Your Apothecary Starter Kit: Discover the Magic of DIY Herbal Remedies
Hello again friends of the plants! Embarking on the journey of herbalism is a rewarding and enriching experience. Creating your own apothecary kit is the perfect way to start. Whether you're interested in natural remedies for personal use or looking to expand your knowledge, building an apothecary kit allows you to have essential herbs and tools at your fingertips. Let's explore how to create your own kit, including the necessary tools and a dozen common herbs, their properties, and uses.
Essential Tools for Your Apothecary Kit
Before diving into the world of herbs, it's important to gather some essential tools. These will help you properly prepare and store your herbal remedies.
Glass Bottles and Jars
Use: Store tinctures, oils, and salves. Amber or cobalt colored glass is light protective, non-reactive, ensuring your preparations remain potent and safe.
Mortar and Pestle
Use: Grind herbs to release their beneficial properties.
Strainer and Cheesecloth
Use: Strain herbs from your infusions, tinctures, and oils.
Measuring Spoons
Use: Ensure accurate measurements for your herbal concoctions.
Dropper Bottles
Use: Dispense tinctures, oils and liquid extracts easily.
Digital Scale
Use: For precise measurements, especially useful for large batches or formulating recipes.
Dehydrator
Use: Dry herbs quickly and efficiently to retain their potency.
Distiller
Use: Make hydrosols and essential oils. A small copper still can be a great investment.
A Dozen Common Herbs, Their Properties, and Uses
Having a variety of herbs in your apothecary kit is essential for addressing a range of health and wellness needs. Here are twelve common herbs to include, along with their properties and uses.
1. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Properties: Calming, anti-inflammatory, digestive aid.
Uses: Chamomile tea is excellent for relaxation and easing digestive issues. It can also be used as a gentle anti-inflammatory skin wash. Infusing in oil along with rose and lavender makes a soothing balm. The hydrosol can be used in an eye wash, nasal rinse, enema and douche.
2. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Properties: Relaxing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.
Uses: Lavender can be used in teas, tinctures, or infused oils to help with anxiety, insomnia, and skin irritations. Distilling lavender creates a potent relaxing spray. Infusing lavender in honey and drizzling on a scone makes you feel fancy!
3. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
Properties: Digestive aid, cooling, anti-nausea.
Uses: Peppermint tea eases digestive issues and nausea. It's also great in balms for its cooling effect. Make an infused oil then turn it into a foot balm and use the spent herb in a sugar foot scrub. Distilling peppermint makes a refreshing body spritz for sun kissed skin.
4. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Properties: Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, healing.
Uses: Calendula-infused oil is perfect for soothing cuts, scrapes, and rashes. Using calendula for tincturing makes for a potent internal anti inflammatory for digestive complaints and is useful for acne, boils and skin issues.
5. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Properties: Immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory.
Uses: Echinacea tinctures and teas help boost the immune system, especially during cold and flu season. Echinacea tea can be used as a potent gargle for sore throats.
6. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Properties: Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, digestive aid.
Uses: Lemongrass is excellent in teas for digestion and as a base for bug repellents. Distilled into a hydrosol makes for a refreshing and enlivening spritz for headaches, drowsiness and mental fog. Infuse in olive oil to create a headache balm.
7. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, anti-nausea.
Uses: Ginger tea helps with nausea and digestion. It's also great in salves for its warming and anti-inflammatory properties. Powdered ginger also makes a great poultice for sore muscle and achy joints. Mix the powder with a little warm water, some ground flax seed and bentonite clay. Spread a thick layer on the affected area and cover. Leave on overnight if possible. Or steep in rubbing alcohol with black peppercorn and cayenne for an herbal liniment.
8. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.
Uses: Turmeric can be used in teas, tinctures, or salves to reduce inflammation and boost overall health. Don’t forget to use turmeric as a culinary spice too. It’s great in all spice blends from seasoning salts and dressings to roasted veggies and cold potato salad.
9. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Properties: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, cognitive booster.
Uses: Rosemary can be used in teas or as an infused oil to enhance memory, creativity and focus. It also makes an amazing hydrosol and can be used as a hair and scalp conditioner.
10. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Properties: Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory.
Uses: Thyme tea is great for respiratory issues and can be used as a gargle for sore throats.
11. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Properties: Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cognitive enhancer.
Uses: Sage is often used in teas or as a gargle for sore throats and can help boost memory. Sage hydrosol is useful as a mouth rinse for gingivitis or mouth infections.
12. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Properties: Calming, antiviral, digestive aid.
Uses: Lemon balm tea is wonderful for reducing anxiety and improving digestion. It can also be used in salves for its powerful antiviral properties. Tinctures are a potent and discreet way to take lemon balm and can be used internally as well as externally on viral flareups.
Anecdotes from My Herbal Journey
Starting your own herbal apothecary is more than just gathering herbs and tools; it's about connecting with nature and experiencing the joy of creating your own remedies. Four years ago, I decided to quit drinking and started cultivating my own medicinal herb garden. Today, with over 35 different herbs, my garden is a sanctuary of healing and wellness.
One of my favorite experiences is harvesting chamomile on a sunny afternoon, its sweet scent filling the air. Knowing that these blossoms would soon become a soothing tea for a peaceful night's sleep is incredibly rewarding. Another cherished memory is making a salve with calendula from my garden. Transforming those bright, cheerful flowers into a healing balm for my family's cuts and scrapes was a profound and fulfilling experience. So much so that I’ve not bough an OTC body care product in 4 years!
Embrace the Herbal Lifestyle
Starting your own apothecary kit is more than just a hobby; it's a step towards a more natural, self-sufficient lifestyle. By building your own kit, you have the foundation to create remedies tailored to your unique needs. Embrace the joy of crafting your own herbal preparations and experience the magic of nature’s medicine.
Conclusion
With the right tools and a selection of versatile herbs, you can begin your journey into the world of herbalism. Building your own apothecary kit allows you to explore, create, and connect with the healing power of nature. Whether you're calming an upset stomach with peppermint tea, soothing inflamed skin with calendula salve, or simply enjoying the process of making your own remedies, your herbal apothecary will guide you every step of the way.
If you want to dive into the world of herbs for wellness and first aid, but feel intimidated by the huge amount of information out there, join me for my live Zoom class, Introduction to Herbal Wellness & First Aid. This is a 2 hour, information packed class and Q&A session designed to give herb enthusiast the confidence to begin their journey safely. Well dive into common herbs, their benefits and uses, common ailments and how to treat them, and different preparation methods. There’s is also a bonus E-book on herbs, cultivation and remedy making as well as tutorials to assist you on your herbal journey. You can find out more here…
Happy remedy crafting!
Deidra of the High Moon
