After Brewing 8 days, Remove the Kombucha Mushrooms and strain into a mason jar. Add one Herbal T-Bag  or our special herbal extract to your strained brew. Stand “the Elixir” in a window sill or some place warm for 1-2 days. Strain again, re-bottle and keep refrigerated.   Drink 8 ounces daily for one week.  (see below for recipes)

Be careful of mold forming …  These home tinctures are meant for immediate use - as you need them. Discard unused portion after one week.

By itself Kombucha Brew or Tea  is a nice healthy drink. A little like apple-cider. There are literally hundreds of claims made everyday. However since each brew is individual and dependant upon a great many factors your results will vary. Most common claims are Increased Energy, Weight Loss or Gain,  Better Sleep,  Body Building Benefits, Reduced Stress, Relaxation and a general feeling of well being … Remember your results will vary... 

The Happy Herbalist will freshly powder herbs of your choice or you may select from the combinations below.  see also Our Herbal Recommendations..

When considering comments regarding herbal products one must understand that the more more common frame of reference is "European" and not traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM) or India’s Ayduverdic herbal medicine.  The use of herbs and most importantly their diagnosis of presenting conditions are all very different. Importantly these schools "diagnosis" are very different than a "western MD diagnosis". One must be clear on the language and the intent.

My own special interest is twofold. 1. Self-reliance - or family (folk) medicine. and  2. Kombucha (as a daily health drink) and the combination of natural herbs (grown and harvested ourselves where possible) to treat specific indications as they appear.

Common to all peoples are fermented products.  Developed in all parts of the world to utilize foods from a time of plenty (harvest) to a time of shortage (winter) as were "dried" and other stored foods such as kombucha, sauerkraut, cheese, pickles, soy, kefir, tofu, etc.

TCM developed pills or "wan"  some 2,000 years ago to " extend the shelf life" of herbal formulas. Most of these are honey coated powdered herbs. TCM also produces "drafts" - powdered herbs that mixed with a liquid such as water, vinegar, wine or alcohol. There are also TCM Medicinal Wines and Vinegars that preserved herbal formulas. As well as the use of stored dried herbs that are mixed fresh and formed into unique individual TCM prescription.

Harald Tietze's and others  points out that "scientifically" totally different results (after 14 days of fermentation with black tea) are achieved compared with results from brewing kombucha with herbal teas.

This is consistent with TCM and popular opinion.   That is - if one brews Kombucha using different "herbal" teas different results will be achieved. The benefit of which is unknown.

What I suggest, follows TCM, is that "medicinal herbs" prescribed for a specific individual (not a broad category of disease) be added after the Kombucha (brewed with normal Black Tea) has "aged" 14 days or longer.

The longer brewing time is mandatory to complete the sugar conversion and reduce the pH as low as possible.

Any herbs that work within the TCM function of a vinegar: warming, breaks up stagnated Blood and Qi, increases circulation, may be added and their affects better understood and anticipated.

How to Add Herbs to Your Brew

Home Made Kombucha Herbal Vinegar

1. freshly powder, cut up or break into small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs will depend upon presentation

2. Place the Kombucha Vinegar and herbs in a pint or quart mason jar with lid. Better results are possible following typical canning procedure but are not necessary.

3. Place in direct sunlight for 2 days

4. Strain and drink.

note: if you begin Saturday morning, Sunday would be the 2nd sunlight and Sunday at dusk would be the first dose. For chronic conditions allow an additional sunlight day.

You may also use as a wash, bath or foot soak. 

As a rule; For acute conditions take 1/2 cup that evening and again just prior to bedtime, finishing the next day in 2 or 3 dosages. For chronic conditions take smaller doses over a longer period of time.

NOTES: Because of the possibility of spoilage 

1). keep refrigerated and warm the dose prior to ingestion. and 

2). Do not use after 2 weeks from the first brewing date. 

3). White distilled vinegar may be added as a preservative (correct ratios must be observed) 

4). Over 20% alcohol (per volume) becomes destructive to the friendly Kombucha, as well as is treated as a different TCM mythology: Alcohol is HOT as vinegar is WARM and does not break up stasis as vinegar does.           

