Menstruum Matters

Choosing the Right Menstruum for Your Herbal Preparations

When I first started learning herbalism and how to make herbal remedies, it all seemed straightforward and completely overwhelming at the same time. I knew that if I followed the recipes, I would have an effective product, but knowing which herb(s) to select and which menstruum took some time. Be patient, you too will learn the art and science of herbalism.

As we head into cold and flu season, now is a great time to jump into learning and experimenting with herbalism, though, truly, anytime is a good time. I will share some basics today on selecting the right menstruum, but as is common in herbalism, there usually is not just one right answer. As you look around the internet for remedies, you might notice that everyone has a slightly different approach; that is all right because that's the art aspect of it. There is often a variety of right answers, yet what the best answer is depends on the individual, and there is wiggle room in formulating.

You may also notice that preparation methods are often presented as interchangeable: if you want to use said herb, just select your preferred menstruum/method and make it. If you like a hot drink, make some tea. If you like small, convenient doses, make a tincture. You want to avoid alcohol; make a glycerite. You want a topical option; infuse it in oil. While there is some truth in this simplicity, it also leaves out an important reality: how an herb is prepared determines what you actually get from it.

The menstruum, the liquid used to extract an herb, is not a neutral choice. It plays an active role in what constituents are drawn out. This does not require advanced chemistry, but it does require slowing down and doing a little bit of research. You can do it.

Menstruums Are Not Universal

Plants are unsurprisingly complex. They contain a wide range of chemical constituents: minerals, acids, resins, oils, mucilage, and more. Some constituents dissolve readily in water, but others require alcohol. Some are best extracted in oil, and others are better suited to vinegar or glycerin. When we choose a menstruum without considering what we’re trying to extract, we may still end up with something useful, but maybe not what we intended.

What is a Menstruum?

A menstruum is the solvent that extracts chemical constituents from the plant. Different menstruums have different solvent properties, meaning they dissolve different substances.

Rather than thinking in terms of best, think in terms of appropriateness:

• Water-based preparations (teas and decoctions) are ideal for extracting compounds such as minerals, flavonoids, and some polysaccharides, such as mucilage

• Alcohol-based preparations (tinctures and liniments) are useful when a longer shelf life is desired, and you want to extract resins or alkaloids (such as berberine) as well as water-soluble compounds, giving tinctures a broad range of benefits

• Vinegar extracts (acetums) offer unique benefits as they are useful for culinary and medicinal uses, extracting compounds such as minerals and certain pungent compounds

• Glycerin infusions (glycerites) utilize glycerin (glycerol), a plant-derived sugar alcohol typically combined with water, which gives them some overlapping solubility with water and alcohol; glycerites extract gentler constituents, particularly from fresh herbs, including tannins and some polysaccharides such as mucilage, but do not offer as broad or potent an extraction as tinctures

• Oil infusions, similar to vinegar infusions, can be used for culinary purposes as well as topical uses; oils can extract lipid-soluble resins and aromatic compounds such as terpenoids

Each has strengths. Each has limitations.

Matching the Menstruum to the Herb

Here is where things get practical. Not every herb works well in every menstruum. Some herbs contain primarily water-soluble compounds, which means they are best prepared as teas or decoctions. Others contain resins or alkaloids that require alcohol for effective extraction. Let’s look at how this plays out in a few herbal examples.

Mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus)

• Notable constituents: polysaccharides, mucilage, minerals, flavonoids (mostly glycosides), saponins

  • Tea: contains soothing, demulcent properties that mullein is most known for; this is the preparation that best supports and soothes irritated respiratory and digestive tissues, thanks to the extracted constituents of mucilage and flavonoids

  • Tincture: contains saponins and flavonoids; it can be soothing to the respiratory tract, easing coughs and loosening mucus, but it is less soothing than tea, as it lacks the mucilage

  • Acetum: vinegar extracts minerals, flavonoids, and saponins, offering anti-inflammatory properties and some respiratory support

  • Glycerite: glycerin extracts the soothing mucilage (not as well as water extraction), saponins, and flavonoids, allowing it to be helpful as an expectorant for the respiratory system, though it may not be as soothing as tea

  • Oil: most commonly, it is the flower that is used for oil infusion; the leaf may be used topically for soothing swollen tissues, minor skin irritation, or insect bites

    
    

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

• Notable constituents: volatile oils, polyphenols, flavonoids, mild tannins, bitter compounds

  • Tea: water extracts polyphenols, flavonoids, and gentle bitters, offering calming nervous system support and easing stress-related digestive discomfort

  • Tincture: alcohol extracts volatile oils such as linalool and citral, and polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid, resulting in a preparation helpful to calm anxious tension, aid digestion, promote restful sleep, and potential antiviral properties for herpetic cold sores

  • Acetum: vinegar extracts minerals and some polyphenols, making it a calming, tasty culinary preparation that gently supports digestion and mood

  • Glycerite: glycerin extracts polyphenols and mild tannins, offering a gentle option for children to promote relaxation and calmness, great as an after-dinner supplement

  • Oil: topically to be used as a massage oil or as a base for a salve, lemon balm-infused oil contains aromatic volatile oils and is helpful as an anti-inflammatory and antiviral

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Notable constituents: triterpenoid resins, flavonoids, carotenoids, saponins, mild bitters, mucilage

  • Tea: contains flavonoids, bitters, and mucilage, allowing calendula tea to be useful for supporting lymphatic drainage, easing digestive inflammation, and promoting tissue healing in the GI tract; externally, calendula tea can be used as a wound wash or compress to reduce swelling and support healing of minor wounds

  • Tincture: alcohol extracts the resinous triterpenoids and flavonoids that give calendula its anti-inflammatory and vulnerary (wound-healing) properties; taken internally to support lymphatic function and ease/heal gastritis

  • Acetum: vinegar extracts minerals and water-soluble flavonoids, making it useful for supporting digestion and providing mild anti-inflammatory benefits; can be used in salad dressings or diluted as a facial toner for minor skin irritation

  • Glycerite: contains some flavonoids and mild bitters, offering a gentle option to support minor digestive upset or inflammation; however, it does not fully extract calendula's resinous constituents, making it less potent than tincture for wound healing

  • Oil: contains the lipid-soluble triterpenoid resins and carotenoids, making this the preferred preparation for topical skin support; excellent as a base for salves for wound care, minor burns, diaper rash, dry or cracked skin, eczema, and general skin inflammation

Learning to Formulate, Not Just Follow Recipes

An exciting day in your herbalism progress is when you move away from simply following recipes to formulating your own remedies. Learning to ask questions is helpful in this progression.

• What am I trying to support?

• What action is needed?

• What part of the plant offers the actions needed?

• Is this for short-term or long-term use?

• Would internal or topical support be better?

• Who will be using it?

A Helpful Tool for Reference

Which preparation is best for which herb or which situation is a common question, and a good question. I created a concise guide, Beginner's Herbalism Guide, that walks through twelve common herbs, how to use them, and basic directions to make common remedies.

It’s designed as a practical, quick reference, something you can keep in your herbal notebook or apothecary.

Final Thoughts

Herbalism does not need to be complicated, but it does benefit from thoughtful planning. When we choose preparation methods by asking questions before we start, then formulating becomes intentional and effective rather than overwhelming. The menstruum matters because understanding why we choose something allows our remedies to work as intended.