13 Essential Supplies for Home Medicine Making

Making your own herbal medicines and concoctions at home can be a fun and rewarding way to take charge of your health and well-being. From calming salves to potent tinctures, there’s so much you can create. But in order to begin your medicine-making journey, you need the right tools. When you are first starting out, not having the proper items on hand can quickly become a hurdle that prevents you from exploring this rewarding hobby. Below are 13 essential supplies you’ll need to kickstart your journey into home herbal remedy crafting.

Waxes

Waxes are commonly used for creating salves and ointments. Beeswax is a common type of wax used for medicine-making, but some alternatives include carnauba (palm) wax, candelilla wax, and others.

Waxes are great for offering a solidifying medium for various topical remedies, allowing for a smooth application and providing a protective barrier on the skin.

You can purchase these waxes in bulk and they typically come conveniently packaged as pastilles or blocks.

Solvents

Solvents are liquids used in herbal medicine making that are used to extract the active components from herbs and turn them into a concentrate. The most common types of solvents are alcohol and vinegar.

If you choose to make a tincture, you should use alcohol as your solvent. It’s best to use a high-proof (80-proof or higher) type as it is very efficient at extracting medicinal compounds out of plants. You can use high-proof vodka, gin, tequila, or even rum for your tinctures.

Vinegar is another popular solvent that is a bit gentler than alcohol and helps extract vitamins and minerals from plants. The best vinegars to use for this purpose are apple cider vinegar and white vinegar, although technically any vinegar can work.

Storage Containers

When you create your herbal remedies, it’s important to make sure that they are properly stored so that they stay fresh and are easy to use.

Depending on the types of medicines you’ll be making, there is a wide range of storage containers you might need. To start, you should have access to glass jars with lids, amber bottles (to help protect your remedies from light and oxidation), dropper bottles, salve tins, spray bottles, and roll-top bottles.

Veggie Capsules

There are some herbal medicines that are meant to be taken by mouth in capsule form. For those types of remedies, you can purchase empty veggie capsules that allow you to customize your own herbal blends at the right doses and take them internally.

They are made of cellulose, a natural plant component that is non-toxic and dissolves in your stomach, releasing the herbs into your system. You can purchase them in bulk and use a scale to measure out your ingredients before scooping them into the capsules.

Carrier Oils

Many herbal preparations rely on carrier oils to serve as their base. You can use different oils as carrier oils, many of which you might already have in your pantry. Some common carrier oils include olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil.

Depending on what type of remedy you are preparing and what it will be used for, different oils make better choices.

For example, vitamin E oil is ideal for diluting potent essential oils in remedies that are designed to be used on the face and hair. Olive oil, on the other hand, is great for use in salves.

The base of many herbal remedies, carrier oils help extract, preserve, and deliver the medicinal properties of plants. But not all oils are created equal! Some work better for skin applications, while others are ideal for deep extractions. Choosing the right oil can make the difference between a remedy that works and one that falls flat.

For example, olive oil is great for soothing, skin-nourishing salves, while coconut oil offers natural antifungal properties. But did you know that some oils can actually enhance the absorption of medicinal compounds? Or that combining oils with different fatty acid profiles can make an herbal infusion even stronger?

Where I Learned About Carrier Oils

That’s the kind of in-depth knowledge you’ll gain inside The Lost Remedies Academy—where you’ll learn how to identify, harvest, and prepare powerful natural remedies from start to finish. Beyond just oils, you’ll discover:

How to turn backyard plants into potent pain relievers, wound healers, and immune boosters
The best solvent and infusion methods to extract the strongest medicinal compounds
Step-by-step guidance for creating salves, tinctures, poultices, and syrups
The truth about plant lookalikes and how to safely forage without mistakes

And the best part? You won’t just learn herbal medicine—you’ll get proof of your newfound skills! Once you complete the Academy, you’ll receive a physical diploma certifying you as an herbalist. So the next time someone side-eyes your homemade remedies, you can casually drop, “Oh, actually, I’m a certified herbalist.” And when they raise an eyebrow, just whip out your diploma like a medieval scroll—because now, you’ve got the papers to back it up!

