Want to create a home herbal apothecary for holistic health and wellness? We are breaking down the top 10 must have herbs a herbalist and integrative dietitian swears by for your home herbal apothecary.
If you have dreams of dabbling in herbalism, or just love the idea of learning more about plants and the many holistic ways that they can support our health then creating your own herbal home apothecary may be just for you. Personally, I could spend all day wandering tea shops and apothecaries, taking in the magical scents, and dreaming up new herbal skincare products and tea blends. There is something very creative and intuitive about working with herbs, which is probably what guided me towards practicing home herbalism in the first place. The more you learn, the more you realize how many healing plants surround our daily lives, and how connected we truly are with nature.
For these reasons, having a home herbal apothecary is such a wonderful way to support your and your family’s holistic health while also connecting more deeply with all the incredible plants that naturally have been used for centuries to support optimal well-being. But when you first decide to dive into creating a home herbal apothecary of your own it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin, which is why we are covering 10 incredible herbs that are multi-purpose and a great place to get started with.
HERBAL ACTIONS TO THINK ABOUT IN YOUR HOME HERBAL APOTHECARY
When you first start to think about creating your home herbal apothecary, it’s important to consider the many different actions that herbs take and how they can be used to support your health. While there are many different herbal actions to consider, here are a few that I personally like to start with for beginners looking to incorporate more herbs into their home wellness routine.
ADAPTOGENS (HELP THE BODY MANAGE STRESS)
IMMUNE MODULATING (SUPPORT IMMUNE HEALTH)
CARMINATIVE (SOOTHES UPSET DIGESTION)
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY (HELPS TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION)
ANTI-MICROBIAL (HELPS TO COMBAT POTENTIALLY HARMFUL MICROBES)
NUTRITIVE (SUPPORT GENERAL WELL-BEING)
HOW TO STORE YOUR HERBS
There are many different ways that you can store your herbs for your home herbal apothecary, and a lot of that will depend on your space and what you envision for your apothecary. If you have the space, you can choose to dedicate a specific corner or part of your home to your herbal apothecary, or if you are tight on space a simple shelf in a cabinet will do just fine.
Be as creative as you like when it comes to designing the space that will house your home herbal apothecary, but keep the following in mind when it comes to storing your dried herbs, tinctures, and other products.
Keep Out Of Direct Sunlight: Your herbs and tinctures really should be kept out of direct sunlight as sunlight over time will begin to affect the properties in your herbs and will cause them to breakdown more quickly.
Store At Room Temperature: You don’t want your herbal apothecary to be in too cold or too hot of a location in your home. Ideally, choose a place that stays pretty consistent all year round, which will help improve the longevity of your herbs and herbal preparations.
Keep In Airtight Containers: You don’t want any moisture coming in contact with your herbs or they will run the risk of growing mold, which is never something you want in your herbal preparations.
Choose Glass: While you could choose to store your herbs in plastic I wouldn’t recommend it. Plastic containers have been shown to leech chemicals into food, which is why anything you are going to ingest or rub on your skin I recommend storing in glass. Not to mention it’s much better for the environment.
10 MUST HAVE HERBS FOR YOUR HOME HERBAL APOTHECARY
If you are looking to jumpstart your home herbal apothecary then you really can't go wrong with the following 10 herbs. All of these herbs are incredibly versatile and are ones that I find myself reaching for over and over again. So if you want to get a good foundation going for your home herbal apothecary then check out the following 10 herbs and start experimenting!
Peppermint is the ultimate soothing herb for calming carminative benefits that helps the digestive system relax and can calm digestive upset. Peppermint is also incredibly nutritive and contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals that makes it a great addition in culinary recipes as well.
Yarrow is the perfect herb to have in your "first aid kit" as it is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, which makes it helpful for disinfecting scrapes and healing wounds. It is also an excellent herbal ally for cold and flu season given its anti-inflammatory properties that can help support immune health.
Slippery Elm Bark is an excellent herbal ally to have on hand for both external wound healing and for improving digestion for people who suffer from IBS and may experience both constipation and diarrhea.
Nettles are one of my favorite herbs to have on hand during allergy season as their anti-inflammatory actions can help improve seasonal allergies related symptoms. Nettles are also incredibly nutritive, which makes them an excellent herb for steeping for infusions to sip throughout the day to nourish the adrenals and kidneys.
Elderberry is a must have herb for cold and flu season thanks to its anti-viral actions, and is great to prepare into a syrup for easy dosing throughout the cold and flu season. Elderberry is also rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and flavanoids which makes it highly nutritive and excellent for supporting overall well-being.
Echinacea Root and Echinacea Purpurea Leaf: Another excellent herbal ally with immune modulating effects that is great to reach for during cold and flu season. Echinacea is also known as purple cone flower, which is commonly grown in gardens and is a beautiful flower to grow and then dry for your home herbal apothecary.
Astragalus Root Is an adaptogen and an immunomodulator, which means that it has the capacity to strengthen the immune system, improves the body's stress response, and helps the body's natural ability to maintain wellness.
Dandelion Root and Dandelion Leaf: Yes this weed that most likely you will see growing everywhere in early summer is an amazing herb to add to your home herbal apothecary. Dandelion is considered a bitter herb, which makes it an excellent herb for stimulating bile secretion and gastric enzymes, which helps to improve digestion and promote hormonal balance.
Holy Basil is a herb that has been used for centuries in Ayruvedic medicine and is an incredible adaptogen to add to your home herbal apothecary. Holy basil works to support healthy circulation in the body, while also uplifting and calming the mind, making it an excellent herb for those who lean through anxiety.
Raspberry Leaf is a nutritive herb that has been used for centuries to help support female hormonal health and wellness. It can be consumed as a tea to help support a healthy menstrual cycle, eleviate menstrual symptoms, and is often used in late pregnancy to encourage natural labor by toning and strengthening the uterus in preparation for childbirth.
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