My Herbal Apothecary
No herb does one single function, just as you cannot be contained under a single label. These are my favorite herbs that were the start to my own herbal apothecary, and how I like to blend them. While you can mix the whole lot together, general rule of thumb is to use 7 max at a time (sometimes they can contraindicate, plus you have no idea what is working). It can also be great to just pick one or two of the bunch to see how they react to you on their own. Sometimes, you just want all of it, and that is cool too. These build slowly over time, gently, as do your senses to them (just as you once learned how you react to your morning coffee). Take your time developing your understanding of these personalities, and listen to stories of how they affect others, whether from friends or folklore of the past. Each of these little buds has their own reputation and herstory (hey, if grammar makes me choose, i choose the feminine).
Daily Tea: soursop, nettle, feverfew, schisandra, dandelion, damiana
Calm (stress/depression/anxiety/anger): lemon balm, chamomile, oat straw, rose, st. Joan’s wort, holy basil, wood betony, licorice, catnip, motherwort (wort means herb, the mother herb)
Energy boost: kava, mucuna, cinnamon, ginseng
Headache relief: lemon balm, chamomile, feverfew, passionflower, wood betony, yarrow, catnip
Migraine Adder (a little stronger, mildly sedative): St. Joan’s wort, skullcap, poppy
Mental acuity: Reishi, gotu kola (also works on male stamina)
Sick tea: marshmallow root, ginger, yarrow, calendula
Skin (also works on the liver): rose, calendula, gotu kola, chinese violet leaf, St. Joan’s wort
Sleepy time tea: chamomile, hops, skullcap, passionflower, poppy, catnip, cardamom, licorice, valerian, angelica
Period Pain: yarrow, calendula, damiana, red clover, rose, kava, st. joan’s wort (add cali poppy, skullcap at night, plus some brazil nuts leading up to it)
Herbal Functions, in progress! I’ve gotten as far as Damiana down the list, researching more along the way.
