Making Grindelia Infusion?

[sstolzenburgStudent]

I recently found a small sample of Grindelia in Reno Nevada near my in-laws home. I am wondering how to make tincture of it? Do I need to grind up the buds? Is the gum in gumweed the medicine? Also since it is a antimicrobial, and anti inflammatory, I would like to make a topical dressing from an oil infusion. Does the gum dissolve in olive oil? I am still not a fan of using booze. I haven’t had good results with vodka, and I can’t buy Everclear without an internet order. I am trying a tincture of pure glycerin, I figure I will put some water in it after I infuse to thin down the glycerin.

again, how does the gumweed do in olive oil?

Steve

[IdahoHerbalist]

Never tried it in oil. Always use the high octane stuff as that breaks down the resin much better. I get my 190 proof on the internet and it is not a hassle at all. :poke: Just need to be there to sign for it.

I have some gum weed and olive oil. Might give it a go.

I did not grind up the buds for my fresh tincture. I like my blender too much to do that to it. :boggled: I have ground up some REALLY dried up buds though and it was not too bad. Just have to pulse it and get it out before it gets too hot.

There might be better/easier choices for your anti microbial target though. Like Calendula.

[sstolzenburgStudentTopic Author]

Thanks Steven,

If you get good results with oil, I would be interested. The everclear, and signing for it might be a problem. I am realizing that I am going to be forced into it eventually.

BTW, I love calendula. I have had excellent results with cuts and scrapes with calendula and potent infusions in almond oil. I pack the herbs as much as I can, then saturate in almond oil. After a month I extract the oil with a garlic press in small amounts to get all the medicine out. Then I use 50 % beeswax by volume heat and put into lip balm tubes. I think calendula is my favorite next to echinacia.

I am working successive infusions of comfrey, black walnut, and next is calendula then myrrh if I can make it work. Trying to make a super topical for elderly skin tears (geriatric) thin skin on mom. Any cautions you would offer?

Steve

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I haven’t done an oil infusion with Gumweed but I’d imagine it’d be fine. It has no respect for water but should infuse into oil. I’d blender the whole mess to break up the buds. Careful with your blender…small quantities at a time. On the other hand, Calendula is a great choice with less drama. 🙂

I wouldn’t bother with a glycerin tincture of gumweed. I’d stick with everclear as it’s really not water soluble.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[sstolzenburgStudentTopic Author]

Thanks Doc,

I just tried a small amount of gumweed buds with anhydrous veg glycerin. I put no water in it. I got the message about adding water to gumweed. I am not sure what I will do with anhydrous gumweed glycerin though. I am going to order some Everclear, just have not got to it yet. I will let you know if it disolves in pure glycerin.

I am a big fan of calendula, but gumweed seems to be one of your favorites, so I wanted to try it. Is there a big difference in potency between the two? Gumweed doesn’t grow here much, so if it is no better than calendula, I am not going to try as hard with it.

Sorry I am such stubborn student 🙄 I just want to try it out, I should do more listening and less questioning. :confused:

[IdahoHerbalist]

sstolzenburg wrote: Sorry I am such stubborn student 🙄 I just want to try it out, I should do more listening and less questioning. :confused:

No, you are WRONG! You are a GREAT student. A teacher will INSPIRE a student to NEW HEIGHTS! :yahoo:

Me, I am trying to grow herbs from Appalachia here in the South Idaho desert. Is that crazy? Well, I have ONE season of goldenseal under my belt. If it comes back next year then I think I may have something. If not, regroup and try again. I am also going to try American gensing. I have black cohosh in pots in the ground. It grew WELL this year. I may go one step higher in the pots to see if that will work. My thought is that it will be easier to control the soil. Need to write something up on that once I can quantify it better. Thinking cap time.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

QUestioning is the foundation of good learning. Doing things others have said can’t be done is the foundation of innovation. There is a lot of historical dogma in herbalism that Could use a kick in the pants with a good dose of skepticism and d some real experimentation.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[sstolzenburgStudentTopic Author]