👉 Click here to join The Lost Remedies Academy and become a certified herbalist!

Kitchen Scale

Speaking of scales, you will need to invest in a kitchen scale in order to properly measure out all of your herbs when making your own remedies. Precision is extremely important when working with powerful plants.

A kitchen scale ensures accurate measurements of herbs and other ingredients, leading to consistent and effective remedies.

Cheesecloth

A cheesecloth is indispensable for making herbal remedies. It allows you to strain herbs from solvents and oils while squeezing out every last drop of medicine and ensuring you get a pure and particle-free product.

Opt for an organic and bleach-free cotton material to avoid contaminating your remedies.

Metal Strainer

Along with a cheesecloth, it helps to have a fine-mesh strainer to filter out plant materials from your concoctions. While not as fine as a cheesecloth, a metal strainer is reliable and reusable so you should always have one around for backup. It works great for bigger plant pieces, seeds, and roots.

Tea Infuser

A reusable tea infuser is perfect for making single-servings of herbal teas. It’s a simple and efficient way to steep any loose herbs in hot water, oil, or other solvents as well, allowing for easy cleanup and removal.

I prefer to use a metal tea infuser, but they also come in other materials such as silicone, bamboo, and cotton.

Double Boiler

A double boiler is a must for any herbalist! It allows you to heat up your herbs and any liquids – waxes, oils, solvents, etc. in a slow and controlled way which prevents burning of the delicate ingredients. Anytime you want to make a quick oil infusion or a wax-based salve, you have to use a double boiler.

Double boilers typically consist of two parts with one fitting inside the other – a larger pot that holds a small amount of water, which gets boiled – and a smaller part that fits inside of it and contains your ingredients.

There are also electric double boilers made specifically for this purpose, as well as slow cookers that can be used as well. In a pinch, you can create a DIY double boiler by placing a metal bowl on top of a pot with boiling water.

Mortar and Pestle

A mortar and pestle is an ancient tool that is still incredibly useful today. It can be used to grind up and blend herbs, roots, and flowers. You can also use it to mash up fresh ingredients such as roots and vegetables.

A mortar and pestle can come in a wide range of materials, but if you plan on using one for medicine making, I suggest getting a stone (granite or marble) mortar and pestle.

Funnel

A funnel is a small and mighty tool that you’ll find indispensable while making herbal remedies. It allows you to pour your concoctions into small containers and jars without spilling a drop. You can even get a funnel with a built-in mesh strainer that helps with the filtering out of plant matter from your remedies in one go.

Plants and Herbs

Of course, you can’t make herbal medicines without the herbs themselves. Starting with a few versatile herbs and essential oils is a great way to begin your home remedy-making journey.

Different herbs will be good for different things, and eventually, your collection of herbs will grow to include everything you need.

You can start with basics like lavender, chamomile, calendula, echinacea, and peppermint as they all offer a wide range of uses and healing properties. Consider starting a small herbal garden for your most-used herbs so that you always have a fresh supply.

Imagine this: a time comes when your go-to herbs are no longer available. Supply chains break, stores run out, and you’re left with no way to make the remedies you rely on. What happens when you or your loved ones get sick, and there’s no trustworthy source of chemical-free, pesticide-free medicinal plants?

This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario—it’s already happening. With the overuse of pesticides, soil depletion, and increasing restrictions on herbal medicine, access to truly pure, potent herbs is becoming harder every day.

The best way I found, which I also recommend you to do is to secure your own supply of medicinal plants by growing them yourself. I found a Medicinal Seed Kit that contains carefully selected, non-GMO seeds for the most essential healing herbs—so you’ll always have a self-sustaining source of potent, chemical-free ingredients for your home apothecary.

