Today, one of its cousins shows up on the plates of fine Italian restaurants as agretti, a crunchy green with a briny bite. And in folk medicine across Europe, Asia, and Africa, saltwort species have been used for everything from blood pressure to digestion.

In this guide, we’ll sort out which plants actually go by the name saltwort, how to identify them, how to eat them, and what the research really says. We’ll also be honest about the safety concerns, because this is a plant that deserves a little respect.

What Is Saltwort?

“Saltwort” isn’t one plant. It’s a common name shared by several salt-loving plants, called halophytes, that grow on beaches, salt flats, and disturbed dry ground.

Most of the time, the name refers to plants in the genus Salsola, a group in the amaranth family. According to a 2022 review in the journal Plants, Salsola is one of the largest genera in that family and includes annuals, small shrubs, and even woody trees.

Botanists have been reshuffling the genus for years, so you’ll see the same plant listed under several Latin names. That’s normal, and it’s one more reason to identify plants carefully rather than relying on a name alone.

Prickly Saltwort (Russian Thistle)

Prickly saltwort, known scientifically as Salsola kali and also listed as Salsola tragus or Kali tragus, is the famous tumbleweed. It’s native to Eurasia but now grows across most of North America, especially in the dry West and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

The USDA Forest Service’s Fire Effects Information System notes it is most common along sea beaches and in disturbed grassland and desert communities. If you’ve seen a round, bristly ball of dead stems bouncing across a highway, you’ve met it.

Opposite-Leaved Saltwort (Agretti)

Salsola soda goes by many names, including opposite-leaved saltwort, barilla plant, monk’s beard, and agretti. It’s native to salty coastal soils around the Mediterranean, where it has been eaten as a vegetable for generations.

Unlike its prickly cousin, agretti is soft and tender when young, with long, fleshy leaves that look a little like thick chives. This is the saltwort most people will want to eat.

Batis Maritima (American Saltwort)

In Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean, “saltwort” usually means Batis maritima, a sprawling succulent shrub from a completely different plant family. The University of Florida’s plant directory lists it as a native of coastal strands, salt flats, marshes, and mangroves.

Batis has its own long history as a salty potherb and pickle, but it’s unrelated to Salsola. If you live near the coast, it’s worth knowing which saltwort you’re actually looking at.

A Quick Note on Glasswort and Samphire

Glasswort, also called marsh samphire or sea beans, belongs to the genus Salicornia. It’s sometimes called saltwort too, and it shared saltwort’s old job in glassmaking.

Glasswort is a separate plant with jointed, leafless green stems. It deserves its own guide, so we’ll keep the focus here on true Salsola saltworts.

How to Identify Saltwort

Identifying Prickly Saltwort

Prickly saltwort is an annual that grows into a highly branched, rounded bush. According to the Forest Service, it typically reaches 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 5 feet across.

Its leaves are narrow, awl-shaped, and tipped with sharp spines, and its tiny, easy-to-miss flowers sit where the leaves meet the stems. Young spring plants are softer and greener, often with reddish or purple striping along the stems.

The plant flowers from roughly June through August and sets seed from August through November. After the first fall frost kills it, the main stem breaks free from the root and the whole plant tumbles across the land, scattering seed as it goes.

A single plant can produce around 250,000 seeds. That’s why it spreads so aggressively, and why foragers have a responsibility not to help it along.

Identifying Agretti

Agretti grows as a low, bushy annual with fleshy, needle-like leaves arranged opposite each other on the stem. The young shoots are bright green, juicy, and crunchy, without the hard spines of Russian thistle.

As the plant matures, the stems get woody and the leaves get tougher. That’s why agretti is harvested young, while it’s still tender enough to eat.

Possible Lookalikes

Kochia, sometimes called burningbush or fireweed, also forms tumbleweeds and grows in the same disturbed, dry places. Lamb’s quarters, a common edible weed in the same family, can look similar when very young.

If you’re new to wild plants, start with a good field guide and, ideally, an experienced local forager. Our complete beginner’s guide to foraging covers the basic rules for identifying any wild plant safely.

A Plant That Built an Industry: Saltwort and Glass

Saltwort earns its name honestly. These plants pull sodium from salty soil and store it in their tissues, which made them valuable long before anyone thought about eating them.

For centuries, people burned saltwort and collected the ashes, which contained an impure form of sodium carbonate known as soda ash. According to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s CAMEO conservation database, this product was called barilla, and it was produced by burning Salsola kali or Salsola soda.

Barilla was a key ingredient in glassmaking and soapmaking. Spain, Sicily, and the Mediterranean exported it widely, and the clarity of famous Venetian glass depended on high-quality plant ash.

The trade faded in the 19th century, when chemists learned to make sodium carbonate from salt and other minerals. But the plant’s legacy lives on in a single word: the element sodium takes its name from “soda,” the ash these plants produced.

Saltwort as Food

Agretti: The Saltwort Worth Cooking

Agretti is the star of the saltwort kitchen. It tastes fresh, grassy, and slightly salty, with a satisfying crunch that holds up well to quick cooking.

The classic Italian preparation is simple. Trim the tough lower stems, rinse the shoots well, blanch them for a minute or two in boiling water, then toss them in a hot pan with olive oil, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon.

Agretti also makes a lovely bed for grilled fish, a crunchy addition to pasta, or a quick side for eggs. Go easy on added salt, because the plant brings plenty of its own.

Fresh agretti is hard to find outside specialty markets, and it only stays crisp for a few days. That’s why many herbal cooks grow their own.

Young Russian Thistle Shoots

Young prickly saltwort shoots have been eaten as a cooked potherb in some traditions, harvested in spring before the spines harden. Once the plant matures, the spiny tips make it unpleasant and potentially irritating to eat.

If you try it, gather only the tender tips from clean ground and cook them like any other wild green. Treat it as an occasional food rather than a staple, for reasons we’ll cover in the safety section.

A Surprising Survival Food for Livestock

Russian thistle has a remarkable history on the range. The Forest Service notes that Russian thistle hay is credited with saving the beef cattle industry in Canada and the United States during the Dust Bowl, when conventional hay crops failed.

Researchers have even studied it as a hay crop for dry regions. In one New Mexico trial, irrigated Russian thistle produced 73 percent as much dry matter as alfalfa while needing only half as much water.

What’s Inside the Plant

Most of the nutrition data we have on Russian thistle comes from livestock research. The Forest Service reports that fresh, immature leaves and stems contained about 11.5 percent protein and 12.4 percent crude fiber, along with a high mineral content.

The dried winter plant was described as a good source of vitamin A and phosphorus for grazing animals. Agretti is likewise valued in Italian cooking as a fresh green rich in minerals, though detailed human nutrition data for it is still limited.

