Pulverizing Herbs

[AnnettStudent]

1. I’ve been trying to powder my dry herbs in my Blendtec. It does not get the entire stuff to powder. Is that normal? Do you have to sift the powder out and toss the rest (or put into a smoothie)? Or does your Vitamix powder everything well?

2. Has anyone done a comparison on Blendtec versus Vitamix for pulverizing herbs?

3. The powder is often in the air as I work with it. Are there herbs that could be potentially harmful to the nostrils while pulverizing them?

Thanks so much for all your help. I have loads of questions while I’m experimenting with and searching for herbs. I really do appreciate all the help!! THANK YOU!!

[IdahoHerbalist]

No need to sift the herbs. Actually, depending on what you are trying to do with them you may not even need to powder them at all. Besides they will keep MUCH longer if you do not powder them.

I cannot think of any herb that we use that would harm the sinuses just through the blending process.

I/we like the Vitamix quite a bit better than the blend tec. Don’t go buy one just because we said so though. :poke:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Be sure to wear a dust mask if grinding horsetail (Equisetum spp.). It contains a lot of silica which can stay in your lungs forever causing silicosis (the lung disease potters get from inhaling clay dust).

Otherwise I don’t worry much about the dust if it’s only occasional. If I were grinding all day everyday, I’d wear a dust mask.

Doc

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

[IdahoHerbalist]

Regarding sifting….. I stand corrected. I ground some Ashwaganda root yesterday. It was REALLY dry, from last year. It was grinding well enough for tinctures but not for a formula. I either had to sift it or grind in in painfully small quantities. Still need to run it through a really fine sieve to get the powder fine enough for formulas.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thanks guys! This is very helpful!

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Some of the herbs seem to take quite a bit of time blenderizing. Is it likely, that while pulverizing herbs, they could get hot enough to damage the herb’s medicinal properties?

[IdahoHerbalist]

Yes, I have run across that. Two things to try:

1) less material each time.

2) Sift out the size you want and then put it back in after it has cooled.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

I have tried less stuff in the blender but it seems to get blown around. I then used a lower spin speed. But it’s just not pulverizing my willow bark or mallow root. They both are completely dry. It thought eventually they’d turn to powder. I’ve tried, then let it cool, tried again, let it cool, tried again. Did that several times for three days. Gave up and wondered if it’s going to have to be tinctured. :face palm 2:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

annett wrote: I have tried less stuff in the blender but it seems to get blown around. I then used a lower spin speed. But it’s just not pulverizing my willow bark or mallow root. They both are completely dry. It thought eventually they’d turn to powder. I’ve tried, then let it cool, tried again, let it cool, tried again. Did that several times for three days. Gave up and wondered if it’s going to have to be tinctured. :face palm 2:

Really fibrous stuff like Brigham tea, mallow root etc can be a pain in the neck to grind. It helps if you chop it fine before you dry it.

Doc

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

[IdahoHerbalist]

Pregrinding while green, when appropriate or possible, also helps speed the process and gives better results. Just be aware that some roots are VERY moisture intensive and need to be cubed and dried for 12 hours to a couple of days before grinding. If you do not do that you will lose much of the medicine to pressing and oozing.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thanks. I hadn’t thought about oozing:) I did chop the mallow before drying into about 1/2 inch pieces but that must not have been small enough.

The willow really has me baffled though. It’s in small pieces but wont blend to powder.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Does not HAVE to be a powder. You may have to do the sift and regrind several times if you want it fine.

[justin2016]

I never sift the herbs, and try to keep them in their current form until right before using to keep fresh

[IdahoHerbalist]

Justin, you are right. But when you DO need to use them and want a fine powder you will need to sift out the larger pieces so the grinder can do a better job on them.

[justin2016]

I pulverize some of my kratom. Anyone else? What do you use?

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Steven:

About how full do you usually fill the Vitamix with herb to get it to powder? Or does it powder well for you with any amount?

[IdahoHerbalist]

I fill pretty full, but loosely. I then run on low until it is mostly ground. This will reduce the volume CONSIDERABLY. I then run on high until it is ground the way I want. This further reduces the volume.

I have tried adding more unground product after the first reduction. This usually does not work. I did have some success with marshmallow leaf tonight though.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

I’m trying to turn my Brigham Tea into powder. As it blends it turns into powder, some small shards, and a mass of hairy stuff. If I tincture the hairy stuff on it’s own will it be missing some medicinal properties? Does each particle of the plant contain all the wonderful medicinal properties?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

annett wrote: I’m trying to turn my Brigham Tea into powder. As it blends it turns into powder, some small shards, and a mass of hairy stuff. If I tincture the hairy stuff on it’s own will it be missing some medicinal properties? Does each particle of the plant contain all the wonderful medicinal properties?

You have to tincture it all together. The hairy stuff is mostly fiber.

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

[IdahoHerbalist]

A Vitamix is an indispensable tool for us modern herbalists. I am not sure how the ancients did it without them. Maybe one day we will find an old amberized Vitamix! :yahoo:

Every tool does have its limits though. There are huge grinders called hammer mills that can turn anything into a powder. The ones I used to work with could process tons of material in a short time. Between those and very good sifting machines they get a very consistent product. Even these machines have their limitations.

A Vitamix will never measure up to that ability especially with the fibrous materials like Brigham Tea and many of the roots. So, we do the best we can and let our alcohol and body do the rest for us.

[getorganic25]

I try pulverizing kratom once, but I rather take kratom tea 🙂

[Edward E. WaldenStudent]

What is the best model of the Vitamix that folk have found works best with herbal work?

[Martha StanleyStudent]

Honestly, the best USED one you can find to use would be my suggestion. These babies are pricey.

There are two types of containers, one being the regular one with pointy upward blades. The other is for grinding grain.

I’d go with the regular one. But I’d like Steven’s take on this since he does so much work with the VM.

Martha

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

My husband saw a great deal one day on Amazon for a Vitamix and bought it for me. This is the model number: VMO102D. It works great for pulverizing my herbs. I love it!!

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