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Herbalism is a practice I have become interested in over the last year. As a former healthcare worker, I will never deny the usefulness of modern medicine, and over the course of the last year, my own family has become very appreciative of the place it holds in healthcare. Even still, for common ailments, I’ll reach for herbs first. You can read more about why I love herbalism in my last post. But in today’s post, I dive into how I plan to build my apothecary over time and which herbs I plan to focus on first. If you’re interested in some of the resources I have used, I will have that information at the end of this post as well.
Where to Start on Your Own Apothecary
The first step to Building your apothecary is to decide which herbs you want to have on hand. Now, you don’t have to get them all at once, and I wouldn’t suggest it, either. Find a practical resource, find accessible, affordable herbs for your most pertinent needs, and start there.
You should also consider how you want to use them, keeping in mind what you are actually likely to do. For example, I know that I probably won’t drink a cup of tea every single day, so I will likely lean into tinctures for daily use herbs. If you like to drink tea, that is a great place to start and you may want to stick to that for now.
One final thing to consider is how much of an herb you may need on hand. Is this herb intended for daily use, bumps and bruises, or cold and flu season? The herbs you intend to use daily should be what you have the most of. If you want a small tincture to use infrequently, buy a small bag and see if you can share with a friend! This will help lessen the overwhelm of storing extra herbs.
Once you know what you plan to use, you’ll need to figure out where you might store all the herbs you want to buy. If you want to just have a few remedies on hand, it could be a corner of a cabinet. If you intend to make your own, make sure you consider storage for tools and extra containers.
A couple of years ago, when my husband first started in construction, we received a two-piece China hutch for free! I really didn’t need it at the time, but over time, I’ve been working on restoring it. It had a rough paint job, and it’s been a bigger project than I originally thought, but I have big plans for it to be our apothecary storage. Hopefully I’ll finish it soon and have a post about that process, but for now, you’ll just have to imagine.
Herbs I Already Have
- Nettle Leaf: Rich in Vitamins and minerals, especially iron and calcium. Excellent for support for allergies and respiratory issues.
- Hibiscus Flower: High in Vitamin C and Antioxidants along with many others. Adds a tart-sweet flavor to syrups and teas.
- Peppermint Leaf: Wonderful for soothing stomach aces and cramps. Can also be paired with many herbs to make them more palatable.
- Rose Hips: Higher in Vitamin C than almost any other herb, this is a great addition to any remedy for colds or just daily use.
- Mullein Garlic Oil: This is a premade remedy that I have purchased, but it can be made at home. It is used to soothe the effects of inflammation in the ear. Mullein is an expectorant, and garlic has anti-inflammatory properties.
Herbs I Plan to Buy
I won’t go through all of the properties of these now, as I will make individual posts as I purchase and use each herb, but here’s a list of what I plan to keep on hand for common ailments.
- Calendula
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Coltsfoot
- Dandelion Root
- Echinacea
- Elecampane
- Mullein leaf
- Hawthorn
- Lemon Balm
- Sage
- Wild Yam
- Yarrow
Over the course of this year, I plan to buy 1 or two herbs a month, make my remedies, and have them ready to use when needed.
My Favorite Resources
Medical Herbalism
David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG
The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion
Amy K. Fewell
Herbal Healing for Women
Rosemary Gladstar
Herbal Healing for Men
Rosemary Gladstar
Herbs for Common Ailments
Rosemary Gladstar
Thank you for visiting Headed for a Homestead Blog. I’m Rebekah, your creator and author since 2023. As a new blogger in this big space, I’m still learning the ropes, and just as excited as when I began. I hope you’ll take some time to look around and maybe find a recipe or project you’d like to try.
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Love this!! Very helpful and informative!!