Kloss's Liniment

My collection of vintage Liniment Bottles from times long ago.  I collect these sort of antiques.

 I often get asked for suggestions on where to start learning about plant medicine.  Of the several books I suggest, Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health is usually the one I mention first.  All of my fellow herbalist friends agree that Rosemary Gladstar is the mother of modern herbalism.  Before I started in the Professional Herbalist Course with East West School of Planetary Herbology, I knew of and appreciated the herbal wisdom of Rosemary Gladstar.  I am giving one lucky Reader a brand-new copy of this book at the end of this post.

You can order this book from Mountain Rose Herbs.

One of the recipes in her book is for Kloss's Liniment.  According to Rosemary, This is a very old, very strong recipe, and it's one of the finest disinfectant remedies you'll ever have on hand. First concocted by that famous old herbalist Dr. Jethro Kloss, this liniment is useful for reducing inflammation of the muscles, cleansing wounds, and soothing insect bites.  I am going to show you how to make this recipe using herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Get all the powdered herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Kloss's Liniment
1 ounce echinacea powder
1/4 ounce organically grown goldenseal powder
3/4 ounce Oregon grape root powder
1 ounce myrrh powder
1/4 ounce cayenne powder
1 pint rubbing alcohol

The original recipe calls for 1 ounce of goldenseal powder, but you should be aware that goldenseal is in serious danger due to overharvesting.  Wild goldenseal is now so rare that the herb is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Goldenseal is one of the most overharvested herbs. More than 60 million goldenseal plants are picked each year without being replaced.  This is why I choose to only add in 1/4 ounce of goldenseal and add in 3/4 ounce of Oregon grape root which is another berberine-containing plant and is a useful and viable alternative to goldenseal. 

Add all the powdered herbs into a glass jar and cover with 1 pint of rubbing alcohol. Stir well to moisten the herbs with alcohol and remove any air bubbles.

Since this recipe uses rubbing alcohol, you will need to clearly label this for EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

Cover the jar with a tight fitting lid and let it sit for 4 weeks (shake it daily).  After 4 weeks, strain and rebottle. 


This information is for educational purposes only, it is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or, diagnose any disease or condition. Nor is it intended to prescribe in any way. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be complete, nor may its data be accurate. As with all herbs,  Do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children.  I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs,please review my disclosure page for details.. Avoid use  unless discussed with your physician. This information is for educational purposes only.  This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Green Blessings!!!