These numbers are a reminder that saltwort is a real food plant, not just a weed. They don’t, however, tell us how much benefit a person gets from an occasional side dish, so treat them as background rather than health claims.

Traditional Uses in Folk Medicine

Across the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, saltwort species have a long history in folk medicine. A 2022 review in the Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry notes that Salsola species were traditionally used to lower blood pressure, calm inflammation, and support the immune system.

Researchers studying agretti also point out that Salsola species were used in folk medicine for hypertension, constipation, and inflammation. Some species were used against intestinal worms, and in parts of Africa, certain shrubby Salsola species were used in traditional contraception.

Keep in mind that these uses come from many different Salsola species across many cultures. What one region used a desert shrub for doesn’t automatically apply to the tumbleweed in your backyard or the agretti in your garden.

What Does the Research Say?

Scientists have only recently started paying serious attention to saltwort. The 2022 review in Plants describes the genus as frequently overlooked, with most research focused on identifying species and studying their pollen.

What’s Been Found in the Lab

Laboratory and animal studies on various Salsola species have reported a long list of potential activities. These include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, liver-protective, and blood-sugar-lowering effects.

Saltwort plants contain a rich mix of plant compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, coumarins, and alkaloids. In test-tube studies, extracts from agretti and other Salsola species inhibited an enzyme involved in blood pressure regulation, and flavonoids from agretti showed anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential.

The Honest Bottom Line

Here’s what matters most: these findings come from test tubes and animals, not people. As of this writing, there are no human clinical trials showing that saltwort treats high blood pressure, diabetes, inflammation, or any other condition.

Many of the most interesting results also come from Salsola species you’re unlikely to find in North America. So while saltwort is a fascinating plant with real research interest, it isn’t a proven remedy, and it shouldn’t replace any treatment your doctor recommends.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises against using unproven natural products as a substitute for conventional care or as a reason to delay seeing a health care provider. That advice applies fully here.

Safety, Side Effects, and Who Should Avoid Saltwort

Saltwort is a food plant for many people, but it comes with real cautions. Read this section before you harvest, cook, or experiment with it.

Safety Warning

Do not use saltwort medicinally if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding. Some Salsola species have shown contraceptive and hormone-related effects in animal studies, and there is no safety data for these groups.

People with Russian thistle, lamb’s quarters, or weed pollen allergies should avoid handling flowering plants and should be cautious about eating saltwort. Seek emergency care for any trouble breathing, throat tightness, or widespread hives.

Saltwort can be very high in sodium and contains oxalate. If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, or a history of kidney stones, or follow a low-sodium diet, talk to your doctor before eating it regularly.

If you take blood pressure or diabetes medication, avoid using saltwort extracts or concentrated preparations without medical advice. Lab studies suggest effects on blood pressure and blood sugar pathways, so interactions are possible even though they haven’t been studied in people.

Pollen Allergies

Russian thistle pollen is a well-known allergen. A 2024 study in Frontiers in Immunology describes saltwort pollen as a major allergen source in parts of southern Europe, Turkey, Central Asia, and Iran, and notes it was recognized as an important allergenic plant in the United States as early as 1933.

People allergic to saltwort pollen mainly suffer from hay fever, itchy and watery eyes, asthma, and allergic skin symptoms. The same study found that saltwort shares allergens with related weeds like lamb’s quarters, so people sensitive to one may react to another.

If you have weed pollen allergies, avoid handling saltwort while it’s flowering in summer. Wear long sleeves and gloves, and don’t cut or shake mature plants near your face.

Sodium Content

Saltwort lives up to its name. In a multi-year USDA field study of agretti grown in saline soil, sodium made up roughly 5 to 9 percent of the plant’s dry weight, and the researchers specifically noted that agretti consumption should be monitored for people on a low-sodium diet.

Sodium levels depend heavily on where the plant grows, so agretti grown in ordinary garden soil will likely be less salty than plants from a salt flat. Still, it’s smart to taste before you salt and to eat it in normal vegetable portions.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that adults aim for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. That’s especially important if you’ve had calcium-based kidney stones.

Oxalate and Kidney Stones

Like spinach and several of its relatives, saltwort contains oxalate. The Forest Service notes that Russian thistle contains small amounts, and seed meal tested in one study contained about 2.2 percent oxalate.

For most people, moderate amounts of oxalate in vegetables aren’t a problem. But if you’ve had calcium oxalate kidney stones, the NIDDK’s guidance on diet and kidney stones recommends limiting oxalate and sodium, so saltwort is best kept to an occasional side dish.

If kidney health is on your mind, our complete guide to herbs for kidneys and urinary health goes deeper into which plants are gentle and which deserve caution.

Where It Grows Matters

Salt-loving plants are very good at pulling minerals out of the soil. The USDA study found that agretti readily accumulated sodium, boron, and selenium from salty ground and irrigation water.

That’s useful on a farm, but risky for a forager. Russian thistle often grows along roadsides, railroad tracks, and fence lines, places that may be sprayed with herbicides or contaminated with runoff, so only harvest from clean ground you know well.

Physical Hazards

Mature prickly saltwort has sharp, stiff spines that can scratch skin and irritate the mouth. Wear a sturdy pair of leather gardening gloves when handling it, and never eat the spiny mature plant.

How to Grow Agretti at Home

If you want to cook with saltwort, growing agretti is the easiest and safest route. It’s a cool-season annual that does best when sown early in spring.

Start With Fresh Seed

The biggest challenge with agretti is the seed. In the USDA field study, researchers found that seed viability was very poor after about three months of storage, and some years germination was so low that no planting happened at all.

Buy agretti seeds as close to planting time as possible, and sow them as soon as they arrive. Old seed is the most common reason gardeners fail with this plant.

Planting and Care

Sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring, about a quarter inch deep, in full sun and well-drained soil. Agretti tolerates salty and poor soils, but it grows happily in ordinary garden beds with regular watering.

Thin seedlings so plants have room to bush out. In the USDA study, direct-seeded agretti produced more tender shoots with less woody stem than transplanted plants.

Harvesting

Harvest agretti while the shoots are young, tender, and bright green, typically six to eight weeks after sowing. Cut the tops a little above the soil, and use them within a few days for the best crunch.

Once the stems turn woody and the plant starts to flower, quality drops quickly. Sowing a small batch every few weeks in spring will stretch your harvest.

Foraging Prickly Saltwort Responsibly

Russian thistle is an invasive weed across much of North America, so you won’t run out of it. But that also means foragers need to be careful not to spread it.

Harvest only young spring shoots before the plant flowers or sets seed. Never move mature or dead plants from one area to another, because each tumbleweed carries tens of thousands of seeds.

