Make Your Own Modern Herbal

In days gone by, a woman would create her own book of herbal recipes. She would keep these recipes, add to them and keep her family healthy. These books, called herbals, were passed down to the next generation.

These days we’ve handed our health over to pharmaceutical  companies and replaced this herbal knowledge with over the counter drug purchases. While I’m not adverse to an OTC cold medication or pain killers, I think it’s about time we get back to basics and create our own modern herbal. This knowledge needs to be retained by our culture.

I’ve been reading and using this great book lately – The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual. It has instructions for how to collect herbs, dry them and make every kind of tincture, salve and oxymel you could ever want. It doesn’t have recipes, though.

Enter Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth with a fantastic idea that I wish was mine!

Starting Monday, Oct. 7th and the three following it, they will be doing a one-month-link-up series. Each week will feature a different category for filling your modern “herbal”.

Here are some ideas… Collect methods on how to make medicine out of basic pantry staples, how to prepare a poultice, how to treat a burn or how to soothe colic. We could record recipes for the bath and body such as lotions, balms and scrubs. We can incorporate instructions on how to ferment foods or prepare cultured dairy products. We can include practical recipes like homemade extracts, condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup) and other items that wouldn’t be found in an ordinary cookbook. Another section might include how to dry herbs and how to utilize them. We can include tutorials on room sprays, candle-making and sweet smelling sachets…JES  @ Strangers & Pilgrims

Bloggers with a love of herbs are encouraged to post their herbal recipes in the following areas:

Recipes for Bath/Body Care & Make Your Own Medicine Cabinet (10/7/13)
Recipes for Food Preservation & Prepare Your Own Pantry (10/14/13)
Recipes for Housecleaning Products & The Laundry Room (10/21/13)
Recipes for Home Decoration & Misc (10/28/13)

As of October 9th, there are 52 entries for your review in bath/body/make your own medicine. Things like:

• Garlic Tincture,
• Heal all Herb Mix,
• Decongestant Salve and
• Immunity Boosting Tincture.

All things that will be a great addition to your own modern herbal and certainly helpful for creating a natural medicine cabinet. Head on over to your local herb shop or Mountain Rose Herbs for supplies.

What Did PreparednessMama Submit to the Modern Herbal?

Five Herbal Cold Remedies to Make Before You Need Them

Fire Cider Vinegar

Black Walnut Salve for Athletes Foot & Blisters

Honey Onion Syrup for Coughs

So go on over to Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, support their fantastic series of posts and learn the things you need to be prepared if you are without your neighborhood pharmacy.

Some other posts you might find helpful has you prepare your own modern herbal:

Learning to use a Mortar & Pestle,

Spice Up Your Food Storage,

Lemon Verbena Glycerite,

The Joys of Dehydrating Herbs,

Wonders of Witch Hazel