So keep a recipe file of all your products in your favorite format, whether on cards, in a medicine-making journal, or in a database. Record not only the ingredients but also the mode of preparation, including the dates of when you started making it, strained it, finished it, and so on, along with any notes that might be important: for example, the type of oil you used, whether you solarinfused it or cooked it on the stove, the ratio of herb to liquid. If you happen to make a remarkable herbal remedy that your friends rave about, it would be nice if you could re-create it, and that’s what your notebook will help you do. It’s especially delightful for grandchildren and younger generations to discover. That’s not why we keep records, of course, but there’s a sweet bit of satisfaction in knowing that this is how most of our information about herbalism has been passed down for generations, and now you’re part of that thread.