STILLS

In the Victorian era it was common find a room designated for distilling. That room was called appropriately the still room. The next house I build will have such a designated room, but for now, my kitchen will have to suffice. The equipment needed can be purchased from a laboratory supplier at a cost that may strain the budget, but there are other options. Once you get the concept, you may be able to find usable components lying around the house that will do the job just fine.

Let me attempt to explain the distilling process in the simplest of terms without benefit of pictures or drawings. The bare basics are: 1) The 'cucurbit' holds the botanicals in water and is heated to produce steam. 2) The 'receiver' receives the droplets from the steam. From this point we can get as elaborate and costly as we wish, or as inventive and economical as we wish.

A SIMPLE STILL

Use a nonmetal teapot as the cucurbit, a bowl as the receiver, and a few feet of rubber tubing. Fill the teapot with herbs or flowers and add enough distilled water to cover the botanicals. Attach the rubber tubing to the spout. Position the bowl at a slightly lower level and suspend the other end of the tubing over it. Allow the center expanse of the tubing to rest in a container filled with ice water. Bring the water in the teapot to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until at least half of the water has evaporated. The droplets collect in the bowl and there you have distilled herb or flower water. Tah Dah!

ANOTHER SIMPLE STILL

Use a large nonmetal pot with a rounded lid as the cucurbit and a bowl that will fit inside the pot as the receiver. Center a rack in the middle of the large pot to hold the bowl. Fill the large pot with herbs or flowers to a level that will reach the bottom of the bowl. Add enough hot or boiling distilled water to cover the botanicals. Place the bowl in the center of the rack. Cover the pot with the rounded lid upside down and fill this rounded lid with ice water. Place the whole contraption over low to medium heat and simmer.

A LARGE STILL

Use any large (1-2 gallon capacity) container that can be sealed as the cucurbit and another equally sized container that can be sealed as the receiver. I always mention using nonmetal containers and utensils with herbs, but stainless steel or tin will do in some cases, this being one such case. Now, you'll need some glass or tin tubing about four feet in length formed into a "U" shape. One end of the tubing must pass through the lid of the cucurbit and the other through the lid of the receiver. The tubing must be sealed with a gasket of cork or rubber at the entry point of each lid. The tubing should protrude into the receiver about two-thirds down, but should not protrude beyond the gasket into the cucurbit. Seal the receiver with the tubing in place and set it into a container of icy water. Wrap the receiver with wet heavy cloth to keep it cool. Place clean pebbles or a sieve in the bottom of the cucurbit to prevent burning and fill loosely with herbs or flowers. Cover the botanicals with hot or boiling distilled water. Seal the cucurbit with the tubing in place. Apply heat to the bottom of the cucurbit and simmer until about half of the water has evaporated. A two gallon container should produce about one-half gallon distilled herb or flower water.

TO STILL OR NOT TO STILL

What's the difference between herb waters or flower waters that have been distilled and those that have been infused or decocted? Shelf life! Distilled botanical waters can last for months without refrigeration. Those that have been infused or decocted have a very short shelf life. They will deteriorate and spoil even when refrigerated.

Can I get the same benefits from infused or decocted botanicals as I can from those that have been distilled? Yes! They are just as beneficial. If you do not need or want to store them, by all means make your botanical waters by infusion or decoction.

HOW DO I USE THESE WATERS?

The most common use for distilled botanical water is as a facial water. They are often kept in an amber or cobalt glass bottle with an atomizer and sprayed on the face. But, don't stop there! Spray them on any part of the body and lavish yourself.

The best choices of botanicals to use for making waters (IMO) are: Agrimony (Agrimony eupatoria) extracts impurities, Anise (Pimpinella anisum) opens and medicates pores, Arnica (Arnica Montana) for bruises, Basils (sweet basil and holy basil) for swelling, Birch bark (Betula alba) is antiseptic and good for eczema, Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosis) for psoriasis, Burdock root (Arctium lappa) effects the glands, Calendula (Calendula officinalis) benefits too numerous to list, Carnation flower (Dianthus caryophyllus) aphrodisiac, Celandine (Chelidonium majus) relieves itching, Comfrey leaf and root (Symphytum officinale) my all-time favorite herb, Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum spp.) vitamin A, Elder flower (Sambucus canadensis syn. S. nigra) lightens freckles and spots, Fuchsia flower (Zauschneria or Fuchsia californica) wounds and sores, Gardenia flower (Gardenia spp.) chronic skin ailments, Geraniums (scented types) for their scent, German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita syn. Matricaria recutita) benefits too numerous to list, Hibiscus flower (H. rosa-sinensis) emollient, Hollyhock flower (Althaea rosea) emollient, Honeysuckle flower (Lonicera caprifolium) for delicate skin, Houseleeks (Sempervivum tectorum) for beauty and to remove warts, Jasmine flower (Jasminum officinale) relaxing aphrodisiac, Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) for firming breasts, Lavender (Lavandula spp.) benefits too numerous to list, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) to normalize overactive oil glands and for dandruff, Lilac flower (Syringa vulgaris) for the scent, Mints (all kinds) medicating and refreshing, Nettle (Urtica dioica) improves circulation, Pansy (Viola tricolor) for inflammations, Orange flower (Citrus vulgaris and others) moisturizing, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) benefits too numerous to list, Roses (all species) astringent, Sage (Salvia officinalis) antibacterial, Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) antiseptic, Witch hazel bark and leaf (Hamamelis virginiana) one of the best for all skin conditions, Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) cleansing wounds, varicose veins, etc.

HELP! Somebody stop me...

FOR DRY SKIN make a water using equal weights of German chamomile and macerated fennel seeds. This one is excellent for use on infants and children.

FOR OILY SKIN make a water using equal weights of comfrey root and witch hazel.

FOR AGING SKIN make a water using equal weights of lavender, rosemary, peppermint, comfrey leaf, lemon thyme, and roses.

FOR WRINKLES make a water using honeysuckle bark or cowslip (Primula veris) if you can find it.

FOR PUFFINESS AND SWELLING make a water using equal weights of hops and German chamomile.

AND ... for whatever external use, make herb or flower waters your first choice. You'll never go back to chemical topicals again.

IN CONCLUSION ;-)

You know me better than that. I'll never be finished. I could go on ad infinitum, ad nauseam. See ya in two weeks.

Our goal is to bring collective knowledge together to provide accurate herbal information, giving references whenever possible, for the purpose of being informed when choosing self-help and alternative approaches to health and lifestyle. At no time should this publication be considered prescription or treatment, nor should any information published herein be misinterpreted as such. The publishers can not be held responsible for the mishandling of information by its readers.

Please do not take herbal information lightly.
Remember our motto is ... When in doubt, don't!
Until next Monday I remain,

Herbally yours, Abby

Lynda "Abby" Trahan
Abby's Herb Company
P.O. Box 213
Round Top, TX 78954

lynda@abbysherbshop.com
www.abbysherbshop.com

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