Check local rules before you harvest on public land, and always get permission on private property. When in doubt, leave it and grow agretti instead.

Using Saltwort in a Modern Herbal Kitchen

For most people, saltwort is best treated as a nutritious, flavorful vegetable rather than a medicine. That’s how it has been used most safely and most often throughout history.

Agretti works beautifully as a side dish, a salad green when very young, or a salty, crunchy topping for fish, eggs, and grains. It can also be quick-pickled in vinegar for a tangy condiment.

Because it brings its own salt, agretti can help you cut back on added salt in a dish. Just remember that it’s still a source of sodium, so it isn’t a free pass for anyone on a strict low-sodium diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is saltwort the same as tumbleweed?

Prickly saltwort, also called Russian thistle, is the classic tumbleweed of the American West. Other plants, such as kochia, can also become tumbleweeds, and agretti is a related saltwort that doesn’t tumble the same way.

Is saltwort safe to eat?

Agretti is a traditional vegetable that’s widely eaten in Italy and is generally considered safe in normal food amounts for healthy adults. People with pollen allergies, kidney stones, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or low-sodium diets should be cautious, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid medicinal use.

Can saltwort lower blood pressure?

Some lab studies suggest saltwort extracts may affect an enzyme involved in blood pressure, and it has been used for this purpose in folk medicine. However, there are no human trials, and its high sodium content could actually work against you, so don’t use it to manage blood pressure.

Is saltwort the same as samphire?

Not quite. Samphire or glasswort belongs to the genus Salicornia, while true saltworts belong to Salsola, though both are salt-loving plants that were once burned for soda ash and are sometimes confused.

Rediscover the Forgotten Healing Secrets of Your Own Backyard

For centuries, people looked to the plants growing around them for more than just food. From humble garden herbs to wild plants found along country paths, generations of herbalists explored nature’s potential to support everyday health and well-being.

Saltwort is a fascinating example of this forgotten relationship between people and plants. Once valued for food, traditional remedies, and even glassmaking, it reminds us just how much knowledge previous generations accumulated about the natural world.

But saltwort also teaches us something important: not every traditional remedy is safe, and not every medicinal claim has been proven. Knowing which plants to use, how to prepare them, and when to avoid them is just as important as knowing their traditional benefits.

What if you could rediscover generations of herbal wisdom and learn how to put that knowledge to practical use in your own home?

That’s where The Forgotten Home Apothecary comes in.

This fascinating herbal resource is designed for people who want to reconnect with traditional plant knowledge and explore the art of creating a home apothecary.

Turn Everyday Herbs Into Practical Herbal Knowledge

Imagine being able to walk into your garden, recognize useful medicinal herbs, and understand the traditional ways people prepared them.

With The Forgotten Home Apothecary, you can explore the world of traditional herbal preparations and discover:

• Forgotten herbal traditions: Reconnect with the plant knowledge and home apothecary practices that were once passed down through generations.
• Natural herbal preparations: Explore traditional approaches to making herbal teas, infusions, salves, oils, and other botanical preparations.
• The potential of familiar plants: Learn why common herbs and overlooked plants have held an important place in traditional herbal practices.
• A more resourceful household: Discover how growing and understanding useful herbs can become part of a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
• The importance of proper identification: Understand why recognizing the correct plant and learning about its precautions are essential parts of responsible herbalism.
• A deeper connection with nature: Rediscover the satisfaction of understanding the plants around you rather than seeing them as ordinary weeds.

The Knowledge Our Grandparents Valued Is Worth Rediscovering

There was a time when a small collection of dried herbs, homemade preparations, and carefully preserved botanical knowledge was a familiar part of household life.

Today, much of that traditional knowledge is unfamiliar to people who have never grown, gathered, or prepared their own herbs.

The Forgotten Home Apothecary offers an opportunity to explore that world again, combining curiosity about traditional plant uses with the practical mindset of someone who wants to become more knowledgeable and self-reliant.

And you don’t need to be an experienced herbalist to begin exploring.

Whether you already grow medicinal herbs, enjoy foraging, or simply want to learn more about the plants people have valued for centuries, this is an opportunity to take your interest in herbal traditions further.

Of course, traditional herbal preparations aren’t substitutes for proven medical treatment, and natural ingredients can have side effects or interact with medications. Responsible herbal knowledge includes understanding those limitations.

Don’t Let Generations of Herbal Knowledge Fade Away

Every plant has a story. Some have been used as food, others in traditional remedies, and many have surprising histories that most people have never heard.

Saltwort is just one example of how much there is left to discover.

If you’ve ever wondered what other forgotten botanical traditions are waiting to be rediscovered, The Forgotten Home Apothecary is an excellent place to continue your journey.

Discover The Forgotten Home Apothecary Today

Explore the fascinating world of traditional herbal knowledge and take another step toward building your own home apothecary.

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Final Thoughts

Saltwort is one of those plants that rewards curiosity. It helped make some of the finest glass of Renaissance Venice, fed cattle through the Dust Bowl, and still turns up as a prized vegetable on Italian tables.

As medicine, though, it’s still more promise than proof. Enjoy agretti as a crunchy, salty green, respect the allergy and sodium cautions, and leave the bold health claims to future research.

If you grow one new plant this spring, agretti is a fun one to try. Just make sure your seeds are fresh, and harvest them young.

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The post Saltwort – The Complete Guide to the Salty Plant Behind Tumbleweeds, Agretti, and Venetian Glass appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

You wake up with a stiff neck.

Your knees complain when you climb the stairs.

Your stomach decides to ruin a perfectly good dinner.

And just when you think you’ve had enough, a headache shows up to finish the job.

Sound familiar?

The worst part isn’t always the pain itself. It’s how these little aches slowly steal the things you enjoy.

Your afternoon walks. Your time in the garden. A good night’s sleep. Even sitting comfortably with your family.

And when something starts hurting, it’s tempting to head straight for the medicine cabinet.

But here’s something worth remembering.

Long before every household had shelves full of modern pain relievers, our grandparents knew which plants to reach for when everyday aches appeared.

Your body has been playing enough tricks on you. It’s time to discover a few herbal treats.

10. Headaches: When Your Head Won’t Give You a Break

Stress, tension, and poor sleep can leave you with a pounding headache that ruins your concentration and makes even simple tasks miserable.

But our ancestors had a little trick for this: peppermint.

Traditionally used for headache relief, properly diluted peppermint oil can provide a cooling sensation when applied to your temples or forehead, away from your eyes.

A simple herbal trick worth remembering when tension strikes. That’s for the outside. For the inside, I recommend a calming herb.

