Home Herbalist Starter Kit

I am frequently asked what herbs I use daily or ones that I always have on hand. Here’s a few that I use frequently and find helpful in many situations. Plants are amazing; typically you can have one remedy and it will be used for a multitude of concerns. Yay for plants!

Keep in mind everybody is different so there is no one size (or one plant) that fits all.

Echinacea

Echinacea angustifolia is the species I prefer but often Echinacea purpurea is most likely what you will find in your local co-op and that’s fine. Both will work, especially if taken properly.

Echinacea for Illness:

Echinacea is a tried and true remedy for illness and is a popular go-to taken right before or just when you get a cold or flu. It is also a great topical first aid for cuts, bites, stings and wounds.

If you have been exposed to an illness or are feeling under the weather, Echinacea works by stimulating your immune system. It aids in the process of antibody production and production of white blood cells to fight off viruses.

Take echinacea as a preventative if you have been near someone actively ill or even if you are starting to feel like you may have been exposed to something. Take 30-60 drops of a good quality tincture 3 times a day for three days.

If you don’t get sick, you can stop the dose. If you do get sick, take echinacea frequently, up to 6 times a day for the first few days of your illness. This will give your body the boost it needs to keep the virus at bay.

Other Uses for Echinacea:

Echinacea can be used for wound care. It is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic with a great track record for reducing the chance of infection. It cleans and inhibits the spread of infection in cuts, bites, and stings.

For topical use, soak a cotton ball with tincture and place it on the local area. If the wound is open and a cotton ball would irritate it, just drop the tincture onto the wound (yes it will sting!) or use a spray bottle cap for a light mist. Apply frequently for the first few days. If the wound does not heal quickly with just the topical application, take echinacea internally as well to speed the process and prevent infection.

A little known and celebrated gift from our friend Echinacea is it keeps eyes bright! It is helpful for boosting night vision and visual clarity.

Elecampane

Elecampane, Inula helenium is a remedy to have on hand for coughs and lung conditions. It is also a digestive bitter.

Elecampane for Respiratory Health:

Where to begin with coughs? First, assess what type it is. Is it a wet cough, is it a dry cough, is it loose, or is it spastic? A productive cough typically is best to allow to happen: it’s necessary to get mucus and phlegm that has built up in your respiratory system out of your body! The phlegm is essentially the clean up crew going around grabbing the pathogens so every time you cough and loosen things up you are ridding your body of illness. Taking a cough suppressant, especially early on in a cold isn’t really in your best interest.

Elecampane is the plant I keep around for coughs because it is effective against the green, nasty phlegm that indicates heat and infection. Elecampane clears phlegm and mucous and is useful for other coughs as well but is specific for infection where other remedies may not help. Elecampane is a traditional remedy for lung complaints and infection and helpful for inflammation-induced asthma symptoms following a cough.

Elecampane can be used as a tincture of the root, 30-60 drops taken 2-4 times per day.

Elecampane for Digestion:

As a digestive aid, elecampane contains Inulin, which feeds friendly bacteria in the colon. Combine elecampane root with orange and other bitter herbs to make a bitter tonic. Bitter tonics assist in the digestion of meals, helping to assimilate nutrients and reduce indigestion and are typically taken before meals.

Arnica

Arnica Homeopathic Tablets:

As a medicine maker, I can fill my herbal medicine chest with remedies I grow or harvest on my own but homeopathic tablets are just too complicated to make, so I purchase this remedy. These sugar pills are small, magical assists for achy muscles, especially from overuse or recent injury. I like to think of them for when I trip and fall or get a bad bruise or painful contusion from blunt force for even a car or bicycle accident.

Arnica is the plant of choice for a traumatic injury. The sooner you reach for this remedy, the better. The tablets come in a handy container that is easy to carry in a home or vehicle first aid kit. Follow the specifics on the container but a common dose is 4 or 5 tablets under the tongue allow to dissolve. Homeopathics are energetic medicine so I recommend nothing in the mouth before or after taking any homeopathic, for at minimum 5 minutes, preferably 10.

