Question about a Damiana Recipe in Magical & Ritual Use of Herbs
Answered by: Richard Alan Miller
Question from: Bob Daugherty ND, MBA
Posted on: March 24, 2007

I am a huge fan of yours and have all your books and have read most of your articles. I am sure you probably are very busy so I will ask my question quickly. In the "Magical & Ritual Use of Herbs" you give a recipe for a damiana elixir which I want to try.

The question I have is it says to use one ounce of damiana to 1 pint of vodka and I am not sure if the ounce measurement in the recipe is by weight or by volume? I have an ounce by weight of damiana and wow is it ever a lot, a pint of vodka won’t hardly saturate it completely so I am wondering if I should use an "ounce by volume" of damiana instead for the recipe?

I sure appreciate your reply and even more so appreciate the wonderful work you have done and are doing for everyone.

Solid material, like herbs and spices in a ground form are always measured by weight. Liquids, like water and alcohol are always measured by volume. The specific gravity of each determines the "size" or volume-weight equivalent. One gallon of water is equal to 7 pounds, but that will vary with other liquids.

Using more solids with liquid offers a better level of solution of the target chemistries. In this case, damiana has many different qualities, so you should use your own judgment on how to vary the ratios. A cordial is a stronger flavored liquor. The formula offered should give you what you seek in both action and flavor.

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