You can check the seeds it contains and the natural remedies you’ll use here.

Soothing Peppermint Chamomile Salve Recipe

Here is an easy-to-make peppermint chamomile salve for calming skin irritations, bug bites, and burns. It can even be rubbed on the temples to soothe headaches. This recipe utilizes some of the staple herbs and supplies mentioned above.

Both peppermint and chamomile are known for promoting skin healing, reducing inflammation and pain, and stimulating blood circulation. The optional addition of lavender essential oil adds a nice scent and has antibacterial properties.

Meanwhile, the olive oil and beeswax lock in moisture and soften the skin. This salve is a prime example of how easy and rewarding it can be to make your own herbal medicines at home when you have the right tools.

Ingredients

½ cup of carrier oil such as olive oil
2 tbsp beeswax
¼ cup dried peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita)
¼ cup dried chamomile flowers (Matricaria chamomilla)
A few drops of lavender essential oil (optional – it adds a nice scent and a soothing quality)
Storage container such as a salve tin or a small jar

Tools

Double boiler
Strainer or cheesecloth
Funnel

Instructions

Place the double boiler on the stove with water in the bottom pot over medium-high heat. As the water begins to boil, place the top part on top of it.
Combine the dried chamomile and peppermint with olive oil and beeswax in the top section of the double boiler.
Allow the wax and oils to infuse for 2-3 hours. You’ll know the oil is ready when it gets a bit darker in color and begins to smell strongly of the herbs.
After the infusion process, remove the oil from heat and pour it into a bowl through a strainer or cheesecloth to remove all of the plant particles. If using a cheesecloth, squeeze it at the end to ensure you get all of the oil out of it.
If you are using lavender essential oil, add a few drops of it into the bowl with your infused oil – about 4-6 drops should be enough.
Using a funnel, carefully pour your concoction into the salve tins or small containers.
Allow the mixture to cool with the lid off. Once it cools fully, it will solidify.
Don’t forget to label your salve with the name and date it was made. Store it in a cool dry place.

The Ready-Made Salve

If you love the idea of this salve but want a professionally crafted version ready to use, you can get the All-Purpose First Aid Salve here. Made with the same clean, natural ingredients—plus the added benefits of Balm of Gilead and Vitamin E for extra skin-soothing and protective properties—this salve is a must-have for any herbal first-aid kit.

👉 Tap here to get yours and always have this healing salve on hand.

With these essential supplies on hand, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a variety of natural remedies at home. Whether you’re just starting out or have been exploring herbalism for a while, having these tools and ingredients within reach empowers you to create personalized solutions for your wellness journey.

Remember, herbal medicine unfolds over time. Be patient with yourself as you learn, experiment, and discover the joy of creating your own natural remedies.

Your Home Apothecary Awaits…

Everything I’ve shared with you in this article—how to make tinctures, salves, infused oils, and more—is just a glimpse of what’s possible when you have the right knowledge at your fingertips. But knowing what tools to use is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you learn how to transform simple herbs into powerful, time-tested remedies for almost any ailment.

That’s exactly what The Forgotten Home Apothecary offers. With 250 step-by-step recipes, clear instructions, and a beautifully organized apothecary layout, this book makes it easy to find and prepare the exact remedy you need—whether it’s a flu-fighting syrup, a pain-relieving salve, or a memory-boosting elixir.

Inside, you’ll discover:

Nature’s Amoxicillin – A powerful natural remedy to support your immune system
Painkiller in a Jar – A homemade alternative made from a common backyard plant
The Best Natural Probiotic – A simple, gut-healing elixir you can make at home
Grandma’s Hot Salve for Back Pain – A warming remedy that loosens stiff muscles
Mushroom Drops for MS – The exact tincture Nicole Apelian uses to manage her condition
Herbal Sleeping Pills – A blend of calming herbs that support deep, restful sleep
Jello Flu Shots – A delicious immune-boosting remedy your kids will love