Skullcap

Scutellaria laterifolia is often called Blisswort and for good reason. I love this remedy for moderate, functional pain and for slowing a crazy brain and body down after a stressful day or situation.

Skullcap for Moderate Pain and Stress:

Skullcap is best used for acute conditions. Its effects are felt quickly and can ease pain and stress fast which is really what you need in this case. Skullcap is effective when pain that is evident but you are still able to move around and do daily functions. I like to use it for tension headaches which might feel a bit like a dull headache in the front or base of the skull.

Oversensitive people seem to respond well to skullcap and I think of it for those days when everything seems to “get on my nerves.” The dose for skullcap is 10-30 drops up to 6 times a day for days where you feel ready to jump out of your skin. Be aware that this dose may cause drowsiness.

For chronic stress, try the tincture 30 drops 3 times a day for a couple of weeks. Increasing the dose up to 60 drops is ok, too but often smaller and more frequent doses work just as well. Skullcap is safe to use in higher doses so finding the correct dose is not harmful.

Skullcap for Insomnia:

Insomniacs will appreciate skullcap because of its ability to induce restful sleep without a groggy morning after. Some people benefit from taking skullcap early evening and then again an hour before bed. Skullcap is restorative to the nervous system and reduces patterns of stress.

Calendula

Calendula for Skin:

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is must-have for speeding tissue healing on the skin - rashes, inflammatory conditions, eczema, dry skin, hemorrhoids, all can benefit from the topical healing powers of calendula.

Calendula can be used as an oil or a salve for most applications. A Calendula tincture can be used for the added antiseptic action for new or unclean cuts or weepy conditions. Calendula has astringent, demulcent, emollient, and anti-inflammatory properties which is basically herbalist jargon for an amazing, supreme healer of the skin. It can tighten, strengthen, sooth and heal all with one application. Way to go, Calendula!

Calendula as a Lymphatic Remedy:

As with most plants, this herb has many uses beyond skin healing. Calendula is a lymphatic which means it modulates the lymphatic and immune system to fight colds, sore throats, swollen glands, lymphedema.

Using calendula internally, you can use a tea (one cup, up to 4 times a day) or a tincture (10-60 drops, 3 times a day.)

Calendula for Gastric Upset:

Because of Calendula’s healing abilities of tissues, it is also effective on gastric tissues. Take it as a tea or as an oil on an empty stomach to soothe and regenerate Digestive tract lining. This is a good remedy when suffering from Ulcerative Colitis, Gastritis, Mouth Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers. Calendula is a gentle and safe remedy and with so many uses, it’s a must for your herbal remedy kit.

Yarrow

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, has a rich history of medicinal use in first aid. Remains from thousands of years ago were found with yarrow embedded in their teeth. Greek mythology tells of yarrow being given to Achilles by Chiron to use during battle. Yarrow has been referred to as “the soldiers Woundwart” or Staunchwart in ancient times due to its ability to staunch bleeding.

Yarrow for Fever:

Yarrow is a versatile remedy. Among it’s uses are acute fevers that begin with a head cold or flu, yarrow stimulates sweating and lowers the temperature.

Yarrow for Bleeding:

Yarrow is a homeostatic which means it stops bleeding, think of yarrow for nosebleeds and hemmoroids. Yarrow is a blood mover, a protective herb and is thought as a plant for wounded warriors, both physically and emotionally. Yarrow can be used internally for normalizing blood in the body – bleeding too much or not enough, blood that is stagnant following injury, surgery or bruising.

Yarrow for Psychic Protection:

Yarrow is often used for psychic protection as well. Yarrow builds protective boundaries and releases emotional issues brought on by trauma in our energetic field.

What’s in your home herbalist medicine cabinet? We want to know! Leave a comment below.