In order one plant to has useful and curing effect, when it is applied, it has to be picked at the right time: when the ingrediants that it effects with are in the greatest amount. This time is not the same for all the herbs. Even You should know the right time when specific parts of the herb should be picked. It is proven that basil oil that is concentrated in its leaves, moves eventually into the bossoms. That's why, during the growing period, You would find it less in the green parts of the plant.
Parts of the herb that are located above the ground (bud, leaves, blossoms) should be picked by dry and sunny weather or after dew, but never when it is raining. You should pick healthy plants from clean places, far away from dusty roads. While picking You need to have secateurs or scissor. If You do it by your hands, You must be careful - blossom or leave must not be mashed. You would also need something where You will put your picked gerbs - it is recomended to be basket of twigs for example, or carton box.
Proper time for taking the roots out from plants that live one year, is before they blossom. Fall is the best perid when You should take the root out from plants that live two years. And there is rule for longstanding plants: if those plants are not at least two or three years old, do not take the root out. Because after two or three years their ingredients become efficient. As soon as You can see the products, You can start working on the roots. Products can be seen by the end of the summer , but for the others it could be later.
Cortex is ripped off from roots, trees and branches. Root cortex usually has more useful cure ingredients. Tree (plant) that you rip the cortex off should be in its middle age. Ripping the cortex off should be done in the spring, before the plant gets blossoms or in the fall before the leaves falls down.
You should pick the branches that are 2 - 3 years old, cut them off and rip the cortex off of them with stainless steal knife.
Very often, tree part of the plant is used - this is what you get after you rip the cortes off from roots, trees or branches. The example of this is the juniper tree. It has useful ingredients and that's why it is used in some tea mixtures.