Guest guest Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 In my opinion it is easier and more cost effective to allow reputable herb shoppes to grind your herbs for you. I have ruined several appliance attempting to dimyself. If the roots are fragile and dry you can grind in a coffee grinder but big roots like burdock and comfrey I do not attempt. 1stchinese herbs, mountain rose herbs, frontier and starwest are in my opinion reputable, i have used them for years. As for cut/sifted herbs you can make tinctures out of them and pull the necessary properties you need without the fiberous part of the plant. If you buy powdered make sure you keep in dark canister or dark pantry and light exposure is minimum as the root once ground is completely exposed, they can last a while if taken care of you will know by the smell if it still has life in it. As far as making your own herbal medicines I do most of mine. I am currently growing some of my protocol but you have to grow alot to be able to harvest enough for medicine. Working directly with the plants that you are taking can be a very healing experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 > > In my opinion it is easier and more cost effective to allow reputable herb shoppes to grind your herbs for you. thanks; I guess I will continue to buy my herbs in powdered form from 1St Chinese then, instead of buying cut-and-sift version on the local market ... btw, I would love to know how much activity is still left in the herbs after storing them for a few months or maybe a year (even if stored in the dark, cooled and under nitrogen it will lose activity ...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2011 Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 HI again - I'd meant to ask also if you are sure the herbs from 1stChinese are being shipped from abroad? I thought they warehoused in Oregon? I just placed my first order and have not yet gotten it, so just wondering. Also - on Planet Thrive there are a few interesting threads on alternatives to use. One person uses powders mixed in honey; another decoctions which are specifically heated only to certain temps.Buhner has commented on each, giving advice and amounts - also there are instructions there for tincture dosages. Personally, I purchased a pill making machine, and I will try to encapsule certain herbs on my own. I also make tinctures - and, as I have a child to treat, it's nec. for me to be aware of all the options as he will not want to swallow too many pills. Good luck! > > > > In my opinion it is easier and more cost effective to allow reputable herb shoppes to grind your herbs for you. > > thanks; I guess I will continue to buy my herbs in powdered form from 1St Chinese then, instead of buying cut-and-sift version on the local market ... > > btw, I would love to know how much activity is still left in the herbs after storing them for a few months or maybe a year (even if stored in the dark, cooled and under nitrogen it will lose activity ...). > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2011 Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 > > > HI again - I'd meant to ask also if you are sure the herbs from 1stChinese are being shipped from abroad? > I thought they warehoused in Oregon? > I just placed my first order and have not yet gotten it, so just wondering. from what I understand they are warehoused in the US and despite the company name, a lot of the herbs don't come from China (for people who worry about this) but from US and other countries. You can email from 1St Chinese if you have questions, I'm very happy with their customer service. I don't know about normal shipping speed in the US. I'm in the Netherlands, for me shipping from 1St Chinese takes at least 1-2 weeks (slower than companies like iHerb, but that is to be expected because 1St Chinese is a smaller, more specialised, company). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2011 Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 > > > > In my opinion it is easier and more cost effective to allow reputable herb shoppes to grind your herbs for you. > > thanks; I guess I will continue to buy my herbs in powdered form from 1St Chinese then, instead of buying cut-and-sift version on the local market ... > > btw, I would love to know how much activity is still left in the herbs after storing them for a few months or maybe a year (even if stored in the dark, cooled and under nitrogen it will lose activity …). I had an experience with powered Stephania that worried me: the second bag I received was a lot more smelly and sticky. I was also clearly stronger, at first I had to cut back my intake. With the first bag I was disappointed with the effect, the second bag was clearly doing something. Since then, I buy herbs cut & sifted. The grinding process is a bit painstaking, I'm using something called a " moutmolen " maltmill, something like this: http://www.vinimare.nl/contents/media/1100304.jpg Before, I ruined a kitchen appliance. And I'm on the look-out for a sturdy electric coffeegrinder, because the maltmill, while being sturdy enough is not suited for some herbs; you have to pass the stuff several times, the whole process is very dusty, and the end result is still pretty coarse, even if not meant to be put into capsules. There's is one big advantage however: the herbs are way fresher, they have a lot more smell, and probably come out more potent (probably dependent on herb/constituent) than > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2011 Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 > > I had an experience with powered Stephania that worried me: the second bag I received was a lot more smelly and sticky. I was also clearly stronger, at first I had to cut back my intake. With the first bag I was disappointed with the effect, the second bag was clearly doing something. yeah, with Stephania I would worry I had the wrong herb (you probably know it is easily confused with another one that is toxic ...). > Since then, I buy herbs cut & sifted. The grinding process is a bit painstaking, I'm using something called a " moutmolen " maltmill, something like this: http://www.vinimare.nl/contents/media/1100304.jpg > >There's is one big advantage however: the herbs are way fresher, they have a lot more smell, and probably come out more potent (probably dependent on herb/constituent) than The problem seems to me that you have to prepare a considerable amount at the same time, otherwise you have a high percentage of 'loss' because herbs stick to the equipment. Any idea what is the minimum amount that works? I guess it is at least enough for 1-2 weeks, but probably you can keep that fresh until use by freezing it in some small portions or something like that? I agree that if it works, it should provide the freshest product which is good. I'll check what is available locally in coffee grinders; but probably you have to look in Asian shops or something else that targets customers outside the Dutch market ... Let me know if you find something, I haven't ordered my herbs yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2011 Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 yeah, with Stephania I would worry I had the wrong herb (you probably know it is easily confused with another one that is toxic ...). Knotweed, do you take Stephania? I have some that I was going to make a decoction with, but so far I haven't because of the thought looming in the back of my head that it could be the wrong herb, even though I really need something for my blurry and getting blurrier vision. I bought it from 1st Chinese Herbs and it is Nuherbs Organics brand. I called 1st Chinese Herbs and they said it was good, but I went to Nuherbs website and they have 3 different choices. They have organic, lab tested, and bulk, and I was sent organic. Would it be safer to return it for the lab-tested kind which from what I understand they use a microscope do determine the exact herb? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2011 Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 i make it a point to stay with the same vendor with the herbs i buy, alot of my herbs i grow myself and use, but when i have to buy i use mountain rose herbs/frontier/starwest/bulkherbstore.com/sanfrancisco tea company...i have good luck with all these guys and consistency is pretty good...although different times of the year when plants are harvested, location, shipping, storage and quality are all the variablees involved in buying bulk, but overall i have had no problem with quality from these vendors. > > > > > > In my opinion it is easier and more cost effective to allow reputable herb shoppes to grind your herbs for you. > > > > thanks; I guess I will continue to buy my herbs in powdered form from 1St Chinese then, instead of buying cut-and-sift version on the local market ... > > > > btw, I would love to know how much activity is still left in the herbs after storing them for a few months or maybe a year (even if stored in the dark, cooled and under nitrogen it will lose activity …). > > I had an experience with powered Stephania that worried me: the second bag I received was a lot more smelly and sticky. I was also clearly stronger, at first I had to cut back my intake. With the first bag I was disappointed with the effect, the second bag was clearly doing something. > > Since then, I buy herbs cut & sifted. The grinding process is a bit painstaking, I'm using something called a " moutmolen " maltmill, something like this: http://www.vinimare.nl/contents/media/1100304.jpg > > Before, I ruined a kitchen appliance. > And I'm on the look-out for a sturdy electric coffeegrinder, because the maltmill, while being sturdy enough is not suited for some herbs; you have to pass the stuff several times, the whole process is very dusty, and the end result is still pretty coarse, even if not meant to be put into capsules. > > There's is one big advantage however: the herbs are way fresher, they have a lot more smell, and probably come out more potent (probably dependent on herb/constituent) than > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 > > I bought it from 1st Chinese Herbs and it is Nuherbs Organics brand. I called 1st Chinese Herbs and they said it was good, but I went to Nuherbs website and they have 3 different choices. They have organic, lab tested, and bulk, and I was sent organic. Would it be safer to return it for the lab-tested kind which from what I understand they use a microscope do determine the exact herb? I purchased from 1st Chinese as well (didn't see obvious benefit though). I used the bulk powder, don't remember any details. I trust the company, but if you want to be extra sure maybe you should use lab-tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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