Using herbs for homemade remedies has fascinated me forever. Is there anything more cool than going out into God's creation and picking a plant that can help you with an ailment?
Warning: Once you start learning about herbs you'll never venture out into the yard or go on a nature walk in quite the same way again. You'll be constantly looking at plants and identifying them and you'll most likely get your friends and family involved, too.
Listen in below to the full podcast, Episode #67 7 Herbs for Natural Remedies Your Grandparents Used, of the Pioneering Today Podcast, where we don’t just inspire you, but give you the clear steps to create the homegrown garden, pantry, kitchen, and life you want for your family and homestead.
Let's talk for just a sec about using herbs. When I first got into more natural remedies I had this misconception that if it's natural, it's safe. Not all-natural remedies are safe for every person or every situation. You have to really understand the herb or essential oil, how it works, dangers, and side effects, because they do exist.
I don't say this to scare you or turn you off from natural medicine. Not in the least, but we have to be responsible when using herbs and nature as medicines.
I'm not a doctor. This post isn't meant as a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you, just so we're clear, it's for educational and entertainment purposes. I believe this to be true for modern and holistic/natural medicine, each person has to be responsible for what they use and does their own due diligence. I talk about treatment plans with my doctor, my naturopath, my pharmacist (who happens to also be my boss in my day job), and do further research online or in books. I recommend you do the same.
7 Herbs You Need In Your Natural Remedies
1. Calendula. I mispronounced this for a few months, just so you know. Calendula is a wonderful all-around herb for the skin, a work horse in the medicine cabinet. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties which makes it a great candidate for multiple skin issues and also for wound care. It smells wonderful (big plus for me) and also has a history as a dye due to its orange blossom.
Because calendula is considered a gentle herb, you'll find it in a lot of natural products for children and infants, as well. I infuse oil with calendula blossoms to make a homemade soothing salve, featured in my new book The Made-From-Scratch Life: Simple Ways to Create a Natural Home or this Herbal Wound Healing Salve Recipe – Easy DIY
Calendula is part of the Asteraceae family, so obviously, if you have allergies to marigolds or other members of this family, you'll be allergic to calendula, too. Calendula can also be used in tea and has been used to color butter and cheeses.
2. Lavender. Lavender is probably the most common and widespread known herbs for it's calming and soothing properties. I have to tell you, I used to hate the smell of lavender, like wrinkle and turn up my nose at the same time. But I think this was to synthetic lavender scented items because when I purchased my first essential oils kit, the lavender was one of my favorites. I put a few drops on my pillow every night when I got to bed.
I make lavender sachets for my husband's truck and keep dried bunches of it around the house.
Lavender works well to help soothe the skin and is often used in preparations for burn relief and pain. I also use lavender in this DIY Herbal Face Scrub and Mask.
3. Echinacea. This is one of the herbs I use every week once my kids start back to school and cough and cold season go into overdrive, especially because at my day job I'm in constant contact with sick folk, just part of the territory at the pharmacy. I specifically love this tea blend from Traditional Medicine, but I don't use it every day, though usually at least a few nights a week, especially if I feel cold symptoms moving in.
In fact, one of my co-workers asked how come I never seem to get sick and I shared a bag of tea with her. Echinacea is used in teas and you can also purchase it in capsule form.
Echinacea is used for its ability to help support the immune system. Like calendula, echinacea is also related to the Asteraceae family, so beware of allergies.
4. Peppermint. Peppermint is a wildly prolific plant, most well suited to a container, just trust me on this unless you want mint plants gone wild all over your homestead. It tastes great, I even bruise a few leaves and toss them in my water bottle for a flavor pick me up.
Peppermint is known for helping soothe an upset stomach and help support bowel function (oh the stuff we talk about here, right?). Though peppermint is known for its use with stomach issues, if you have GERD or acid reflux, peppermint can help relax the sphincter muscle, allowing acid from your stomach to climb up to the esophagus, making symptoms worse.
If you're feeling congested, just the scent of peppermint oil can help with congestion. Just make sure you don't get the peppermint oil on your skin as it will sting and burn.
Peppermint is one of my favorite things to pair with chocolate and often used in baking. Here's how to make your own peppermint extract at home!