When your mind won’t switch off, headaches can follow. I noticed it myself when drinking more coffee than I should.

If that sounds familiar, a few drops of lemon balm may be exactly what you need.

I keep Nicole’s 100% organic Lemon Balm Tincture around because it’s simple, fast and already prepared.

9. Muscle Aches & Bruises: The Price You Pay for a Productive Day

Gardening, carrying groceries, or working around the house can leave your muscles sore and your skin covered in mysterious little bruises.

That’s exactly the kind of discomfort our ancestors turned to arnica for.

This bright yellow flower has traditionally been used for muscle soreness, bruises, and minor sprains.

Try a properly formulated arnica cream or gel on intact skin. For fresh bruises, start with a cold compress.

Bruises, little cuts, dry hands, cracked skin, irritated spots…

And with colder weather coming, cracked lips and winter-dry skin are next in line.

That’s why I like using arnica. Having an arnica natural salve without other hard-to-pronounce ingredients covers a lot of these little everyday problems. I got mine here, and I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t trust the herbal power. 

Winter is almost here. I’d get this into the cabinet before your skin starts complaining.

8. Neck & Shoulder Aches: When Stress Settles Into Your Muscles

Stress, long hours at your desk, or sleeping awkwardly can leave your shoulders tight and your neck painfully stiff.

Our ancestors often turned to calming herbs like lavender and chamomile to help them unwind.

Lavender has traditionally been enjoyed in relaxing baths and aromatherapy, while chamomile makes a comforting evening tea.

Pair either with a warm compress and gentle stretching to help ease everyday tension.

7. Back Aches: When Even Sitting Gets Uncomfortable

Poor posture, overworked muscles, and everyday strain can turn standing, bending, or even sitting into an uncomfortable experience.

Two traditional plant remedies worth knowing are willow bark and cayenne pepper.

Willow bark has long been used for minor back and joint pain, while cayenne contains capsaicin, used in topical preparations for certain muscle and nerve-related aches.

Use only properly formulated topical capsaicin products. Willow bark isn’t suitable for people with aspirin allergies or certain medication interactions.

Persistent pain, burning, or tingling deserves medical attention.

6. Joint Aches: When Your Knees Start Talking Back

Stiff knees, aching fingers, and painful hips can make everyday activities feel like hard work, especially as you get older.

Thankfully, two familiar kitchen spices have a long history of traditional use for joint discomfort: turmeric and ginger.

Turmeric has traditionally been valued for inflammatory complaints, while ginger has been used in warming remedies for aching joints.

Try combining them in a comforting cup of golden milk.

Notice something?

Back aches. Joint aches. Tight shoulders. Sore muscles… and one herb keeps showing up around all of them:

Cayenne.

Nicole’s natural cayenne salve, boosted with other joint-supporting herbs gives you that warming sensation within seconds after you apply it.

If your body already aches now, don’t wait for colder weather to make it worse. This is the salve I’d keep ready.

5. Tummy Aches: When Dinner Comes Back to Haunt You

Bloating, nausea, and stomach cramps can quickly turn a delicious meal into an uncomfortable evening.

Fortunately, ginger and peppermint have been trusted digestive companions for generations.

Ginger has traditionally been used for nausea and upset stomachs, while peppermint has been valued for digestive discomfort and cramping.

Try a warm cup of ginger tea or peppermint tea after meals.

Just remember that peppermint can make acid reflux worse.

If your stomach is the part of your body that likes to ruin a perfectly good day, this is my personal favorite gut-soothing tincture.

It brings several traditional gut-supporting herbs together in one easy formula, so you don’t have to brew three teas every time your digestion acts up.

4. Tired, Aching Feet & Nighttime Cramps

Long days on your feet can leave your legs aching, while sudden nighttime cramps can interrupt even your deepest sleep.

A warm herbal foot soak is one simple tradition worth bringing back.

Try soaking your feet in comfortably warm water with dried lavender or chamomile.

For nighttime cramps, gently stretch and massage the affected muscle. A warm ginger tea can make a pleasant addition to your bedtime routine, although ginger isn’t a proven treatment for cramps. 

3. Menstrual Cramps: When Your Monthly Visitor Isn’t Welcome

Monthly cramps can leave your lower abdomen aching, your energy drained, and your plans completely disrupted.

One traditional kitchen remedy worth remembering is ginger.

This warming root has a long history of use for menstrual discomfort.

Try sipping warm ginger tea with a little honey and pairing it with a heating pad for extra comfort.

Severe or unusually painful periods should always be checked.

For monthly cramps, I’d look beyond ginger too. Black cohosh root, red clover leaf, and flower were traditionally used for cramping, tension, and women’s monthly comfort. If not you, at least one of your friends. It’s one of the best things you can give your body before, during and after perimenopause.

Nicole put them together in a formula designed specifically for women — and I like that it was made by a woman who actually understands why this matters, not by some giant company trying to create another pink bottle for profit.

Check out her herbal blend here.

2. Sore, Thick Toenails: The Problem Hiding Inside Your Shoes

Fungal nail infections can leave your toenails thick, brittle, and uncomfortable, especially when they press against your shoes.

Tea tree oil has a long history of traditional topical use for fungal skin complaints.

Although it hasn’t been reliably shown to clear nail fungus, it remains a familiar ingredient in herbal foot-care preparations.

Keep your feet dry, avoid tight footwear, and have persistent or painful fungal nail problems properly treated.

Never apply undiluted essential oil to irritated skin.

For stubborn toenails, foot baths were traditionally used. All you had to do is add garlic, usnea, and some apple cider vinegar. 

But here’s the problem with that:

You can soak your feet all you want and still struggle to reach the little spaces around and underneath the nail where the problem likes to hide.

And vinegar can irritate or burn if you use it too aggressively.

That’s why I’d rather use a Usnea Spray.

The spray lets you aim directly around the nail, along the sides, and into those awkward little gaps while giving you usnea’s naturally antimicrobial compounds.

If that nail is already starting to thicken or change, I wouldn’t wait for it to get worse. This is the one I’d use now.

1. The Ache That Comes From Being Completely Exhausted

Poor sleep and constant stress can leave your head heavy, your shoulders tense, and your whole body feeling worn out.

Sometimes the best herbal treat is a calming evening ritual.

Chamomile has traditionally been used for relaxation, while ashwagandha has a long history in Ayurvedic traditions for stress and vitality.

Ashwagandha isn’t suitable for everyone, particularly during pregnancy or with certain medical conditions and medications.

And with Halloween just around the corner, there’s a delicious seasonal way to bring a little herbal comfort into your evening.

Enter the Halloween Pumpkin Night Latte.

The Halloween Pumpkin Night Latte

When your body feels exhausted but your mind won’t slow down, treat yourself to something warm and calming.

