Monarda should be harvested while the flowers are in peak bloom, from July to August. The leaves and flowers can be prepared into tinctures, vinegars, honeys, oxymels, teas and steam inhalations from the fresh plant. It can be dried and stored for teas, which still retains a high concentration of volatile oils. Harvest about 2-3 nodes down from the flower head, right above a pair of opposite leaves that still look green and fresh. All mints will send up two new shoots when you pick the main stem of the plant. Harvesting right above the node ensures the plant can send up more shoots which will bear flowers and help provide essential food for bees and other pollinators. There is no need to pull up the entire plant since the roots are not used, and being a perennial herb careful harvesting ensures more seasons of harvesting to come. Due to the high volatile oil content of Monarda, care must be taken when drying to make sure all plant material is completely dry before you store it. Bundle in groups of 4-5 stalks, hang upside down in a cool room with airflow. You can also lay them single layer on a drying screen or rack and flip them occasionally. Check by breaking a stem after 2-3 weeks. The stem should snap and not bend and the leaves should crumble easily. Store in glass jars in a cool, dark place. The dried plant has a shelf life of up to two years if properly stored.

Preparation & Dosage

Tea/Infusion
With this plant a little bit goes a long way and teas tend to get quite spicy with even a small amount of Monarda. Start with 2 dried flower heads and some leaves. Crush and put in a 16 oz glass jar. Pour boiling water over, stir and cover with a tight fitting lid. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink warm. It is especially important to serve the tea hot for its diaphoretic effects and when treating fever and chest congestion.
 
Tincture

Fresh or dried plant, take 10-30 drops added to a little water, 1-4 times per day.

Steam inhalation
This method is very helpful in lung congestion and coughing. Can be done 3 times a day until improvement is seen. Fill a stock pot 1/3 full of water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add 4-5 dried Monarda flower heads and a handful of leaves, stir and cover. Let it sit for 10 minutes. With caution, set the stock pot on a towel on a low table. Sit so that your head is above the top of the pot. Cover yourself and the stock pot with a blanket or sheet to form a tent. Carefully and slowly, using on oven mitt, open the lid a small crack and let some steam out. Do this very slowly and carefully because the steam will be very hot and can hurt your face. You just want to release enough steam to make it warm and misty under the covers. Close your eyes and inhale deeply into your lungs through your mouth. If it gets too spicy, cover the pot, and come out from under the covers and take a break. Try to inhale the steam for at least 5 minutes, or as long as you can tolerate.
 
Honey infused
Pick fresh Monarda. Shake gently to oust any bugs. Let sit in the shade for 10-15 minutes to wilt. Chop coarsely with a sharp knife. Add plant material to a mason jar. Fill the jar 2/3 full. Pour good quality local honey over the chopped plant until it is completely submerged. Stir the honey and plant to ensure all of the plant material is well coated. Push all plant bits down under the honey and cover well. Keep in a warm place to infuse for about 4-6 weeks. Or if you need this remedy sooner, you can use a warm water bath to speed up the infusion process. To do this take the lid off the jar of Monarda infused honey and place the jar in a pot with water on the stove (like a double boiler). Make sure the water line is well below the top of the jar to avoid getting water into the honey. Heat on low to medium heat for about 6 hours. Water should be hot and steaming but not boiling, and you will need to replace water as it evaporates. You can also use a crock pot to do this. Place the open jar in water in the crock pot and put it on high until the water gets warm and then put on low. Let steep for 6-8 hours. Once the honey is done, strain well and keep in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dark place. Taken internally Monarda syrup is a wonderful sore throat remedy. You can also mix it in hot water and drink for coughs and congestion. Externally it can be a fabulous treatment for burns and wounds.