5 Uses of Powdered Herbs and How to Make Them

This week I want to share a new way to use herbs. One that creates a perfect base for some of my favorite topical formulations. It might seem basic, but some of the best things are! I am sharing three ways to create powdered herbs and five ways to use them. This fast and easy form of herbal processing is an essential skill for the budding herbalist to learn!

You might be asking why you might want to use powdered herbs? I find the practice useful when I want to gain the full effect of the plant I'm using. You see, when you grind the plant it mechanically breaks down the plant parts helping to release the goodness inside. This is especially important for hard plant material like roots. Whenever I use roots or stems in a tea or tincture I always grind them down first to aid in the extraction process. Other plant parts like leaves and flowers usually contain a higher amount of volatile oils, aka essential oils. When you grind the leaves and flowers into a powder more of these essential oils are able to be released! Powdered rose petals are my favorite addition to face masks as they are wonderful for the skin and the powder allows for a gentle exfoliation.

Array of powdered herbs

3 ways to make powdered herbs

Before we get into the different ways to use powdered herbs let's break down a few different ways to powderize your plants. The main goal is to create a uniform powder that has sufficiently broken up the plant matter to release the medicine within. Whenever you are making powdered herbs you need to make sure that your plant matter is completely dry. Fresh plant material has too much water and when grinded ends up making more of a paste. 

There are three main ways I powderdize my herbs depending on what I want to do with them. The first method is a mortar and pestle which is a very manageable method allowing you ultimate control over the final consistency. The second method is using a blender; I use this method when I want to create a bulk amount of powdered herbs. The last method is my go to, using a coffee grinder. This method creates a medium to fine powder and allows you to make a small amount of powder at a time.

Mortar and Pestle

Mortar and pestle with chilies

Mortar and pestle is my go to method for creating powdered herbs for cooking. You can make a small amount at a time and monitor the process to get the perfect consistency. Due to how small mortars and pestles typically are this is not the best way to make a large amount of powder but is perfect when you need just a bit quick. It is also extremely controllable. Because you have to make every movement it allows you to watch and stop at the powder size you are looking for. However, because it is completely manual it's harder to break down stems and roots. For these types of plant parts I like to use a more automated grinding method…

How to

To grind your herbs using a mortar and pestle just add a small amount to the mortar and use the pestle to grind the herb until you get the consistency you want.

Drawbacks

• Can only make a small amount at a time

• Harder to break down stems and roots

• Harder to clean

Benefits

• Fairly easy to process

• Allows you to make a coarse or fine powder

Blender or Food Processor

When you want to make a large amount of powdered herbs a blender or food processor is your best friend! They allow you to quickly make a lot of powder at once, perfect for business owners using powdered herbs in their products. It is also perfect for harder to grind material like roots and stems! This method tends to create a fine powder so be careful when taking off the lid, powdered herbs can be irritating if inhaled. I use a mask if I’m making a lot of powder at once, to protect my nose and lungs. 

How to

Just add a small amount of your plant to a blender, shut the lid and turn on. Usually only 30 seconds is needed so check every 30 seconds of blending until you get the consistency you want.

Drawbacks

• Hard to control the consistency of the powder

• Can be irritating on the lungs so wear a mask

Benefits

• You can make a large amount of powder at once

• Typically create a fine powder

• Easy to break up hard plant material

Coffee Grinder

This is my favorite way to make powdered herbs as it's fast, easy, and makes a small amount at a time. This way is perfect for DIY remedy making! I prefer this method because it has the benefits of the other two methods but I find it faster and more controllable. Using a coffee grinder is easy because it's semi-automatic, but also allows you to monitor the grinding to control the consistency more than a blender allows you to.

How to

To use a coffee grinder to make powdered herbs just add your plant material to the basin of the grinder, making sure to fill below the max level of the grinder. Then just affix the lid and grind! Monitor the grinding every couple of seconds until you achieve the consistency you are looking for.