This homemade pumpkin latte combines ginger, cinnamon, and chamomile, an herb traditionally used for relaxation.

What You’ll Need

• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup milk of your choice
• ¼ cup strongly brewed chamomile tea
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• A pinch of ground ginger
• Honey or maple syrup, to taste
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Here’s How to Make It

1. Brew your chamomile tea.
2. Warm the pumpkin puree, milk, and spices in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
3. Add the chamomile tea, sweeten if desired, and pour into your favorite mug.

Want to take your relaxation routine further?

Ashwagandha has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress and vitality, while chamomile has long been valued for its calming properties.

If you like the idea of ashwagandha but don’t feel like measuring powders or making another drink every night, this is the tincture I use from Nicole’s Apothecary.

Neither is a cure for pain or insomnia, and ashwagandha isn’t suitable for everyone, particularly during pregnancy or with certain medications.

So grab your mug, get comfortable, and give yourself a moment to unwind.

And if this is more than the occasional restless night — if falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up exhausted has started becoming your normal — I’d go one step further.

Nicole’s Sleep Blend combines herbs traditionally used to support relaxation and sleep in one tincture, so you don’t have to experiment with them one by one.

Because bad sleep doesn’t just ruin tomorrow.

It ruins your energy, mood, patience, and recovery tonight.

If sleep has already become a problem, don’t put this off for another week. Check out the Sleep Blend here.

Don’t Let Little Aches Steal Your Favorite Moments

Our grandparents knew that some of the most useful remedies started with simple plants.

And that’s really the bigger lesson here.

Knowing that chamomile calms, arnica soothes, or peppermint cools is useful.

But knowing when to harvest a plant, which part to use, how to prepare it, and how not to ruin the remedy is what turns random herbal knowledge into something you can actually use.

That’s exactly what Nicole teaches.

If you’re serious about learning plants instead of just reading about them, start here.

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We’ve heard from readers who are tired of spending their hard-earned money on overpriced autumn remedies that promise the world.

And you’ve asked us to expose what’s really going on.

Well, here it is.

Every fall, pharmacy shelves fill with “immune-boosting” gummies, expensive syrups, and miracle powders promising to protect you through the colder months.

But look closer.

Some contain more sugar than you’d expect. Others hide the actual amounts of herbs behind fancy labels.

There’s a difference between paying for quality herbs and paying for clever marketing.

Our grandparents knew that. And I’m going to show you what they used when money was tight, pharmacies weren’t always accessible, and they relied on simple, natural remedies they could prepare themselves.

So before you spend another dollar, let’s uncover the autumn health traps worth avoiding—and the old-fashioned remedies worth bringing back.

1. The Immunity Gummies That Are More Candy Than Medicine

Let’s start with one of autumn’s most tempting products: ‘immunity’ gummies.

Little purple or orange gummies decorated with elderberries, echinacea, vitamin C, and promises of “protecting your immune system”.

Some even taste better than candy. So I started asking questions.

Why does something meant to support your health need to taste like dessert?

Look closer. Depending on the brand, you might find added sugars, glucose syrup, flavorings, and coloring agents.

What if what they’re marketing as healthy does more harm than good?

You should know what you’re paying for, especially when the bottle promises extraordinary protection against autumn illnesses.

Want a guide on making your own gummies at home for different parts of the body? Let me know in the comments.

Here’s What They Don’t Tell You About Vitamin C

Vitamin C supports your immune system, but it doesn’t make you immune to colds, despite what some supplement marketing suggests.

Why buy expensive gummies when rosehips, bell peppers, citrus fruits, and leafy greens provide vitamin C naturally?

My tip? Add fresh lemon to your tea. You get vitamin C, antioxidants, support for collagen production, and a refreshing flavor.

That’s the beauty of whole plants: they offer more than one isolated nutrient.

This is just one of those things people rarely explain to you clearly.

But we will.

At The Lost Herbs, we value herbal remedies and the natural approach first. Nicole Apelian does too — and if you read her story here, you’ll understand why. Her own life pushed her to look far beyond conventional answers and build a more holistic way of caring for her health. 

That doesn’t mean Western medicine is bad.

It means that before you jump straight to the strongest option, you may want to see what else you can do with food, herbs, movement, stress relief, sleep, supplements, and other natural approaches.

Nicole has mapped that out for 45 common ailments, and chances are one of them is something you or someone close to you is already dealing with. 

At the beginning of each protocol, she gives you a pyramid showing what may have the biggest impact first, then works upward toward supplements, herbal remedies, and Western approaches. After that, she breaks everything down into a morning, afternoon, and evening plan, so you know what to do and when to do it. 

Click here to read Nicole’s story and see the 45 holistic protocols she put together.

2. The Supplement Label Trick 

Here’s something most people never think to check.

That giant number on your supplement bottle might not mean what you think it means.

Take magnesium glycinate, for example. This pill says it has 400 mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule so you would think that taking just one capsule will give you the exact amount you need for daily health.

But when we look behind the label, we see that the actual amount of elemental magnesium is 60 mg.

That is 14% of your daily recommended amount. Crazy.

In reality, you’d have to take up to 7 of those pills every day just to get the bare minimum amount of magnesium you need to function on a daily basis.

Let me tell you, an adequate amount of magnesium can completely turn your life around.

I went from barely sleeping at night (like barely getting 2-3 hours of rest), while having anxiety and panic attacks to how I’m feeling right now. I sleep better, I’m always well-rested, go to bed easily, and I barely get joint pains anymore. It also offers a lot of relief from headaches or migraines.

But this time, I didn’t buy the magnesium supplements. I made them myself, but with Dr. Nicole Apelian’s help.

I took her class on herbalism, The Lost Remedies Academy, and she guided me every step of the way.

Some of the lessons that caught my attention most are:

• • Eat This to Fertilize Your Gut
  • Cleanse Your Bowels With These 2 Herbs
  • Fatty Liver Repair Tea
  • The Doxycycline of the Woods
  • Medicinal mushroom preparations
  • tinctures, salves, syrups, poultices, and extracts

I made a collage that I added to this article so you can check out the ones that I made.

At the end of the course, Nicole surprised me by awarding me a beautiful diploma, of which I attached a photo below.

You can check out the classes The Lost Remedies Academy here.

The Old-Fashioned Alternative? Know Your Plants.

Instead of buying a mystery combination, start learning what individual herbs have traditionally been used for.

For example:

Elderberry has a long history of use during cold and flu season. Even modern research suggests it may help with certain upper respiratory symptoms.

Echinacea was used medicinally by several Native American peoples and later became a familiar cold-season herb. It may reduce your chances of catching a cold.

