I regularly make my own herbal capsules, and I thought you might be interested in the what, why, and how of it 😉

I have a sort of love affair with this task. It is a very edifying process for me. I find the repetitive nature of the work meditative, I like the feeling that making my own remedies gives me, and I feel healthier (more alive if you will) when I am taking good care of my body. When I make remedies for those I love, it feeds my inner-nurturer. It all feels good, indeed!

If those are not enough reasons to spark your interest in making herbal pills, here are a few more for you …

• It makes herbs easier to access. A small bottle of capsules can be carried just about anywhere.
• You are more likely to maintain consistency when taking capsules, as compared to other forms of herbal remedies.
• Many herbs provide nutritional value in addition to the remedial properties we revere them for. Therefore, you can meet dietary needs with them as well (think spinach powder 😉)
• Making your own herbal capsules saves you money. Quite a bit of money. Actually, like a bunch of money!! (Point made? LOL)
• Many commercially available capsules contain fillers. Homemade capsules do not. This allows you to get more herb per dosage, which is most often a good thing. Not to mention that you are not putting useless (or even harmful) fillers in your body. YUCK!
• For those who struggle with the taste of other herbal remedies, like tinctures, a capsule is a great alternative. Of course, there are times when a different form of herbal supplement is necessary. For example, I don’t know of an herb you can take in capsule form to remedy a cough. But there are MANY issues which can be addressed with capsules.
• When you make your own herbal capsules, you can tailor them to YOUR specific needs.
• When you make capsules yourself you can be certain that the herbs you use are fresh and organic. Who knows what they are putting in commercial brands of herbal capsules! I do know that, in the interest of profit, many of our food sources are highly contaminated and our medical system is corrupt. I can’t imagine that companies who are mass-producing herbal remedies are any different than those who provide these services to us. After all, they are all in bed together! And I would rather not support them anyway. Herbalism is a ‘for the people, by the people’ system, and keeping it that way greatly reduces the likelihood of its distortion.

I think those are some pretty good reasons to make herbal capsules at home. Don’t you?

If getting started on this task makes you feel a bit overwhelmed, fear not! You don’t have to have much (or really any) herbal knowledge to get the ball rolling. Simply start by making some single herb capsules that are known to work for the majority of the general population.

Here’s a few ideas for you …

• Beet Root = general nutrition and lowering cholesterol
• Hawthorn Berry = overall heart health and regulating blood pressure
• Spirulina = general nutrition (as in ‘eat your greens’)
• Milk Thistle = overall liver health
• Chaga = energy and adaptogen
• Turmeric = inflammation reduction

A bit less overwhelming? Of course it is!

The investment to start is pretty minimal as well …

All you need is a capsule making machine, some empty capsules, and the herbs of your choice (in powder form). You can pick all of these things up in one fell swoop, at Mountain Rose Herbs. I love them. Their business is built on good stewardship and integrity. AND they provide outstanding products and service.

Both the machines and the capsules come in two different sizes (0 & 00). I prefer the larger capsules (00). They just make sense to me (unless, of course, you have difficulty swallowing capsules). It is rare that a dose smaller than a 00 capsule is needed. As a matter of fact, most often I take several capsules a day.

If you choose to purchase your supplies from a source other than Mountain Rose Herbs just be sure they are reputable. The quality of herbal powder you use is very important. Your capsules will be much more effective if they are made with fresh, organic material. The quality of the capsules themselves is also very important. Temperature and moisture levels can cause them to swell or shrink. This will make it so they don’t fit properly into the capsule making machine, rendering them useless. Keep this in mind when storing them at home as well. I store mine in a canning jar with the moisture packs that Mountain Rose Herbs ships them with. This method has always worked well for me.

Your machine should come with step-by-step instructions. They are crazy simple to follow. Like even a monkey could do it. Keep in mind monkeys are pretty smart though, LOL!

Following is a pictorial for you that is also pretty simple to follow 😉

Voila! You have successfully made herbal capsules!

I knew you could do it! It’s so easy. I told you even a monkey can do it. You had a monkey to help you didn’t you? LOL

You are now an Herbal Capsule Making Wizard. I don’t actually have any credentials which permit me to bestow this title upon you. BUT if you agree that I am able to do so, and I agree that I am able to do so … I am CERTAIN that makes it so. At least in our eyes. And I’m good with that. I assume you are as well, considering that there is no other place you can go to be declared on Herbal Capsule Making Wizard 😉

AND …

For those who feel like they want to try their hand at creating capsules containing a blend of herbs, as opposed to a single herb, following you will find a few herbal powder blends for common health issues.

They are taken directly from an article written by Ronald Goedeke. He is a leading expert in anti-aging and alternative medicine.

Each recipe makes 30 servings. Number of capsules per serving depends on capsule size. I would start with one serving three times daily. Adjusting my dosage from there in accordance with my reaction to the herbs.

NOTE: The Sleep and Calming Blend should not be taken throughout the day. Instead, take 1-3 capsules at bedtime. Start with one and work your way up from there, as they may cause you to have trouble ‘getting started’ in the morning. Also know that valerian acts as a stimulant in a small percentage of people. When taking it for the first time, be sure that you do not have an early start (or a busy schedule) the following day. There is the off chance that it will keep you from getting any rest at all!

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY BLEND FOR PAIN AND SWELLING

Turmeric powder (Curcuma longa) – 22.5 g

Ginger powder (Zingiber officinale) – 9 g

Black Pepper – 1 g

Boswellia – 12 g

Devil’s Claw (root) – 6 g

SLEEP AND CALMING BLEND

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) – 12 g

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) – 6 g

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – 18 g

Hops (Humulus lupulus) – flower – 9 g

IMMUNITY BLEND

Ashwagandha – 12 g

Mushroom (any of the following, or a combination): Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Shitake – 6 g

Olive Leaf – 12 g

Astragalus – 27 g

Citrus Bioflavonoids (dried citrus rind) – 10 g

ANXIETY BLEND

Passionflower – 6 g

Rhodiola Rosea – 6 g

Lemon Balm – 12 g

Ashwagandha – 12 g

St. John’s Wort – 12 g

ENERGY BLEND

Ashwagandha – 12 g

Siberian Ginseng – 12 g

Panax Ginseng – 12 g

Green Tea – 12 g

Gotu Kola – 6 g

When making capsules don’t get too crazy about stockpiling them. Powdered herbs will lose their potency more rapidly than other forms of dried plant material, as in this form maximum surface area of the herb is exposed to air. I generally make enough for 2 or 3 months at a time.

You may find that after a few months these potent little allies have done their job so well you no longer need their assistance. Having too many capsules left over is wasteful and defeats the frugality of making your own capsules in the first place 😉

Don’t forget to let me know if this post was helpful to you or not in the comments! Or share any thoughts, concerns, or wisdom you may have concerning herbal capsules and producing them at home. I am excited to hear your input as always.

And … connect with me on facebook and pinterest to stay abreast of any other happenings here at Bohemian Apothecarist.

As always, your presence is greatly appreciated. I adore that you are here. And I just know that we are going to have great fun together ❤

DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed health professional. You are solely responsible for researching herbs to determine how you choose to use them. If you decide to make them a part of your health care plan, I take no responsibility for that decision.