Drawbacks

• Makes a pretty small amount at a time

Benefits

• Quick and easy

• Makes a small amount at a time, but easy to make several batches

Sifting to create a smooth powder

Sifting is Key to a Smooth Powder

The key to creating a high quality powder is to sift! Grinding is only half of making powdered herbs. After you have ground the herb with your preferred grinding method, pour the powder onto a sifter and sift. I use a standard kitchen sifter, but you can find finer or coarser sifters online or at your local restaurant supply store. When powderizing it's hard for all the plant matter to get completely ground up. When you sift the stems and unground material stays on the sifter while the finer powder is sifted through leaving a consistent powder. Once completely sifted I like to regrind what remains and repeat this process as many times as needed.

5 Ways to Use Powdered Herbs

Now that you know a few different ways to powderize your herbs, let's talk about what to do with the powder! My absolute favorite thing to use herbal powders for is in DIY face masks. They add such a luxurious scent and texture and add exfoliating properties too. You can also add them to your cooking or infuse them into your favorite teas and tinctures. The possibilities are truly endless! Keep reading to learn five uses for powdered herbs…

Strengthen Teas and Tinctures

Whenever I am using plant parts that need a little assistance in releasing the goodness within I always choose to grind them. This method is perfect for roots and harder plant matter to help release the medicinal compounds. I prefer to use powderized roots in tincture making as it assists the extraction making a more intense tincture. In general a bit of grinding is needed to enhance your macerations. Even when working with fresh herbs I like to smash them a bit in a mortar and pestle before adding them to my tincture.

Freshly ground chili powder

Enhance your Cooking

Fresh herb powder is definitely the answer when you want to create a flavorful and aromatic dish! They are way more flavorful than store bought powdered herbs in my experience. Most of the powdered herbs you find in the store were harvested over a year ago and therefore have lost some of their aromatic properties. By grinding your herbs fresh all of this goodness makes it way into your food, healing you from the inside out!

Homemade Incense

Whenever you are making incense at home it's important to use a finely ground powder. The finer the powder the more evenly they burn. It also makes it easier to blend in your other resins and essential oils if you are making stick incense. Lavender and sage powder are my go to for homemade incense sticks! 

Add to Baths

Add a little herbal magic to your self care routine by adding your powdered herbs to your bath water! My hands down favorite herbs to combine for a truly luxurious bath are oats and rose petals. By grinding the oats you release the emollient properties even more and create a truly divine bathing experience. A little trick for easy clean up is to use a mesh sock or panty hose to hold your powder so that it doesn't clog your drains or stick to the bath.

Oatmeal Lavender Bath Soak

• To a small bowl add a little bit of your favorite carrier oil

• Add a few drops of lavender essential to the carrier oil and mix

• To the oil add an eighth of a cup of epsom salts and mix together 

• Grind a quarter cup of oats into a fine powder and add to the bowl

• Grind a couple sprigs of lavender into a powder and add to the bowl, including the stems

• Mix thoroughly and pour into a stocking or mesh sock

• Tie the stocking tight and add to your bath. Once the epsom salts have dissolved you can use the stocking to exfoliate your skin!

Make a DIY Face Mask

Last but not least, using your powdered herbs to create a DIY face mask is one of my favorite self care activities. It allows you to create a unique experience every time, one you can't find in the store! 

Rose and Clay Face Mask

• Add a small amount of your favorite carrier oil

• Add 3 drops of your favorite essential oil that is safe for the skin (check out my post Essential Oils that are Safe for Skin for a few options)

• Mix the essential oil into the carrier oil

• Add 2 tablespoons of clay and mix into the oil

• Add 1 tablespoon of rose petal powder and mix

• Take a small amount of this face mask into your palm and add a few drops of water and mix. Keep adding water until you reach the desired consistency.

• Apply to the face and neck and allow to dry.

• Wash and enjoy your soft and supple skin!

Conclusions and Gratitude

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you learned something new! As always check out my blog for more tips and tricks like this one! Until next time…