Many years ago perched on a damp wooded hillside while mushroom foraging, I was struck with a simple yet profound lesson: Nature’s diversity is its might. Quietly kneeling on a soft bright green moss to closely observe the tiny fruiting body of a local fungi species, I felt hope.
Back then, I was a new student of herbalism and I was also nine years sober. Making or taking herbal preparations with alcohol didn’t work for me. I had to solve this problem and make a place for myself and my non-alcoholic preparations as an herbalist. Although my school was a supportive place, I still felt afraid, lonely, and like an outsider. The prevalence of alcohol in herbal products was confounding. The herb scene offered hazy alternatives and scant references for support. I was bewildered, and yet I remembered the fungi’s lesson of the might of diversity and knew there was a place for me there.
My origin story illustrates how antiquated conventions in herbalism can work against a stronger culture of inclusivity. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, we are in a dance through time with plants and each other. As more people proclaim themselves “sober” and abstain or limit their intake of alcohol, herbalists are being invited to creatively and consciously step up.
Herbalism is as much a generator of culture as a product of it; its dynamics are relational, ideally reciprocal, ever-evolving, and adapting—just like the earth’s systems. Innovation drives renewal. There exists the tools and the ability to expand the herbal apothecary (and the herbal mindset) to accommodate this growing wellness movement. This call to action is backed by current science as new studies continue to report more evidence of alcohol’s harmful effects on the mind and body.
Pushback on the efficacy of non-alcoholic herbal products must be set aside in the service of innovation. Herbal preparations are a delicious consequence of our co-evolution with plants. Wielding phytochemistry to create an abundance mindset versus a comparison judgment goes a long way to increase the possibilities for us all. This is my experience as a “sober herbalist”.
To create a non-alcoholic apothecary, I’ve had to boldly experiment and build trust with the plants. (They will show you how to maximize their offerings if you collaborate respectfully.) “Rewilding” medicine-making convention is a radical act of embodiment for me. I allow the senses to guide my methods and confirm my results.
The resurgence of Energetics in modern herbalism confirms the fruitfulness of this process: Tasting the flavors of healing actions—sweet, sour, salty, pungent, acrid — we remember and re-experience the vital roles of herbs in our evolutionary journey as elemental beings. From the pleasure of the senses and the great multicultural traditions of herbalism (and culinary and mixology), we can gather ceaseless strategies. For many years I’ve used vinegar, honey, oils, and glycerine with a handful of practices—infusing, cooking, fermenting—and I have gone far!
Dried schisandra berry was my first glycerite. It was a bright pink sapphire hue that dazzled and its flavor was tart, pungent, sweet, and like a fun party in my mouth. Later experiments with herbs like reishi mushroom and valerian root yielded equally positive results. The strength was ample enough to formulate with, tasty enough to squirt into mocktails, and versatile enough for culinary play. What a boon to the apothecary!
Glycerites are herbal extracts made with glycerine. There are various techniques out there, but I do suggest always applying some degree of heat for maximum results. As more herbalists explore the glory of glycerine, dazzling recognition of its facility will definitely trend.
I make several types of glycerites, but the first one I learned is called a “decocted” glycerite. This herbal extract is a marriage of ancient and modern techniques. To obtain medicinal properties, the elements of fire and water combine in a time-honored process of boiling down or “dococting” dense plant parts like dried roots, seeds, barks, and berries (kind of like a syrup) but with glycerine.
Water is faithfully known as “the universal solvent,” and combined with the glycerine in this stovetop process, the two menstrua basically suspend the aromatics and herbal properties resulting in a standard liquid extract.
Here’s how to make one:
Ingredients
Pro Tip: My experience shows that at a 70% glycerine and 30% water ratio, this extract is stable and can last 4 years or more. Store the final product in a sanitized amber or cobalt bottle and label with the ratio used and the date produced. Keep notes and observe the results closely.
You may also enjoy
Herb-Infused Honeys + 2 Recipes
DY Herbal Electuaries + Recipes
How to Make Herb-Infused Vinegars
Topics: Recipes, Herbalism, Specialty Ingredients
Drea Moore has been teaching “sober herbalism” at herb conferences, herb schools, wellness retreats, and recovery centers up and down the West Coast since 2018. She is passionate about amplifying the consciousness of sobriety, recovery, and substance abuse in all wellness spaces. Her knowledge of herbalism stems from lengthy studies at The California School of Herbal Studies (where she is also a guest teacher) and certifications in Ayurveda, yoga and bodywork. Her passions include using diverse art forms, design theories, and earth systems science to imagine new ways of approaching herbal medicine and integrative healing. Observe her in action teaching, gardening, and growing community on her website soberherbalist.com and her IG account @soberherbalist.
