The One About Hydrosol

Hydrosol Workshop Notes

Anna Beauchemin and Jaime Pawelek

How to Prepare a Stovetop Hydrosol: Here are a couple blog posts by people that show how to do the stovetop method. Start with a large canning pot. Set a ramakin upside down in the canning pot and place a glass dish on top to catch the hydrosol. Fill water to just below the ramakin top. Turn the burner on high and once the water is steaming turn it down to low (simmer) and add herbs/flowers. I usually use 4 large handfuls (bunches) of herbs and lay them in the water. Place lid upside down on top of the pot. Fill lid of pot with ice and be sure to put the ice in a bag so it doesn’t melt and overflow, and I’ve found that if I continue to add more ice, I will get more hydrosol. I usually let it steam for 45min to 1hr and then turn it off and let it sit for a while before I take the lid off, so all the hydrosol drips into the cup below.

http://mamarosemary.com/blog/2013/07/26/how-to-make-a-hydrosol

http://dandelionessherbals.blogspot.com/2013/08/do-it-yourself-hydrosols-making-and.html

Hydrosol Uses:

Facial toner (astringent herbs like rose geranium)

Body spray

Pillow spray (lavender)

Aroma diffuser

Water in iron

Car freshener spray

Refreshing spray on hot day (mint, citrus)

Boundary spray (yarrow)

Linen spray

Soothing for pets on hot spots (yarrow, lavender)

Wound spray (yarrow, calendula)

Aftershave

Yoga mat cleaner (yarrow, calendula, lavender)

Ingredient in lotion, beverages, facial mask

Notes on hydrosols we made:

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - diaphoretic, hemostatic, bitter, astringent, tonic, antimicrobrial, emmenagogue

- the leaves and flowers have traditionally been used ground up as a powder applied to cuts and scrapes to help with minor bleeding

- also traditonally used in a tea as a diaphoretic to break a fever

- a wonderful plant for personal boundaries, and protection

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)- digestive, carminative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, circulatory stimulant, cardiotonic, rubafacient

- traditionally used with foods to help preserve them, and aid in digestion of meats and heavy foods

- warming, and stimulating to the circulatory system; a nice plant for feeling awake and focused (rosemary tea when tired); used traditioanlly for memory

- used historically to ward off evil spirits; a very protecting plant that brings mental clarity and focus as well as a balancing of emotions

Books

- Life in the Medicine: A guide to growing and harvesting herbs for medicine making - Leslie Gardner

- Medical Herbalism - David Hoffman

- Flower Power - Anne McIntyre

- Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West; Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West; Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West - Michael Moore

Supplies (spray bottles, jars, herbs, alcohol) & Resources

E.D. Luce Packaging (www.essentialsupplies.com)

Specialty Bottle (www.specialtybottle.com)

Sunburst Bottle Company (www.sunburstbottle.com)

Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com)

Gathering Thyme – San Rafael (www.gatheringthyme.com)

Sonoma County Herb Exchange – organic biodymanic grape alcohol and fresh herbs (www.sonomaherbs.org/herbalexchange.html)

Alchemical Solutions (www.organicalcohol.com)