bottles
Next, would be small bottles to put your oils in. Preferably dark bottles. Always make sure your bottles are clean before use.
7. Eye Droppers
Eye droppers are also very much needed but you need to make sure the rubber tops are removable so they can be easily cleaned.
8. Glass Funnel
Also a glass funnel is very important to fill your bottles.
9. Hand Towel
It is very important to have a hand towel that is used only for all your tools and nothing else. That goes for the
10. Shovel
Shovel, and
11. Special Knife
Special knife which needs to be sharp to cut the stems or branches.
12. String
Also, add string in with your tools because it is used to tie the bundles of herbs together.
13. Labels
Labels are necessary to identify what each container has inside and the date it was made.
14. Index Cards
Index cards are for writing down what you mixed in your tinctures or something else you may be experimenting on, so you don’t forget what herbs you used.
All the herbalist’s tools are used only for the plant herbs or preparation and nothing else. You keep them separate from your other tools, you never mix them.
Since these tools are mostly breakable you must be very careful with them. Some may be hard to find.
I know I have said this before but always clean your tools after each use, so when you make something new it won’t contaminate your next brew.