DIY & Capsule Creation

Home herbalists use empty capsules to encapsulate their own dried herb powders, giving them full control over every ingredient in their daily wellness routine. This approach eliminates the reliance on pre-made supplements packed with fillers, binders, and additives that are often listed in small print at the bottom of a label. 

If you work with bulk dried herbs and want a cleaner, more personalized option, making your own herbal capsules is a practical skill worth learning. Our full guide to making your own supplements covers the broader process in detail.

Why Do Home Herbalists Make Their Own Herbal Capsules?

Home herbalists produce their own capsules mainly in order to have control over the ingredients, to personalise the supplements, and to save money. Commercial supplements usually contain fillers, anti-caking agents, and colouring agents which are included for the sake of manufacturing rather than for the benefit of the final user. 

If you make your own capsules from dried herbs, the capsule will contain only those ingredients that you decide to put in it.

Common reasons home herbalists choose DIY encapsulation:

• Personalized blends: combine herbs in ratios suited to your specific needs rather than buying separate products.
  
• Dose flexibility: adjust the amount of herb per capsule based on your own research and healthcare guidance.
  
• Cost efficiency: bulk dried herbs cost significantly less per dose than branded capsules.
  
• Freshness control: grind and encapsulate only what you need, preserving potency rather than working through a pre-filled bottle over many months.

What's Actually Contained in an Ordinary Supplement Capsule?

Commercial herbal capsules often contain inactive ingredients alongside the herb itself: magnesium stearate (a flow agent), silicon dioxide (an anti-caking agent), microcrystalline cellulose (a filler), and in some cases titanium dioxide, a whitening agent used in certain capsule shells. Understanding what capsules are actually made of helps you make an informed choice about what you are willing to include in your routine.

For herbalists focused on a clean-label approach, titanium dioxide-free capsules remove one common concern about the capsule shell itself, keeping the shell as minimal as the herb inside.

How can you make herbal capsules at home?

To make herbal capsules at home you need only some dried herbs, a grinder, empty capsules, and if you wish a filling tray. Although the technique is explained in full in our guide on filling capsules with powder, the basic steps are simple:

1. Make certain that you completely dry your herbs since any moisture will cause mold to form and will reduce the potency of the sealed capsules.
2. Reduce it to a fine and even powder by using a coffee grinder, a spice grinder, or a mortar and pestle.
3. Select the appropriate capsule size and material (refer to the sections below).
4. Put the capsule bodies into a filling tray, scoop the powder into each one and then firmly press on the caps.
5. Store the finished capsules right away in a sealed, airtight container, more on how to do this properly below.

Before using any herb, it is necessary to carry out thorough research and seek advice from a healthcare professional, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any medication.

What Size Capsule Should You Use for Herbs?

Capsule size determines how much powdered herb fits per dose. For most dried herb powders, sizes 0 and 00 are the most practical starting points. Size 000 suits bulkier or lower-density herb powders where a larger volume is needed per dose. The empty capsule size chart provides full fill-weight specifications across all sizes.

What capsule material is best for herbs?

HPMC capsules are of plant origin, contain no animal products, and are suitable with most powdered dried herbs, including those that are sensitive to moisture. As is explained in the article concerning HPMC vegetable capsules, HPMC differs from gelatin in the way it behaves under different humidity and temperature conditions, a factor that is important when storing capsules in a warm kitchen or in a humid climate.

Gelatin capsules are derived from bovine and/or porcine sources and dissolve slightly more quickly in the stomach, a feature that is preferred by some formulators when dealing with certain herbs.

Pullulan capsules represent a high-end plant-based choice and have a very low moisture content, making them suitable for herbs or herbal extracts that are sensitive to oxidation.

Capsuline offers all three capsule types, HPMC, gelatin, and pullulan, in bags of 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 units, as well as in bulk boxes for larger batches. Whether you've settled on a plant-based option or prefer the faster-dissolving profile of gelatin, this range of pack sizes means you can order exactly the quantity you plan to use without overbuying.

What is the correct way to store homemade herbal capsules?

Store filled capsules in a sealed container at room temperature, away from light, heat, and humidity. High humidity softens gelatin capsules and makes them stick together; low humidity makes them brittle. HPMC capsules tolerate a wider humidity range, making them more forgiving for home storage.

Properly stored, most homemade capsules stay stable for three to six months — though shelf life depends on the herb and how freshly it was ground. For volatile herbs, grind in small batches and encapsulate immediately to preserve potency.

Getting Started with Your Own Herbal Capsules

Encapsulating your own herbs isn't complicated. It comes down to choosing the right size, picking a capsule material that fits your routine, and storing your finished capsules properly. Once you've made a batch or two, the process becomes second nature, and the payoff is a supplement you actually trust: no unlisted fillers, no guesswork about what's inside.

Ready to fill your first batch? Browse empty capsules by size and material to find the right fit for your herbs.