Medicinal Herbs – The Modern Apothecary 

Have you ever stopped to consider the many benefits that herbs offer? I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about medicinal herbs.

I know…I’m weird that way.

Growing your own medicinal herbs makes a lot of sense. Especially for those of us who want to be less dependent on pharmacies.

Herbs offer so much more than just flavoring for a favorite food dish. They can help heal wounds, sooth a cough and stop bleeding. You should totally check out this post about the benefits of Lemon Basil Tea for bouts of depression. It definitely helped a certain young man in my family. Maybe it will help you or someone you know!

Herbs have been around since the beginning of time:

Today, we use herbs for the same reason as our ancestors. But now we know more about medicinal herbs and how they work. In fact, herbs are now used for everything from air fresheners to zits.

Did you see what I did there? It wouldn’t have had the same punch it I’d said “acne”!

Anyway, did you know that most herbs are also multitaskers? That means one plant can be used to treat numerous conditions. Not only that, they’re safe to use and have very few side affects. Many herbs have no side effects at all! This is the reason I chose to shop my herb garden for a solution to a young mans’ depression issue.

It’s common knowledge:

The majority of man-made drugs have some of the worst side effects!  I remember a time when my father was on several different types of medication. Sadly, half of them were to combat the side effects of the other medications! What a vicious cycle! I wanted to avoid that happening with this young man if at all possible!

Maybe you’ve toyed with the idea of growing herbs but are still on the fence. Maybe you’re not sure you can grow anything besides weeds. And with so many herbs to chose from, maybe you’re wondering where to start. Let me assure you that growing medicinal herbs is not difficult. Just to give you a little confidence boost, check out this post on the easiest herbs to grow! 

A Home Apothecary:

Apothecary is another word for an all-natural medicine chest. When adequately stocked, it will contain the things you need most to help alleviate illness or injury. All this without spending hundreds of dollars at the pharmacy.

Learn how easy and safe it is for you to create your own home apothecary. Also, learn the many reasons why you should!

Start with a list:

First, make a list of the most common illnesses or ailments that you and your family deal with in the course of a year. Do you suffer frequent headaches? Sore throats? Colds or flu? Muscle aches? Allergies? Skin rashes? Moodiness, sleeplessness or anxiety?

Oh, and don’t forget about common issues like sunburn in the summer and dry skin in the winter. If you find yourself regularly reaching for medical relief of any sort, write it down.

Next, make a list of herbs that can address the particular ailments you just listed. You’ll have to do your homework for this part. But an internet search will provide all the information you need.

After that, decide which herbs fit your requirements. Whittle your list down to just a few. Three to five herbs is a good place to start. You get extra points if you include herbs that are multitaskers.

Know your chosen herbs well:

Learn all you can about the herbs you’ve chosen. This is another reason it’s best to start with just a few. Can you imagine trying to learn everything about dozens of herbs! Knowing them well and knowing how they work will save you time, frustration and mishaps. It’s important that you know what you’re using, how much you can safely use and how often. Is this herb best used in a tea or tincture? Should it be applied to the skin or inhaled? How it is used is just as important as how much is used.

Once you’re comfortable with these few herbs, you can gradually add more to your home apothecary as needed.

Safety and patience is a must:

Start with small amounts until you know how you or your family will react.

In addition to learning about herbs, you also need to understand how each herb produces results. For example, take the Lemon Basil Tea mentioned earlier. It is very effective in reducing anxiety, depression and a simple case of the blues. However, you have to drink it a couple times a day before you feel its effects. Not all herbs will produce results at the same speed or in the same way.

Using a bigger or more frequent dose won’t help and should be avoided. If you’re using small doses over the course of a day or two and getting results, you’re doing well! I know many people who want the “instant cure”. They are the ones who will find more benefit from using pharmaceuticals than from herbs. Part of using a home apothecary is letting the herbs do their job. Please, be patient…your body will thank you in the long run!

Too much of a good thing is still bad for you:

Treat herbs the same as you would prescription medication, Don’t double the amount or increase the frequency in the hope of better or faster results. I’ve never heard of anyone over-dosing on chamomile tea. But hey, better safe than sorry!

Please, don’t let herbs scare you. Overall, they are very safe to use. They’re gentler on the body and have few, if any, side effects. Plus, they’re much more affordable than prescription medication and certainly easier to acquire. Can you say any of that about prescription medication?

