Must Have Herbal Medicine Cabinet Essentials

 

Getting into herbalism can seem a little overwhelming at first. Which herbs do you stock up on, which remedies should you make and how do you do it all safely and effectively? Using herbs doesn’t have to be confusing or expensive with these herbal medicine cabinet essentials.

I buy most of my herbs from the Bulk Herb Store. They have amazing quality, super fast shipping and very low prices for what you get. You can check out all the items here. If they don’t have the item I want in stock, then my next stop is Mountain Rose Herbs. This store has everything, including beeswax candles, herbal shampoo, tinctures and everything in between.

My favorite herbal books

I started off learning from books. The internet has a vast array of information, but sifting through it all can be time consuming. And then there’s the issue of finding quality, accurate information online.

If I had the space, I’d happily have an entire room full of natural health books. I’ve had to be very particular about what takes up space on my shelf though, and these books have made the cut. My collection contains over a dozen herbal reference books, but these are the ones I reference most often. For those with more shelf space, you can check out herbalist Rosalee de Foret’s extensive herbalism book recommendations here.

Medicinal Herbs, A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar. – You can read my full review of the book here, but in a nutshell, this is a great introduction to all the basics of making your own medicine. – Get it here

Modern Essentials – This is my go to reference book for es sential  oils right now. It has lots of information on how to use oils for specific issues, with study references to back it up. – get it here

Practical Herbalism by Phillip Fritchey – This book is like a short materia medica and also gives a good overview of how to make products like tinctures, salves and decoctions. My favorite part about this book though, is that it gives specific dosing instructions and preparation methods for the herbs used. – get it here

The ABC Herbal by Steven Horne – This book is short and sweet, but my go to when it comes to helping my little guy. get it here

Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health – This book contains 175 time tested recipes from one of my favorite herbalists. There are solutions for women’s issues, babies and children, men’s issues, skincare and general health and wellness. – get it here.

What herbs should I start out with?

My very first experience with using herbal medicine was with herbs that came from my own garden. I still have the original peppermint and lemon balm from the patch at my parent’s home. Since then, I’ve stocked up on different herbs that are either hard to grow in my area, or I just don’t have room in my garden for.

Herbs for specific health issues

What herbs you want to have on hand will depend on what health issues you want to address. Make a list of your family’s health goals, like general immunity, first aid and increased energy. You can then get herbs to specifically address these issues. If you’re struggling with asthma or insomnia, then look into what herbs to use for those.

Herbal medicine essentials

I may have gone a little overboard in my herb stash, since I have about 4 large boxes worth of herbs sitting on my shelf. I’ll try to tone down the list and keep it at the basics though.

Beeswax – This isn’t an herb, but vital to thickening your own salves, balms and other concoctions. – get it here

Bentonite Clay – Ok, also not an herb, but useful for so many things. This can detox the body both internally and externally. It’s also the main ingredient in my remineralizing toothpaste. – get it here

Elderberry – I’m making a big batch of elderberry syrup to keep sickness at bay this winter. This immune boosting syrup can be taken everyday, and because it’s sweet and fruity, it’s a favorite of little ones. get it here

Echinacea – This herb is my first line of defense when I feel a cold coming on. It should be taken in small, frequent amounts at the first sign of sickness. It shouldn’t be taken long term for prevention or after sickness has set in. get it here

Rose Hips – Super high in vitamin C, these have a delicious fruity taste. I like adding a nutritional boost to drinks and homemade popsicles with a rose hip infusion. Because vitamin C isn’t stored in the body, it’s one we need to supplement with every day. get it here

Lavender – Lavender helps to relieve stress and anxiety, but it’s also super healing for skin. I use lavender in my Healing Salve to help with cuts, scrapes, irritated skin and the like. You can even make a lavender heat bag for aches and pains. get it here

Chamomile – Chamomile is nicknamed the children’s herb because of it’s powerful yet gentle nature. Similar to lavender, it’s also a calming and soothing herb. I use it in my Sweet Sleep tea to wind down at night. It’s helpful for colicky babies, nervousness, anxiety and stress. get it here

Activated Charcoal – Yet another staple that’s not an herb, but very worth mentioning. I use it to whiten my teeth in my Tea Lover’s remineralizing toothpaste. It can also be used in cases of food poisoning, upset stomach and in a drawing salve for poisonous bites. get it here

Calendula – The king of herbs for soothing skin, this is also in my Healing Salve. It’s particularly useful for psoriasis and eczema, but it’s great for all skin irritation including sunburns. get it here

Licorice root – This was actually the first herb I ever remember using. It’s warming, pleasant taste is good for sore throats. It’s very safe for children and stimulates and supports the adrenal glands. Avoid large amounts if you have a heart condition. get it here

Marshmallow root – This mucilage herb works by coating and soothing irritated membranes. It’s good for scratchy throats, or an irritated digestive tract or intestines. get it here

Olive leaf – This herb boasts powerful anti-viral, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. I’ll blend this with rosehips and make a tea to quickly knock out an infection. It works especially well for a sore throat. get it here

Cayenne and Ginger – These warming herbs are useful for arthritis, inflammation, and general increased circulation to speed healing. I’ll use them in a salve, in the bathtub for muscle aches, or for flu. Cayenne can even stop internal or external bleeding and stop a heart attack when one starts. get ginger here and cayenne here

Brain booster tea – Designed to increase circulation, memory and focus, this one is a must have in my daily routine. get it here

Double E-Immune booster tea – This tasty blend contains nutritive herbs like nettle, combined with potent immunity herbs like Echinacea. I’ll guzzle this throughout the day when I’m starting to feel a little down. get it here

Erin’s super green drink mix – I’ll add an easy, nutritional boost to morning smoothies, popsicles and other items by adding some green powder in. It’s way easier than mixing your own since it contains a blend of 29 different herbs to provide a wide array of vitamins and minerals. get it here.

 Tools for creating your concoctions

• I like these bottles for storing my tinctures and oil blends in
• These tins are fabulous quality and great for storing salves, spice blends and other items.
• This handy machine saves so much time when it comes to creating custom capsules.

What are your favorite, must have herbs? Comment below!