5. Licorice root. I'll be the first to tell you I can't stand licorice candy, mainly because I don't like the flavor of anise, and a lot of licorice candy is flavored with anise according to WebMD, which I just learned. However, licorice root has its place in an herbal medicine cabinet. Licorice root is for a variety of ailments from digestive issues, cold symptoms, to helping support adrenal glands, and many other ailments.
However, licorice root should be used with caution and only for short term and never in large amounts. If you have blood pressure or potassium issues, liver or heart problems, you shouldn't use licorice root. Here's a link to the side effects and cautions of using licorice root.
6. Sage. This silvery green leaf herb is one of my favorites because it's easy to grow, lasts almost year long in my garden, and is just so tasty. I have to confess (this might be confession day for me or something) that I didn't realize all of its health benefits until I started digging into research this article.
Sage is used to support digestive problems (hello, always love it with my turkey on Thanksgiving), and supporting mind and mental performance. In fact, this article from WebMD shares sage may help with Alzheimer's Disease and menopause symptoms.
7. Chamomile. This little white flower plant is another common garden plant. Its been around for centuries and is used to support feelings of calmness and to aid nervous stomachs. Many people enjoy chamomile as a bedtime tea. Because of its calming nature, it has also been used on the skin.
I happen to think it's also charming in the wooden planters flanking our front porch.
For the do-it-yourselfers out there, learn how to prune herbs for maximum growth and how to dry fresh herbs at home.
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May I suggest another herbal remedy? It’s a seed – Fennel seed. A heaping teaspoonful of fennel seeds boiled in a cup of water for five minutes, drain away the seeds and cool the tea. This is wonderful for stomach aches and gas in adults and children. With a doctor’s ok, it can be given to an baby with colic.
We use this all the time, as a family member has a digestive disorder.
This remedy has been in the family for at least three generations.
Cathy,
Thanks for the comment! I haven’t used fennel seed, but I think digestive issues are so common these days it’s always good to have a remedy on hand and I love that this one has family ties for you. I’ll look into adding fennel into my natural medicine kit.
Melissa,
Calendula is very easy to grow and a great way to bring in pollinators when planted in the vegetable garden. I plant flowers and herbs throughout the vegetable garden. Calendula Resina has the highest concentration of resins and is supposed to be the best for medicinal purposes. It is really easy to save the seeds and will re seed itself too. Now you’ve got me thinking of spring and planting ?
Sage tea is great for sore throats.
Lorraine,
Thanks so much for the tip on which variety of Calendula has the highest resin. I can’t wait to put some in come spring. 🙂
Comfrey is a standby for us. It’s easy to grow & I use it as a base for my all purpose salve (along with calendula). You can make an infusion (fancy word for tea) & apply a compress to bruises, even a black eye.
Linda,
Yes, comfrey is a great one! I forgot about that as I don’t use it as often as the ones I listed. But we have a patch at a neighbors and I’ve picked and dried a bunch. Thanks for the tip!
I wouldn’t be without comfrey! Besides being a great herb for healing, it is a good mulch plant and chickens love to eat it.
Melissa, everyone has jumped on the Essential Oils bandwagon of late, and they do have their place in our arsenal (IF we understand their uses), however, herbs also have their place and the same understanding goes along.
I want to thank you for the 30 day challenge. I’ve ‘searched’ plants and whathaveyou while on my walks, but haven’t actually taken the initiative further to learn what and what not to use them for. My knowledge is limited.
I will get a notebook precisely for herbs to keep beside the EO notes & books and my go-to common sense medical books. Having a homestead drives one to be more self sufficient and live OFF THE LAND. I should have followed my heart at 18 yrs. Thank you again for the Blessings.
Tricia,
I was one of those essential oils bandwagon people until I begin to research and understand you can’t use them willy nilly, that they need to be used as a medicine and some with extreme caution. 🙂
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the 30 day challenge, me, too!
A notebook is a great idea to keep track of things, from one homesteading sista to another!
Cheryl,
Agreed! And I’ll have to see how my chickens like it!
Always love the sound of your laugh, it makes me smile every time I hear it.
I totally agree on the lavender scent, I came to the same conclusion that the reason I once hated it was because it was the synthetic version I had first tried, but since trying real lavender, I love it and have good many plants growing all around my garden areas for its many benefits to both garden and to us.
Another great podcast, thank you for all you do to share your wonderful accumulation of information.