5). Use Happy Herbalist's Pure Distilled Kombucha as a preservative. Our pure distilled kombucha contains all the water-soluble nutrients of regular Kombucha Tea except of course the live nutrients. 

Kombucha Medicinal Draft

1. freshly powder, cut up or break into small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs will depend upon presentation

2. Take a "drinkable" amount of Kombucha Herbal, add warm water if necessary and then add the proper amount of powdered herbs.

 Kombucha Herbal Tea

1. used for more palatable medicinal herbs like peppermints, ginger, ginsengs.

2. freshly powder, cut up or break into small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs will depend upon presentation. Place in a Tea Bag or tea strainer

3. Use as you would a tea bag.

note: you may use your normal Kombucha brew as well, however TCM patterns may be adversely affected by the "sweet taste" which (in oversimplified terms) works opposite to the vinegar energy.

 see below for some herbs that work well with kombucha  

When Considering Which herbs to Add

Teas high in oils (volatile may destroy the kombucha culture. The oil may suffocate the kombucha by cutting off the oxygen supply They should not be used alone. I recommend you add these tea AFTER brewing (see: last page inside cover or online see: brewing medicinal herbs www.happyherbalist.com/kombucha_herbs.htm )

When experimenting KEEP A BACKUP of at least one pure kombucha

Mixing medicinal herbal teas with common black tea in brewing can amplify each other or create a completely new synergistic response or make each other worthless. Adding medicinal herbs AFTER brewing results in a more predicable results

KOMBUCHA and MEDICINAL HERBAL TEAS recommended to be brewed with Kombucha. Excerpted from Harald W. Tietz “Kombucha The Miracle Fungus “ and “ Kombucha Tealogogy Over 1001 ways to Brew Kombucha for Best Flavor and Maximum Healing” . We stock “Kombucha The Miracle Fungus “ only $9.95

General Rules: The amount of herbal tea used, should be twice that of common tea, i.e. approximately 10 grams per litre. (A heaped teaspoon of leaves is approximately 5 grams.) The first number in brackets represents the amount of herb and the /second number indicates the amount, or ratio of common tea (black or green tea) to be used. For example Cayenne is listed as (1/5) therefore one would use One Part (or teaspoon) of Cayenne to Five parts (or teaspoons) to Black tea.

stimulate, strengthens circulatory and cardio muscular system. (1/5)

digestive disorders, rheumatism and gout. (1/3)

Research shows that Kombucha fermented common tea showed the best results in herbal treatment of arthritis. Other teas: Golden Rod, Hyssop, Polar

Essiac, a mixture of Burdock root arctium lappa, Rhubarb root rheum palmatum Sheep Sorrel rumex acetosa and Slippery Elm ulmus fulva, became very popular in the last few years in cancer self Treatment Paw Paw Leaf powder (Carica Paypaya)

Some women reported that they have started menstruating regularly since they started drinking Kombucha even when they had no menstruation for up to eight years. Other women reported that early in their menopause they menstruate regularly after using Kombucha.

Mixture MA: Hawthorn 1, Melissa 2, Orange Flowers 1, St. John's Wort 1, Dandelion 2, Sage 1, Yarrow 2

Mixture MB: Peppermint 1, Melissa 2, Hops 1, Valerian 1, Hawthorn 2, Yarrow 2, Mistletoe 1, Senna 1, Chamomile 1

For women suffering headaches at the same time

Mixture J: Green tea 2, Melissa 2, Hops 2, Peppermint 2, Hawthorn 2, Yarrow 2, Mistletoe 1, Senna 1, Chamomile 1

If you have a disease it is very important to have a correct diagnosis. Medicinal herbs may overwrite symptoms. For example if blood in the stool is treated with oak bark, (a western herb) or San Qi (a Chinese herb) bleeding may stop but a possible cancer growth may continue to develop and early detection (when looking for the cause of the bleeding) may be delayed.  A Confidential TCM pre-diagnosis  by Ed Kasper L.Ac., acupuncturist and herbalist. offers a Free Online Pre-Diagnosis   A California licensed primary health care provider. TCM Diagnosis follows established protocols established under California law.  Our office is located at 417 Laurent St. Santa Cruz, CA. 95060 and appointments are available via email  eddy@HappyHerbalist.com