Ginger has been used for generations to help with nausea and digestive discomfort. It also makes a wonderfully warming tea when you’re feeling chilled and miserable.

Thyme has a long tradition of use for coughs, especially those accompanied by mucus.

See the difference?

You begin understanding what each plant offers instead of relying on a mysterious combination with an impressive name.

And once you know your herbs, you can make simple preparations at home.

As you’ve seen, the supplements and medicinal plants you find in supermarkets or pharmacies can’t really compare with the medicine you make yourself.

The remedies that you make from your backyard plants or those you pick directly from nature are much more powerful and you know exactly what went in them. That’s why a class like Dr. Nicole Apelian’s The Lost Remedies Academy could put an end to all of your second-guessing.

I invite you to check out the Academy here. The spots are filling up quickly, so there aren’t that many left!

3. The Cough Syrup Scam Your Grandmother Would Laugh At

Here’s something that would probably make your grandmother laugh.

Thinking you need to BUY an expensive syrup just to HAVE a syrup at home.

They’ve created daytime, nighttime, maximum-strength, and every flavored formula imaginable. Anything to make sure there’s something you’ll buy.

But your grandmother knew she already had one ingredient to make a soothing syrup:

Honey.

That thick, liquid gold has been used for generations to soothe sore throats and calm nighttime coughs.

And all you need to do is combine it with traditional ingredients like thyme, ginger, elderberry, or onion, depending on your recipe.

No long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce.

In fact, this old-fashioned syrup needs just two ingredients:

You know those sore-throat sprays you aim straight at the back of your throat when it feels raw or irritated?

There’s a herbal version of that idea too.

Usnea has traditionally been valued for its antimicrobial properties, and a spray helps you direct it right where you want it — farther back in the throat instead of just swallowing a tincture.

Nicole already makes it as a ready-to-use Usnea Spray.

If you want a herbal alternative to the usual sore-throat spray, this is the one I’d keep in the medicine cabinet.

Make Your Own Old-Fashioned Onion & Honey Syrup

This traditional preparation has been passed down through families for generations.

It’s inexpensive, requires just two ingredients, and takes only a few minutes to put together.

You’ll need:

• 1 medium onion
• Enough honey to cover the sliced onion
• 1 clean glass jar with a lid

Here’s how to make it:

1. Peel your onion and slice it into thin rings.
2. Place a few onion slices at the bottom of your jar.
3. Pour honey over them until covered.
4. Continue layering onion and honey until you’ve used the whole onion.
5. Cover the jar and refrigerate it. Over the next few hours, the onion releases some of its moisture into the honey, creating a thinner syrup.
6. Strain out the onion and keep the liquid refrigerated. Make small batches and discard leftovers after 24 hours.

You can take a small spoonful to coat an irritated throat, provided honey is appropriate for you.

Why did our grandparents swear by this combination?

Onion has been used for generations to ease coughs, while honey helps calm coughing, soothe sore throats, and provide relief at night.

Together, they make a simple, old-fashioned syrup you can prepare right in your kitchen.

No complicated ingredients. No expensive formulas. Just two ingredients your grandmother already trusted.

Important: Never give honey, including homemade honey syrup, to a baby younger than 12 months. Also, don’t rely on this remedy for a persistent, severe, or worsening cough.

Want to give that simple onion-and-honey syrup a little more herbal power?

You can add traditional cold-season herbs like yarrow or yerba santa, both of which have a long history of use in respiratory and immune-support preparations.

That way, your two-ingredient syrup becomes a much broader herbal formula without turning it into something complicated.

Personally, I like keeping the ready-made tinctures around because they’re easy to use and more concentrated than starting from scratch every time.

You can find Nicole’s Yarrow Tincture here, and her Yerba Santa Tincture here.

5. The Overpriced Herbal Remedies Trap

Let’s take elderberry as an example.

For centuries, families used elderberries to make homemade syrups and remedies during the colder months.

Today? Companies sell you elderberry gummies, capsules, powders, and expensive syrups.

Same traditional plant. Much bigger price tag.

Elderberry may help ease certain cold and flu symptoms, but it won’t magically prevent you from getting sick, no matter what the packaging suggests.

And here’s something important if you’re making your own syrup:

Raw or unripe elderberries can be toxic. Always use properly identified, ripe berries, cook them thoroughly, and follow a reliable recipe.

You can save money by making your own, but preparation matters.

After all, the secret isn’t in the expensive bottle. It’s knowing how to use the plant inside.

Elderberry itself isn’t the problem.

The problem is paying a huge markup for gummies, powders, and syrups when you don’t really know what else has been added.

That’s why I prefer a pure Elderberry Tincture.

Nicole uses 100% organic or hand-picked herbs, with no unnecessary extras hiding in the formula. You know exactly what you’re getting, which means you keep far more control over what actually goes into your body.

If you want elderberry in a simple, concentrated form without the sugar, fillers, or mystery ingredients, this is the one I’d keep around.

And since cold season has barely started, I wouldn’t wait until everyone around you is coughing before getting your winter herbs together.

I like having all the herbal arsenal stockpile ready before I actually need them.

Nicole bundled several of them together in her Winter Defense Bundle, which is much easier than buying everything one bottle at a time.

These “Scams” Were Harder to Pull Off When People Knew How to Make Things Themselves

A few hundred years ago, people didn’t need a different brightly colored bottle for every little problem.

They knew how to make things.

They knew which plants to use, how to preserve food, how to store water, how to make household remedies, and how to get by without buying a ready-made solution for everything.

A lot of those skills simply stopped being passed down.

That’s why I like what the historian Claude Davis gathered in the Lost Healing Skills chapter of his book.

Inside are 200 practical skills, including things like:

• Grandma’s Defense Tonic
• Honey-Fermented Garlic
• Flu Bomb Drops
• Respiratory Support Tincture
• Stop-Bleeding Powder
• old food-preservation methods
• water, gardening, DIY, and self-reliance skills

Each one comes with step-by-step instructions and illustrations, so you can actually do it yourself, not just read about it. 

And right now, the current offer shows 76% off + 3 free bonus guides, with a 60-day keep-the-book guarantee. 

Click here to recover the skills people used before everything came with a price tag.

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The post Don’t ‘Fall’ For These Autumn Health Scams appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

But once I tell you the shocking things garlic does in your body, you might just start eating it tomorrow morning.

Keep reading to discover what garlic can do for your body, how to prepare it to make the most of its benefits, and why you might want to take it first thing in the morning.

Nature’s Antibiotic

Garlic has been called “Nature’s Antibiotic” for generations.

Long before modern medicine, people reached for it when dealing with infections, sore throats, coughs, and all sorts of everyday illnesses.

