"Healing in the Garden: A Beginner's Guide to Herbal Medicine on the Homestead"
Discover the power of plants on your homestead: learn how to grow, harvest, and use herbs for natural remedies.
As a homesteader, I've always been fascinated by the idea of using natural remedies to keep my family healthy. While I'm not a doctor, I've learned a thing or two about herbal medicine through trial and error on our backyard farm. In this post, I'll share some practical tips and personal anecdotes to help you get started with herbal medicine on your own homestead.
Why Herbal Medicine?
Growing and using herbs is a good thing to know how to do. Chamomile in a mug on a bad night, calendula in a salve for scraped knuckles, mint for a turned stomach — these are useful and they grow twenty feet from my back door.
One correction to how this post used to open. It said herbal medicine is "often more cost-effective than prescription medications." That framing invites a comparison that should not be made. Herbs are not a cheaper version of a prescription, and nothing on this page is a reason to stop taking one or to skip seeing a doctor.
Natural does not mean harmless, and "it has been used for centuries" is not evidence. Plants are chemically active — that is the entire point of using them — and active things interact with medication. St John's wort alone interferes with a long list of prescriptions including antidepressants and hormonal contraception. Comfrey taken internally is linked to liver damage. Pennyroyal oil can be fatal.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist what you are taking. A pharmacist will check an interaction for you in about a minute and will not lecture you about it. Be especially careful if you are pregnant, nursing, giving anything to a child, managing a chronic condition, or heading for surgery — several common herbs affect bleeding and anaesthesia.
If you suspect a reaction or an accidental poisoning, Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222, around the clock.
Getting Started
If you're new to herbal medicine, it's essential to start with the basics. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Look it up in a real reference, herb by herb: before using any plant, read its properties, interactions and contraindications. The NIH resource you actually want is NCCIH's Herbs at a Glance — short fact sheets covering the evidence, side effects and cautions for individual herbs — alongside MedlinePlus. (An earlier version of this post pointed at Florence Williams' book "The Nature Fix" here. That is a good book about what time outdoors does to your brain. It is not a herbal reference, and citing it was my mistake.)
- Start with simple recipes: Don't try to tackle complex herbal remedies right off the bat. Begin with simple recipes, like teas or salves, and gradually work your way up to more complex preparations.
- Use high-quality ingredients: When it comes to herbal medicine, the quality of your ingredients matters. Look for fresh, organic herbs, and avoid using pesticides or other chemicals.
Growing Your Own Herbs
One of the best things about herbal medicine is that you can grow your own herbs right in your backyard. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Choose the right climate: Some herbs, like mint and lemongrass, prefer warmer climates, while others, like chamomile and calendula, prefer cooler temperatures. Make sure you choose herbs that thrive in your local climate.
- Plant in well-draining soil: Herbs don't like wet feet, so make sure your soil drains well. Add compost or other organic matter to improve soil quality.
- Use companion planting: Some herbs, like basil and mint, can be used as companion plants to improve the growth and flavor of other herbs.
Harvesting and Drying Herbs
Once your herbs are ready to harvest, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Harvest at the right time: Different herbs have different harvesting times. For example, basil is best harvested in the morning, while chamomile is best harvested in the afternoon.
- Use the right tools: You'll need a pair of scissors or pruning shears to harvest your herbs. Make sure they're clean and sanitized to avoid contamination.
- Dry your herbs properly: To preserve your herbs, you'll need to dry them properly. You can use a dehydrator, oven, or air-dry your herbs.
Making Herbal Remedies
Once you've harvested and dried your herbs, it's time to make some herbal remedies. Here are a few simple recipes to get you started:
- Herbal tea: Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herbs in 1 cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and enjoy!
- Salve: Mix 1 tablespoon of dried herbs with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of beeswax. Melt the mixture in a double boiler and pour into a jar.
- Tincture: an alcohol extract, made by steeping dried herb in spirits for a few weeks and straining. Deliberately not written as a recipe here. A tincture concentrates whatever is in the plant, which makes which plant and how much the two things that matter, and neither is something to take from a blog post. Get the herb and the dose from a reference like NCCIH or from a qualified herbalist or pharmacist — and never "enjoy" one the way you would a cup of tea.
Conclusion
Herbal medicine is a powerful tool for maintaining health and wellness on your homestead. By growing your own herbs, harvesting and drying them properly, and making simple remedies, you can take control of your health and well-being. Remember to research, start with simple recipes, and use high-quality ingredients to ensure the best results. Happy healing!