The chemical constituents and consequently, the therapeutic properties of the plants are affected for the exact moment in which they are picked up.

Preferentially, they should harvest in a dry day and only when they have reached their maximum of maturity, this is determined for the blooming. In this stage is when the concentration of active principles is the more high.

The collected plants should dry off quickly, looking that the solar intense light doesn't give them directly, this is of the utmost importance in order to avoid the loss for volatilization of the aromatic ingredients and prevent the oxidation of other compound very sensitive to the action of the light and the heat.

In order to assure a good circulation of the air, they stay in a dry place, warm and well ventilated, on one layer of periodic paper, could cover with another layer of the same paper.

Never use the garage in order to dry plants, they are been going to contaminate with the smoke of you car.

The plants could dry off completely in seven days; the more delay increases the probabilities that the plant looses its colours and their therapeutic distinctive characteristics.

The good temperatures of drying are between the 20 32º C.

Once dried the herbs should keep in glass recipients very clean and dry, of preference of colour dark blue, green or amber, very close and far from the solar direct light. It could also be used ceramic recipients or cooked clay, but never use plastic.

Never store the humid herbs because of sure they are been going to mould.

Once kept the plants should label them specifying their common name, scientific name, variety, origin and date of gathering and drying. Most of the plants so stored they are conserved between 12 and 18 months in perfect conditions of quality.

Flowers: They are picked up once the dew of the morning has evaporated, when they are totally open.

They should manipulate carefully. They separate from the shafts and they dry off whole on a tray. The small flowers are as if they are seeds. It is necessary to gather them before dehydrate totally.

If the shaft is long or fleshy, like in the common gordolobo, the flowers of an in an are pulled up and dry off for separating on periodic paper.

In the particular case of the calendulas, in order to dry off, they separate the petals and they stay discarding the central part of the flower.

Airy parts and seeds: The big leaves could pick up and dry off individually.

It is better leave those of minor size, like those of Melissa in the shaft.

The leaves of the plants expire are picked up immediately before the blooming and the plants of perennial leaf, like the Romero, they could gather during all year.

When all the air parts are used should pick up in full bloom, with what is obtained a mixture of leaf shafts flowers and seeds.

For the seeds the complete apexes with 15-20 centimetres of shaft are picked up once the seeds are practically mature, before they have been dispersed for the wind. They are hung head below on a lined tray or inside a bag of paper, far from the solar direct light; the seeds will come off once mature.

Roots: They most of the roots are picked up in autumn when the air parts of the plant have died. An exception is the tooth of lion, whose root should pick up in spring.

Some roots reabsorb the humidity of the air, for what they should discard if they are softened.

Wash the root in order to eliminate the earth and the filth. The big roots are cut in small pieces when they are still fresh. The pieces of root extend on a tray covered with paper and dry off for 2-3 hours (4-6 hours for big roots). they are transferred next to the room of drying in order to complete the process.

Sap and resin: They are picked up of the tree in autumn when the sap descends, practising a deep incision in the bark or making you a hole and picking up the sap in a recipient tied to the tree.

The sap of the plant lactiferous, like the wild lettuce and the greater celandine, are squeezed on a bowl. Many saps could be corrosive, for what they should use protective gloves.

In the case of the aloe, longitudinally opens up the leaf for the centre and they separate the borders.

Using the border of a knife take the gel of the leaf.

Fruit: The berries and other fruits are picked up upon maturing, before soften too and they extend in trays in order to dry them. The fleshy fruits should turn frequently in order to guarantee a homogeneous drying. It is necessary to discard those that they present signs of mushrooms.

Bark: Are picked up in autumn in order to minimise the damages to the plant. Should never pick up the whole bark, neither a fringe of bark that surrounds completely to the tree, unless you want to sacrifice the plant.

Shake and clean the bark in order to eliminate the moss and the insects, without wetting it excessively with water. Leave in pieces of 2 square centimetres and extend on the lined tray in order to dry.

Bulbs: they are picked up once dead the air parts, except for those of the garlic, that they should pick up before the blooming.