Distillation

Clary Sage. Up close and inspirational.

It’s difficult starting again, but as always the plants show me the way.  Here’s what I have growing now.  Some began as seed and some from seedlings that I purchased.
Clary Sage- An incredible flower to distill.  The hydrosol is perfect for hot flashes and any preparation containing the essential oil goes right to the head, heart and soul.  It can be quite euphoric.

Clary sage, a different point of view

Rose Geraniums – 6 Lovely little plants which are growing and will make a nice distillation for hydrosol at the end of the summer.  I mix the oil into my Deep Sleep blend which has great balancing effect opposite Frankincense and Jatamansi.

Potted Tulsi or Holy Basil or Ocimum Sanctum (from my own seeds) and there will be more of this but It would really benefit from a hot greenhouse.  Hopefully soon!  An ultimate in adaptogenic stress relief.

Ocimum sanctum
Holy Basil, not your regular basil.

Lots of Mint –  growing well despite the torrential rains.  And Lemon Balm, and Lemon Verbena.

Lemon Verbena
Aloysia citrodora

Skullcap, Valerian, and Chamomile –  mainly for tea (and maybe tincture) but I wonder what a co-distillation for hydrosol might be like?  Maybe I’ll try it…

Valerian

Chamomile

Two kinds of Arnica – Chamissonis and Montana (from my own seeds)

Arnica chamissonis, spreading.

Inula helenium or Elecampane – Awesome herb for coughs when used properly

Acmella Oleracea or Spilanthes (from my own seed) – Also known as the toothache plant.

A great place to get medicinal herb seeds from is Strictly Medicinals (formally Horizon Herbs)-  They also sell some plants but only within the U.S.   It was a hard blow to discover that I could not order plants from them to Canada.  I had made big plans but  I was fortunate that some one at Strictly Medicinals answered my email and suggested Richters Herbs here in Canada and that has been helpful getting started with some great plants.  I’ve just discovered a few other possibilities and will try to give all the helpful information as I get it.  Here’s one:  https://www.onplants.ca/, a site that sells Ontario native plants.

Nearly every day I harvest baskets full of tulsi. Some goes on to the drying racks and some into the still. The action of harvesting is aromatherapy from the source; it transports you into a meditative state of mind.  Crisp and transforming, it is easily a replacement for the morning coffee as far as my mind is concerned, but my kapha type body needs a little more right now as the temperatures cool down and the seasons begin to change.  A ritual of herbal teas, aromatherapy and exercise (yoga or a walk in the woods) is helpful to support the body and mind at this time of transition.  I have a new blend in the webshop called Transition which is appropriate for personal or seasonal changes.

A sea of Tulsi, with a very large Sweet potato tied up in the back corner.

Stuffing Tulsi into the 5 liter glass for distillation.