 

Choose your herbs wisely:

Look for herbs that are easy to grow and do well in your area. If they’re pretty and provide food for butterflies and bees, that’s a plus. Sounds like a tall order but it really isn’t. Ultimately, you want herbs that provide the benefits you need based on your written list…that’s your priority. If you can’t or don’t want the hassle of growing herbs, you can always shop online. Frontier Co-op and Mountain Rose Herbs both have a great reputation for delivering quality herbs.

If you’re seriously considering a home apothecary but are still not sure where to start, take a look at my list below. These herbs were selected based on personal situations and experiences. Your situations and experiences will be different. Therefore, the herbs you choose will also be different. But this is a good starting point to get you going.

 

Calendula (Pot Marigold):

This is probably the biggest multitasker in the garden! Not only is it pretty to look at but it can be used at the table as well as in the medicine chest. The petals are edible and can be used in salads and soups.

The whole flower is at the top of my list for treating all kinds of skin conditions. In fact, you can usually find this ingredient listed in many commercial ointments, salves and creams. Use it on rashes, burns, dry skin and even for healing wounds.

Calendula is an annual which means it’s only good for one growing season. It can be grown from seed and prefers the sun. If you’re not inclined to sow new seeds every year, you might be better off purchasing it.

 

Echinacea (Purple Cone Flower):

Echinacea is probably the most popular and most recognizable of the healing flowers. It’s pretty to look at and the critters love it…the butterflies and bees, that is! You’ll want it for its immune system benefits. It’s easy to grow plus has the ability to resist bugs, drought and disease. Translated, that means it can survive in spite of being abused and neglected. It likes the sun and needs a place where it can grow tall and proud.

 

Basil:

Basil is another annual and an antimicrobial. The leaves are used to treat numerous conditions of the lung such as bronchitis, coughs and colds. It’s also been known to work on headaches, stress, anxiety, arthritis and diabetes. It likes the sun and somewhat moist soil. The flowers are pinched off to encourage leaf growth. Regular clippings will make the plant bushy and beautiful.

 

Lemon Balm (Melissa):

This is one of my favorite herbs! It can grow in just about any kind of soil. It doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer or attention. And it can grow in partial sun or full shade. If you have time and patience, you can grow it from seed…but it takes awhile. It’s easier to purchase the plant from a garden center.

I keep Lemon Balm just outside my front door. I love rubbing my hand over the leaves to smell its lemony fragrance. It also keeps the mosquitos away! This herb is great for insomnia and anxiety. And don’t get me started about the numerous ways it can be used in teas, potpourris, cooking and insect repellents!

A word of caution: people who are taking thyroid medication should talk to their doctor before using Lemon Balm.

Oregano:

Talk about a multitasker! Oregano is an antiviral, anti-fungal, antibiotic and is high in antioxidants! It’s generally used as a tincture or tea to treat digestive or skin issues. It doesn’t mind if you forget to water it. In fact, it should be allowed to dry out between watering. Take regular snips to keep it producing new leaves.

One final thought:

I am not a doctor or an expert of any sort. The information stated here is based on my own opinion, personal experience and research. It is not intended, nor should it be be taken, as professional advice. Always consult your doctor before adding any herbs or supplements to your daily routine.

Now, I’m going to jump on my soap box for a minute. Just because a doctor doesn’t like the idea of herb therapy doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. Many doctors are now seeing the benefits of herbal application more than they have in the past! But some doctors…not so much. Maybe they don’t know that much about herbs. Or maybe they’re more interested in the kickbacks from big pharma. It’s your life, your health, your body…you get the final say over what you put in it.

Let me be clear…I’m not saying to ignore your doctor’s advice or that their opinion isn’t important. But they should give you a good reason if they shoot down the use of herbs. My point is…don’t be afraid to ask! I feel very strongly that herbs can save the world…if only doctors would let them!

Okay…rant over.

There are so many sources of information available today. So don’t just take my word for anything you’ve read here. Do your homework, cross reference and double check the information you find. Not just on this site but others as well.

When your research is done, I know you will see the many benefits herbs can offer. If you have any questions about how to start your own home apothecary, shoot me an email. Or leave a comment below if you’ve had an experience with herbs that you’d like to share. I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

lisa

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