Thanks Guys, I am glad that i am not frustrating you. 😉

Steve

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I think Calendula is every bit the equal of gumweed as far as the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and vulnerary properties go. Gumweed is also an excellent anti-spasmodic and expectorant. Calendula doesn’t have those properties.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[sstolzenburgStudentTopic Author]

So, from what you said, the glycerin tincture should make a good cough syrup. The glycerin may be a bit hard to swallow, but it can’t be any worse than Vicks 44. You think? 🙄

[IdahoHerbalist]

Gumweed is one of my 20 top 5 herbs! :big grin:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

sstolzenburg wrote: So, from what you said, the glycerin tincture should make a good cough syrup. The glycerin may be a bit hard to swallow, but it can’t be any worse than Vicks 44. You think? 🙄

Glycerin is nice to swallow…very soothing and has a nice flavor (unless you ruin it with yucky-tasting herbs).

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

Ok, so I have dried grindelia and some Everclear. Walk me through this. Do I strip the leaves and buds off the stems? If I’m using a quart jar and not a blender, could I fill the jar 2/3 full of the grindelia and then fill it to the top with Everclear? Shake everyday for 2 weeks, strain and bottle? Or should I use more of grindelia than just 2/3 worth? Thanks for your help.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Pack it in tight as high as you desire. Then add just enough hooch to cover. Every time you shake it, make sure it is still covered. You could cut the everclear to 60 or 70% if you wanted to.

Easy Peasy

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

At some point, it’d be good to run it through the blender to create more surface area for the booze to reach the chemicals in the plant. You can do it before you start or after it’s tinctured for awhile. Be aware that dry Grindelia gets really gummy and stiff and will kill your blender if you try to do too much at once.

I’d stick with at least 70% alcohol for best results.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

It seems like the stems would be hard for the blender. Are they medicinal and needed for the extract? My blender is a very old Vitamix and I have to baby it a bit. If I could just use the buds and leaves it would probably be easier to blend, but I will have less of the herb to work with.

I’m wishing I had gathered much more grindelia a couple of months ago, but it only seems to grow next to our dirt roads and could be contaminated with exhaust. Rule of thumb for how far from a road to gather??????

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

SageWoman wrote: It seems like the stems would be hard for the blender. Are they medicinal and needed for the extract? My blender is a very old Vitamix and I have to baby it a bit. If I could just use the buds and leaves it would probably be easier to blend, but I will have less of the herb to work with.

I’m wishing I had gathered much more grindelia a couple of months ago, but it only seems to grow next to our dirt roads and could be contaminated with exhaust. Rule of thumb for how far from a road to gather??????

Pitch the stems. They’re just diluting your medicine. Buds and flowers are best. Leaves are pretty good.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

Ok. I’ll garble my gumweed. :Laugh:

[IdahoHerbalist]

Pitch = COMPOST!!! :nod:

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

I was feeling pretty good as I set my jar of garbled gumweed plus alcohol in the cupboard.

OH NO! I just realized you said at least 70% alcohol, not at least 70 proof. So now the gumweed is sitting in 80 proof vodka. Do I need to add some Everclear to get the alcohol content up as the dry herb absorbs the liquid? I don’t want to throw it out, as I con’t get any more gumweed till next year. Help!

[IdahoHerbalist]

Take a deep breath! All is not lost.

#1, you did not wreck anything. 70% is just the RECOMMENDED level. It will still make medicine, maybe just not as strong.

#2, I think if you just add everclear now, and don’t do anything else, it will just make a weaker than expected tincture as well. Watch the tincture. If it absorbs enough to need additional liquid THEN add the everclear. That will help.

#3, if it has not been that long (< 1 day) you COULD pour off the current liquid, dose it to 70% and recover with just enough to make a proper liquid level. Decanter off the balance with a REALLY GOOD label and use it next year for your first gumweed tincture.

Hope that helps.

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

Those are all good suggestions. It has only been an hour, so I think I’ll pour off the vodka and replace with the Everclear. I helps so much to have someone to talk over these things with. Thanks!

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