Herb Storage (old thread on: Shelf life)

[Guest guest]

Hi Joy,

Thanks for your info. I live in the midwest and humidity is a big

factor here. I am looking about 70 # of herbs I've just ordered and

am thinking paper bags are going to be the way to go for now. I could

have thought this out a little better... but looks like a redneck

pharmacy on it's way - brown paper bags, cinder blocks and a few

1x12's and we should be in business. All I need now is a still..

 

I bought a hammermill grinder that will make powder, which I would

like to do at the last minute to maintain optimum herb quality... I'm

assuming that grinding later rather than sooner would maximize herb

quality. It will be an interesting change for my business - going

back to some more traditional formulas. I was suprised that I've

forgotten that in Bensky's book, many classic formulas were given as a

draft or made into pills. I was never taught how to make drafts or

make pills with honey.

 

Best,

Geoff

 

 

, " Joy Keller "

<JKellerLAc wrote:

>

> On 7/12/07, G Hudson <crudo20 wrote:

> >

> > .

> >

> >

> >

> Re: raw herb storage...

>

> Hi Geoff,

>

> Not sure if my situation is applicable to yours or not. I mostly

prescribe

> granulars for internal herbs, however I prefer to work with raw

herbs for

> external applications. I keep upwards of 60-70 raw herbs on hand,

> pre-ground, which serve me well for that purpose (I use them to make

> tinctures, oils, compresses, decoctions, etc.). I like the

pre-ground herbs

> b/c they're easier for the patient to manage. Being pre-ground, I was

> concerned about oxidation and potency. Cost of storage was also an

issue -

> getting large amber glass jars is not so cheap not to mention take

up a lot

> of room to store. So, what I have found to work best for my

situation is to

> utilize a 4-drawer file cabinet (although currently I'm only using

2.5 of

> the drawers for herb storage) and a vacu-seal unit.

>

> I put the herbs into the vacu-seal packaging (making sure to label

it) with

> enough room left-over so that each bag can be opened/re-vac'ed/re-sealed

> multiple times. Then I file each herb away in its own labeled

hanging file

> folder.

>

> From my perspective this accomplishes two things: 1) removes (most

of) the

> oxygen exposure thereby reducing oxidative damage and 2) removes it from

> light exposure by keeping it stored in a dark file cabinet. The

temperature

> of my clinic stays moderate (good insulation) so they're never

exposed to

> heat or temperature extremes even on the weekends when I have the

thermostat

> shut-off so I'm sure that helps.

>

> I live in a dry climate and have been using this method for two

years now

> and it works well for me and how I need to use raw herbs. Herbs that

> typically go rancid or start to smell don't tend to do that. Plus, I

don't

> have to deal with bugs and fly-paper strips, etc. I also don't tend

to get

> issues w/ mold - again, could be the dry climate.

>

> J

>

> ________

> Joy Keller, LAc, Dipl.OM

> Board Certified in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

> Ramona Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Clinic

> Phone: (760) 654-1040 Fax: (760) 654-4019

> www.RamonaAcupuncture.com

>

>

>