Keep reading and you’ll find out why garlic is so interesting.

This is simply the old nickname that tells you how highly people valued it.

1. Immunity

You know what’s worse than waking up on a Monday morning? Waking up with a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and that awful feeling that you’re about to get sick. And it always seems to happen at the worst possible time, doesn’t it?

Let me teach you something: Why doesn’t garlic have that strong smell when it’s sitting in your kitchen, even after you peel off its skin?

The answer: allicin.

Your parents and grandparents probably didn’t know what allicin was, but they certainly knew garlic had its own distinctive smell and taste.

When you cut garlic, and especially when you crush it, you damage its internal cells. This triggers a chemical reaction that produces allicin, one of the compounds responsible for garlic’s strong smell and its health benefits.

Our parents raised us with onions and garlic, believing they could help protect us from the flu and other illnesses. They didn’t know all these scientific details.

And here’s what’s interesting: garlic has antimicrobial properties that might even help reduce the number of colds you catch.

Here’s how you can enjoy it in the morning:

Crush a small garlic clove and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then stir it into a cup of warm chicken or vegetable broth with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of thyme.

Make sure the broth isn’t boiling hot when you add the garlic.

Garlic is powerful, but it’s not the only plant people traditionally turned to when they felt something coming on.

Elderberry is probably one of the best-known alternatives, especially during cold and flu season. It was traditionally used to support the immune system and help the body through respiratory illnesses.

And the knowledge around elderberries was never really forgotten.

People all over the country still turn to them during cold and flu season, especially those who want to give their bodies a little extra support.

For me, the easiest option is a good-quality Elderberry Tincture made with carefully selected berries rather than one of those overpriced mass-market formulas.

Nicole Apelian makes hers with organic/hand-picked elderberries, which isn’t something every big brand can say.

If you want an elderberry tincture you can simply keep ready, this is the one I’d look at.

You can also look at herbs like usnea, yarrow, and yerba santa, which have a long history of use for respiratory and immune support.

And if you prefer something specifically for congestion, mullein and lungwort lichen are my go-to herbs.

So if garlic upsets your stomach or you simply don’t like the taste, you still have plenty of old herbal options to turn to.

I normally wouldn’t mention this here, but lately almost everyone I know seems to have caught a cold.

And with colder weather coming, I’m thinking about this more than usual.

After everything we went through during COVID, I promised myself I’d take better care of my health — and my family’s — before something happens, not after.

So I started keeping the herbs I rely on for cold season already stocked.

Nicole actually put several of the ones I mentioned above into one Winter Defense Bundle, including herbs like elderberry, yarrow, yerba santa, mullein, and others traditionally used during cold season. 

It’s much easier — and cheaper — than buying everything separately. Click here to check it out!

2. Oxidative Stress

Every day, your body faces oxidative stress caused by things like pollution, smoking, and even normal cellular activity. Over time, this can damage your cells.

The tricky part? You can’t actually feel oxidative stress happening. But when it builds up over time, it may contribute to chronic inflammation, premature aging, and health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

So, how does garlic help?

Garlic contains natural antioxidants that may help protect your cells from oxidative damage. And that’s important because protecting your cells means supporting your body’s long-term health.

And garlic isn’t your only option! Other plants and mushrooms rich in antioxidant compounds include turmeric, ginger, rosemary, green tea, reishi mushrooms, and chaga mushrooms.

Out of all the antioxidant-rich plants and mushrooms, I personally chose reishi. Specifically, this reishi mushroom. There’s a reason it earned the old nickname “the mushroom of immortality.”

3. Heart Health

The problem with your heart is that, unlike your joints, it doesn’t usually hurt when something is wrong.

And that’s what makes heart problems so easy to overlook.

You can feel perfectly fine for years, until one day your ticker starts acting up. You might discover you need serious treatment or, worse, suffer a heart attack without much warning.

Smoking, eating processed foods, and consuming too many unhealthy fats certainly don’t help.

You see, your heart depends on blood flowing smoothly through your arteries and veins. When plaque builds up inside your arteries, they can become narrower, forcing your heart to work harder.

So, how does garlic help?

For generations, our ancestors used garlic to “strengthen the heart.” Here’s how science translates that.

Garlic contains sulfur compounds that may help your blood vessels function better. If you prepare it right, it can help lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.

And remember those narrowed arteries I mentioned?

Well, LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, contributes to plaque buildup. And studies have found that garlic may help lower LDL cholesterol, too.

That doesn’t mean garlic can unclog your arteries overnight, but it may offer your heart some extra support.

Here’s how you can enjoy it in the morning:

Crush a small garlic clove into mashed avocado, spread it over whole-grain toast, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil (a healthy fat).

You get garlic, healthy fats, and fiber in one simple breakfast.

And you don’t even have to swallow a raw garlic clove like a pill to enjoy it.

I mean, you could chew a raw garlic clove first thing in the morning… but I bet that’s not exactly how you want to start your day.

Garlic gets a lot of attention, but traditional herbalists never relied on just one plant for heart and circulation support.

Hawthorn has probably the strongest reputation here. For generations, its berries and flowers were used to support the heart and circulation.

Bilberry was valued for blood vessel support, while fenugreek and tulsi were traditionally used to support healthy circulation and metabolism.

Your heart is one organ you really cannot afford to ignore.

And the difficult part is that it can stay quiet for years while problems slowly build.

So personally, I wouldn’t rely on garlic alone.

Nicole combines hawthorn, bilberry, fenugreek, and tulsi in her Healthy Heart Blend — several herbs traditionally used for heart health.

If you want to give your heart more than garlic alone, this is the blend I’d keep around. 

And then you have mushrooms like cordyceps and reishi, which are often used for overall cardiovascular and vitality support.

Even lemon balm deserves a mention, especially when stress and tension are part of the problem.

Garlic may be one of the easiest places to start, but it’s far from the only plant people have traditionally used to look after the heart.

4. Parasites

Garlic was also traditionally used against intestinal worms and other parasites.

That’s another reason it became such an important plant in old home remedies.

People didn’t know the compounds behind it. They just knew garlic kept showing up whenever the gut was the problem.

Garlic isn’t the only traditional remedy people used for unwanted intestinal guests.

Papaya seeds are probably one of the best-known examples. They’ve long been used in traditional medicine for digestive health and parasites, and some small studies have explored their effects against intestinal worms.

Pumpkin seeds were also commonly used, especially because they contain compounds traditionally associated with paralyzing certain intestinal worms so the body can expel them more easily.

Other herbs and foods that have been traditionally used for parasites include black walnut hull, wormwood, clove, and oregano.

After something as aggressive as a parasite cleanse, I think it’s just as important to ask:

What are you doing to support your gut afterward?

