Growing and preparing your herbs or buying them ground into a powder is a cost-effective option when making your own capsules.
Making your own herb capsules couldn’t be easier, and, once you know how, the options are endless.
Why You Should Use Medicinal Herbs
Medicinal herbs have been used by cultures worldwide for centuries. Recorded history dates back about 5,000 years. Now, that’s a testimony about the long-term uses and benefits of medicinal herbs.
We use a variety of medicinal herbs that I grow in my old-fashioned cottage garden to heal various ailments and boost our immune systems. Further educating myself about how to use medicinal herbs has helped us take a step closer to going off grid with our healthcare.
In addition to my garden, healing herbs are growing in our natural surroundings, such as plantain, arnica and comfrey.
We use our homemade arnica salve recipe for pain relief. It’s made from homemade arnica oil we use for headaches, skin scrapes and more. A simple comfrey compress helps speed up the healing process for bruised or broken bones.
Medicinal herbs are not limited to our family. We have had great success using medicinal herbs on our farm animals too. It can quickly become expensive when using a vet for our animals. Knowing how to aid with medicinal herbs can lessen the cost considerably.
Living a self-sufficient lifestyle and using medicinal herbs go hand in hand. Through years of study and practice, I have learned the importance of using herbal medicine safely and knowing how to use medicinal herbs in an emergency.
It’s important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner or an accredited veterinarian. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your medical or animal care professional before introducing new herbal remedies into your wellness routine.
Benefits of Making Herb Capsules
For years we have dehydrated our fresh herbs. We then grind them into a powder and make a nutritious DIY greens powder that we add to our green smoothies one teaspoon at a time.
This greens powder can also be taken in capsule form if you don’t like the taste of a particular healing herb. Sometimes it’s easier to swallow a capsule of herbs than to chew or drink it.
Popular Herbs Used in Capsules
The herbs we grow on our homestead and use for medicinal purposes are of the highest quality because we know what is in our soil. We don’t use pesticides, the herbs are cared for by us, and we can have confidence our herbs are in their purest form.
Once I prepare the herbs, I know I can encapsulate any of them. I have my own list of top medicinal herbs to grow, but the herbs you can encapsulate is an endless list.
The simple method of drying, grinding into a powder and encapsulating herbs to make what you need is a personal choice depending on your health goals.
Supplies Needed
- Herbs of Choice – We grow ours, but you can purchase ground herbs through reputable companies.
- Dehydrator – We use a dehydrator for our herbs, but they can also be air-dried or oven-dried. Homesteading Hack: 95°F-115°F is best. Most ovens don’t consistently heat below 200°F, but you can monitor with an oven thermometer and use the pilot light for gas ovens or the light bulb for electric ovens.
- Food Processor or Blender – Both work well and quickly. Mortar and pestle or hand grinders work; it just takes longer.
- Capsules – There are several types and sizes to choose from; it’s a personal choice. Just be sure if you’re using a capsule maker (encapsulator), that the size of the capsules matches the encapsulator.
- 2 Small bowls – Separating the capsules (top and bottom) into two bowls is helpful.
- 1 Large Bowl – Place the ground herbs into another bowl that both hands fit into for filling the capsules.
- Jar – After you have made your herbal capsules, put them in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Labels – Label your jar as soon as possible; many herbs look similar. Homesteading Hack: Labeling the jar with the name of the herb and its uses is very helpful. Find the label that works for your jar so it can be clearly seen.
- Capsule Maker (Encapsulator) – Optional; you can purchase a capsule maker from various places online and make anywhere from 20 to 100 at a time.
How to Powder and Encapsulate Medicinal Herbs
- Dehydrate your herbs in a food dehydrator, air dry, or in the oven. Make sure your herbs are fully dehydrated for the best results.
- Place the dehydrated herbs in a food processor or blender and whirl them into a fine powder, then place the herbal powder in a large bowl.
- Separate the capsules into two bowls, tops in one and bottoms in the other. This is time-consuming, and many hands make the work light.
- Take the bottom of the capsule in one hand and the top in the other.
- Scoop the herbal powder of your choice, filling one side of the capsule.
- Then, secure the capsule pieces together tightly.
- Place the filled capsule in a labeled jar with a lid.
- When using the capsule maker, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Each one operates a little differently.
- Store your jars in a place out of direct sunlight. Preferably a place that is cool and dark and yet easily accessible. Homesteading Hack: Alphabetizing your herbal jars makes them easier to find, especially in an emergency.
Herbal Medicine Class
If you’d like to learn more about using herbal medicine, be sure to check out my Masterclass, Herbal Medicine Cabinet: Colds & Flus. In this class you’ll learn herbalism while stocking your medicine cabinet. You’ll learn to make tinctures, herbal oxymels, medicinal vinegars, steams, gargles and more!
