Herbal Medicine Making Course Module 1 Experiential Projects Checklist The Medicine Making Course experiential projects can be submitted in one batch, with the checklists for all three modules completed, OR you can submit the checklist for each module separately. Checklists must be complete in order to be submitted. Here s How to Use This Checklist First, make sure you have a PDF reader on your computer or device. We recommend Adobe Reader, Sumatra PDF, Foxit Reader, or Nitro PDF Reader. Once you have your PDF reader installed, go ahead and download this file and open it with your PDF reader (instead of viewing this file online). Already have a PDF reader? Make sure you have the latest version of your reader installed (to check: google the name of your reader and latest version). Filling out this form digitally: Complete the following experiential projects and record one to two sentences describing each project. Record your descriptions in this fillable PDF. Do not record more than two sentences about each project (you can do this elsewhere for your own records). This checklist is editable, which means you can type your work right into the document and save your changes. How cool is that? Be sure to make a folder on your computer with all your saved experiential projects checklists. Prefer to work on paper? That's fine! Print out the form, record your responses, and when it's complete, you can scan it, and send it back to us digitally. It's an extra step, but you can scan a bunch of modules at once. IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure that you ve opened your Experiential Projects Checklist in your PDF reader (and not online) before you begin typing. We recommend doing a quick test that your technology is functioning before filling out the entire checklist. Type a few sentences into the form and save. Then close the PDF and reopen it, checking that your work has been saved. Send your completed checklist by e-mail to sara@chestnutherbs.com after you ve completed the experiential projects, the review worksheet, and the quiz for the module you are submitting. You re welcome to contact us through the Q&A Form if you have any questions about these projects. If this checklist has you wanting to check into a technology haters institution, then write us! We can help make it easier. Send your woes to kathryn@chestnutherbs.com and she'll get you straightened out. Alternatively, rope a youngster from your neighborhood or family into helping you! Please note that some of these projects require time for the herbs to infuse before they can be strained and the project is considered complete. The projects involving herbal tinctures, vinegars, oils, and syrups all require extra time for infusion. The herbal syrup project calls for a tincture, so be sure to make your tincture before you make your syrup (if you want to use the tincture for the syrup project). Read through all the projects before embarking so you can create a time line to finish each one before the six-month deadline. It s also helpful to identify which recipes you would like to prepare so you can order your materials at one time. Completed Module 1 self-graded review worksheets Completed Module 1 quiz with an 80% or higher
Infusions and Decoctions Make one infusion, one decoction, and one combined decoction and infusion. Refer to the lesson for detailed instructions on each method. For your infusion and decoction, you can make a tea from a single herb or combine several herbs. If you re new to herbal medicine, preparing a tea from a single herb is a great way to become familiar with the flavor, aroma, and medicinal qualities of that herb. If you re preparing a formula, consider the balance of flavors of the herbs, and add yummy-tasting herbs to balance any bitter ones. Make a note on how you feel after drinking your tea, how you like the flavor, and how you might change the formula in the future. Part 1: Decoction Which herb or herbs did you choose for your decoction? Part 2: Infusion You may use Artemisia s Relaxing Tea Blend from the lesson or create your own. Which herb or herbs did you choose for your infusion? Part 3: Combined Decoction and Infusion To do this, simply make your decoction, turn off the heat, and add your herbs to be infused for the allotted twenty minutes. You may use the Spicy Relaxing Tea Blend from the lesson or create your own. Which herb or herbs did you use for your combined decoction and infusion?
Tinctures Make one weight-to-volume tincture, using alcohol as your menstruum, with a fresh herb (not yet dried) and one weight-to-volume tincture with a dried herb. Helpful hint: you may want to use one of these tinctures to prepare your herbal syrup. If you avoid alcohol, you may complete the following alternative project for full credit: make one weight-to-volume vinegar tincture. Use a dried herb, and make a 1:4 vinegar tincture with the undiluted vinegar of your choice. Record your results under Part 2. Part 1 Make one weight-to-volume tincture with a fresh herb. Depending on the time of year and your locale, you might find it difficult to find garden or wild herbs. At your local market or health food store, you can likely find some fresh herbs to tincture, including dandelion greens and burdock root, and a variety of fresh culinary herbs such as rosemary, ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, sage, and mint. What fresh tincture did you make? Include the herb, ratio and alcohol percentage, and the date. Example: 1:2 75% ginger tincture, 8/14/16 Part 2 Make one weight-to-volume tincture with a dried herb. What dried tincture did you make? Include the herb, ratio and alcohol percentage, and the date. If you re preparing the alternative vinegar project, record your results here. Example: 1:4 60% holy basil tincture, 8/14/16
Herbal Honeys and Syrups Prepare your own herbal syrup, using the proportions given in the lesson. Use one part alcoholbased tincture, one part infused honey, and one part infusion or decoction. If you ve never made a syrup before, it s a good idea to start with herbs that are featured in the lesson. Remember that if you re making your own tincture, you ll need to begin macerating your herb at least four weeks before you make your water and honey infusions. You may want to use the tincture you prepared for the tincture project. Alcohol-free alternative: substitute a vinegar tincture for the alcohol-based tincture, and leave out the infusion or decoction to make the finished syrup more shelf-stable. Store the finished syrup in the fridge and use within three to six months. Which herb or herbs did you use for the tincture? Which herb or herbs did you use for your herbal infused honey? Which herb or herbs did you use for your concentrated herbal water infusion or decoction? Describe your experience making this herbal syrup:
Herbal Vinegars Make your own herbal vinegar. You can choose any of the recipes listed in the lesson or create your own. Select herbs that lend themselves to vinegar, such as spicy herbs, or herbs high in minerals. Use any type of vinegar you prefer, but keep in mind that nonorganic white vinegar can contain GMOs. Refer to the lesson to decide whether to use fresh herbs or dried, and store accordingly. Which herb or herbs did you choose for your herbal vinegar? Did you use fresh or dried herbs? How did you store your herbal vinegar? Record your experience making herbal vinegar.
Harvesting and Drying Herbs Get some practice drying herbs, using either a fresh herb that you ve harvested or one that you ve purchased. If you re harvesting herbs from the wild, be sure to follow the guidelines listed in the Foraging lesson. If you re purchasing herbs, you ll likely find fresh culinary herbs such as rosemary, thyme, basil, sage, ginger, or mint at the supermarket. You can often find burdock root or dandelion leaf at specialty markets or health food stores. Determine which drying method described in the lesson will be best suited for your situation. Test for dryness and store. Which fresh herb did you choose to dry? Which drying method did you use? Why? How did you store your dried herb? Record your experience drying your herb.