Many years ago perched on a damp wooded hillside while mushroom foraging, I was struck with a simple yet profound lesson: Nature’s diversity is its might. Quietly kneeling on a soft bright green moss to closely observe the tiny fruiting body of a local fungi species, I felt hope.
Back then, I was a new student of herbalism and I was also nine years sober. Making or taking herbal preparations with alcohol didn’t work for me. I had to solve this problem and make a place for myself and my non-alcoholic preparations as an herbalist. Although my school was a supportive place, I still felt afraid, lonely, and like an outsider. The prevalence of alcohol in herbal products was confounding. The herb scene offered hazy alternatives and scant references for support. I was bewildered, and yet I remembered the fungi’s lesson of the might of diversity and knew there was a place for me there.
My origin story illustrates how antiquated conventions in herbalism can work against a stronger culture of inclusivity. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, we are in a dance through time with plants and each other. As more people proclaim themselves “sober” and abstain or limit their intake of alcohol, herbalists are being invited to creatively and consciously step up.
Herbalism is as much a generator of culture as a product of it; its dynamics are relational, ideally reciprocal, ever-evolving, and adapting—just like the earth’s systems. Innovation drives renewal. There exists the tools and the ability to expand the herbal apothecary (and the herbal mindset) to accommodate this growing wellness movement. This call to action is backed by current science as new studies continue to report more evidence of alcohol’s harmful effects on the mind and body.
Pushback on the efficacy of non-alcoholic herbal products must be set aside in the service of innovation. Herbal preparations are a delicious consequence of our co-evolution with plants. Wielding phytochemistry to create an abundance mindset versus a comparison judgment goes a long way to increase the possibilities for us all. This is my experience as a “sober herbalist”.
To create a non-alcoholic apothecary, I’ve had to boldly experiment and build trust with the plants. (They will show you how to maximize their offerings if you collaborate respectfully.) “Rewilding” medicine-making convention is a radical act of embodiment for me. I allow the senses to guide my methods and confirm my results.
The resurgence of Energetics in modern herbalism confirms the fruitfulness of this process: Tasting the flavors of healing actions—sweet, sour, salty, pungent, acrid — we remember and re-experience the vital roles of herbs in our evolutionary journey as elemental beings. From the pleasure of the senses and the great multicultural traditions of herbalism (and culinary and mixology), we can gather ceaseless strategies. For many years I’ve used vinegar, honey, oils, and glycerine with a handful of practices—infusing, cooking, fermenting—and I have gone far!
Dried schisandra berry was my first glycerite. It was a bright pink sapphire hue that dazzled and its flavor was tart, pungent, sweet, and like a fun party in my mouth. Later experiments with herbs like reishi mushroom and valerian root yielded equally positive results. The strength was ample enough to formulate with, tasty enough to squirt into mocktails, and versatile enough for culinary play. What a boon to the apothecary!
Glycerites are herbal extracts made with glycerine. There are various techniques out there, but I do suggest always applying some degree of heat for maximum results. As more herbalists explore the glory of glycerine, dazzling recognition of its facility will definitely trend.
I make several types of glycerites, but the first one I learned is called a “decocted” glycerite. This herbal extract is a marriage of ancient and modern techniques. To obtain medicinal properties, the elements of fire and water combine in a time-honored process of boiling down or “dococting” dense plant parts like dried roots, seeds, barks, and berries (kind of like a syrup) but with glycerine.
Water is faithfully known as “the universal solvent,” and combined with the glycerine in this stovetop process, the two menstrua basically suspend the aromatics and herbal properties resulting in a standard liquid extract.
Here’s how to make one:
Ingredients
Pro Tip: My experience shows that at a 70% glycerine and 30% water ratio, this extract is stable and can last 4 years or more. Store the final product in a sanitized amber or cobalt bottle and label with the ratio used and the date produced. Keep notes and observe the results closely.
You may also enjoy
Herb-Infused Honeys + 2 Recipes
DY Herbal Electuaries + Recipes
How to Make Herb-Infused Vinegars
Topics: Recipes, Herbalism, Specialty Ingredients
Drea Moore has been teaching “sober herbalism” at herb conferences, herb schools, wellness retreats, and recovery centers up and down the West Coast since 2018. She is passionate about amplifying the consciousness of sobriety, recovery, and substance abuse in all wellness spaces. Her knowledge of herbalism stems from lengthy studies at The California School of Herbal Studies (where she is also a guest teacher) and certifications in Ayurveda, yoga and bodywork. Her passions include using diverse art forms, design theories, and earth systems science to imagine new ways of approaching herbal medicine and integrative healing. Observe her in action teaching, gardening, and growing community on her website soberherbalist.com and her IG account @soberherbalist.