Heidi,
Thank you!! I sometimes feel self-conscience of my laugh. 🙂
Okay, I’m convinced it’s the synthetic lavender for sure then! I’m looking forward to adding even more herbs to the garden next year.
Ha! We aren’t a fan of the smell of lavender in this household…and that’s the real deal. It doesn’t stop us from using it though. I have some growing in my garden and, of course, EO.
I’ve never thought to use sage in a medicinal manner. I actually don’t use it very often but may do so now. Thanks for doing the research and sharing with us.
Michelle,
I love it, my mom doesn’t like lavender either, even the real deal. 🙂 My throat is kind of scratchy today so I’m going to try some sage tea tonight! So glad you enjoyed this one.
I am brand new to your podcast. I love it already. I’ve subscribed also to your periscope. Your enthusiasm is wonderful. Your ending with verse of the day Hebrew 9:14 brought me to tears, wow I needed to hear that. Thanks for what you do and all your hard work in sharing it with us. I will be binge listening for days and logging on to your website from computer tonight to sign up for homemade Christmas. Thanks again, Cathy
Cathy,
You made my day!! I’m so glad that verse was an encouragement to you today. God always seems to know when we need to hear something. 🙂
Sage increases blood circulation and is useful in treating sore throat: steep some sage leaves in hot water (make a “tea” or infusion) and sip it hot. Can be combined with black tea. Fast relief.
Thyme tea will also help that scratchy throat. Anise oil is good to treat mange, and I’ve heard it can be used as a natural way to treat lice. Good things to know. 🙂
*Very* glad to see your cautions, Melissa. Herbs that have powerful effects can have side effects, and many people who are taking prescription medications forget to take possible herb-drug interactions into account.
Our family liked your piece and wants to chime in. 😉
It is good to be careful in using dandelion root, or the amount, if one has any kidney problems. Also, some people have pronounced allergies to lemon thyme, we discovered from experience, yet many Web pages I had read did not provide any cautions when lauding lustrous lemon thyme, which had multiplied so exuberantly in its pot! Turmeric is safe for most people–it’s a boon for many conditions, especially as an anti-inflammatory in our family’s modest experience, although no one drug is a ‘silver bullet’–but those taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin (warfarin) should be careful about their dosage of turmeric (and consult their healthcare practitioner). We have found ginger very beneficial on a regular basis in addition to the excellent herbs you discuss above.
Hannu,
Thanks so much for your recommendations and cautions!
Hi,
I just thought I would let you know that there are some local substitutes for a lot of herbs also. Yarrow is known as the poor mans Arnica, works the same but you can pick it almost anywhere. Also pineapple weed (think that is what it is called) looks a lot like Chamomile and also works like it. Plantain and mullein are good to gather and are mostly wild also. Plantain is good for a lot of things, bites, itching and also colds and flu. Mullein flower is good for skin but the leaves are good also for colds and flu. Both of them mixed with elderberry make a great cold fighter.
I also saw in your email you mentioned kale and spinach not being eaten raw because of your thyroid, please add all brassicas in that list. Cooked is fine but raw is not. I got off of my synthroid almost 3 years ago and feel better than I did taking it. With the help of a local nutritionist we are getting my diet to where it will take care of me instead of fight me. I totally understand what you went through and are still going through.
Adele,
Thank you so much for your tips!
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I have only recently, in the last two or three years started using dried herbs and essential for as a substitute for otc drugs. I’ve utilized essential oils much more often because much of the supporting literature provides enough information to create blends needed for most issues. While I have done much research on the dried herbs and have compiled most of the ones you suggested and many more, with the exception of making tincture there doesn’t seem to be much in how to use herbs for healing. Do you have any suggestions? I’ve bought several books but while they lost suggested herbs to have on hand and even what ailments might be helped the media of use are lacking.
Hi Marcy, I find I use them in teas/infusions and in our food, sometimes in a cream or homemade salve, it really depends on what I’m using it for. Which books did you get?
WoHOOO!! Thank you for all the information on the herbs and most of all for sharing that verse from Hebrews. It most definitely helped me. I appreciate you having the strength and courage to speak the words of wisdom that have been passed down to us through the ages. Take Care! (PS Calendula is one of my favorite flower/herbs to work with. Super easy to grow but I had to make sure it was the medicinal plant and not just an ornamental variety when I first purchased it from a local nursery)
Interested in obtainning your books with all info and recipes