And even without a cleanse, your digestion still deals with processed food, stress, pesticides, and all the other things modern life throws at it.

That’s why I like keeping gut-supporting herbs in my routine.

Nicole created her Balanced Gut Blend with gut-soothing plants, giving you an easy way to support digestion without preparing everything separately.

With so many people dealing with upset digestion these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes one of her most popular blends.

If your gut needs a little more attention, check it out here.

This Is How Most People Ruin Garlic’s Best Properties

If you don’t feel garlic working, here’s why.

Remember allicin, the compound we talked about earlier?

When garlic is whole, its allicin-producing ingredients are kept separate inside the clove. But when you chop or crush it, you break those cells apart, triggering a chemical reaction that starts producing allicin almost immediately.

If you want to get the most out of garlic, don’t crush or chop it and immediately throw it into a hot pan. And don’t just throw it in whole, either!

So, here’s the forgotten garlic secret: Crush or chop your garlic and let it sit for about 10 minutes before cooking.

This gives the allicin-forming reaction time to take place before the garlic is exposed to heat.

You can also add freshly crushed garlic to salad dressings, dips, or your food toward the end of cooking.

Here’s something most people get wrong with herbal remedies:

Knowing the plant isn’t enough.

You can buy the right herb, grow it yourself, and still ruin the remedy before you ever drink or eat it.

Garlic is the perfect example. Crush it and cook it immediately, and you may miss part of what you were trying to get from it in the first place.

That’s what separates someone who simply knows a few herbs from an herbalist who understands how to prepare them properly.

There are little tricks like this everywhere — when to harvest, what part to use, how long to steep, when heat helps, and when heat ruins what you want.

Nicole teaches exactly that kind of practical knowledge step by step.

Click here to learn the preparation tricks that can make the difference between simply using a plant and actually knowing what you’re doing with it.

What Happens If You Eat Garlic Every Morning?

Well, in short, you may enjoy the health benefits we talked about above.

But why in the morning?

Simple. Because that’s how you make sure you don’t forget!

Ever heard of “eating the frog”? It means doing the hardest task first thing in the morning. And let’s face it, chewing raw garlic isn’t exactly pleasant!

But if you enjoy it, great! Or if you’ve prepared a delicious breakfast with garlic, even better.

The point is, starting your morning with a healthy habit sets the tone for the rest of your day.

And remember, you don’t need to eat garlic on an empty stomach to benefit from it.

Before You Try These Garlic Recipes

Garlic can cause digestive discomfort, especially in larger amounts, and may interact with blood thinners or heart and blood-pressure medications.

If you take medication, have surgery coming up, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or know you’re sensitive to garlic, check with your healthcare professional first.

Also remember that more isn’t always better. Start small, see how your body reacts, and don’t force raw garlic if it doesn’t agree with you.

And remember: these recipes can support your routine, but they don’t replace medical treatment.

So, Is One Clove of Garlic Every Morning Worth It?

ABSOLUTELY YES!

It’s probably already sitting in your kitchen. It’s common, cheap, and you can turn it into all kinds of traditional remedies.

Your ancestors reached for plants like garlic when they didn’t have many other options. And that kind of knowledge can still matter when you want to rely more on what you can grow, store, and prepare yourself.

Because the best time to learn how to use these remedies isn’t when you desperately need them.

It’s now, while you have the time to prepare.

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The post What Happens if You Eat Garlic Each Morning? appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

With a few holes, a handful of soil and the right seeds, that bottle can become your free medicinal garden.

It could hold chamomile flowers you harvest for your evening tea. Lemon balm you reach for after one of those days. Calendula you grow for traditional skin preparations. Fresh parsley and rosemary for your meals. Or the beginnings of nettle, yarrow, echinacea and other herbs people used long before modern pharmacies.

And you don’t need a big backyard to do it.

You don’t need raised beds. You don’t need fancy gardening equipment. You don’t even need much experience.

You can start taking your health into your own hands with little more than a street-seed and a bottle you were about to throw away.

Now is the time to bring back these medicinal traditions, even if your only gardening space is a sunny windowsill.

Think of it as your tiny living herb cupboard.

Or, as I like to think of it, a little green home apothecary.

Your Water Bottle Is Already Halfway to Becoming a Planter

For most medicinal herbs, we’re not aiming for hydroponics. There’s an easier approach: turn the bottle into a miniature plant pot and fill it with proper potting mix.

Just make sure it has drainage holes. Roots need air as well as water. Use potting mix instead of dense garden soil, and choose a bottle that gives your plant enough room to grow.

A small bottle is perfect for starting seeds, but bigger plants will eventually need a bigger home.

Here’s a practical guide:

The bigger the plant you want above the soil, the more room you should usually give it beneath the soil.

Growing your own plants is one way to get them.

But what if some of the most useful ones are already growing around you for free?

The real challenge is knowing what you’re looking at — especially when edible or medicinal plants can have dangerous lookalikes.

There’s one guide I’d consider almost essential if you enjoy foraging. It covers 400+ wild plants, with large color photos, defining features, poisonous lookalikes, distribution maps, when to harvest them, and how to actually use what you find. 

If you want to stop walking past free food and useful plants without recognizing them, check it out here.

How to Turn an Empty Bottle Into a Herb Planter

Wash your bottle, cut off the top and make several drainage holes in the bottom. Fill it loosely with quality potting mix, plant one herb per bottle and place it somewhere with plenty of sunlight—around six hours works well for many herbs. Check the soil regularly, as small containers dry out quickly, and water whenever it starts to feel dry, letting the excess drain away.

What Are You Going to Grow?

Chamomile: Your Evening Cup, Growing on the Windowsill

Chamomile is a perfect first bottle herb. Give it a 1.5–2 L (51–68 oz) bottle, good drainage and plenty of light. Harvest and dry the little flowers for tea traditionally enjoyed for relaxation, digestive comfort and winding down before sleep. If you’re sensitive to ragweed or related plants, however, chamomile may cause an allergic reaction and can interact with some medications.

Calendula: The Golden Flower Worth Keeping Close

Give calendula a 2 L (68 oz) bottle or gallon jug and you’ll get more than beautiful golden flowers. Calendula has traditionally been used for minor skin inflammation, sunburn and minor wounds—making it a useful plant to keep close. Avoid it if you’re allergic to Asteraceae plants, and remember that serious wounds need proper medical care.

Feverfew: The Headache Herb

Feverfew’s pretty daisy-like flowers hide a long herbal history, particularly its traditional association with recurrent headaches and migraines. Start it in a 2 L (68 oz) bottle, although a gallon container is better long-term. Feverfew can interact with medicines, affect blood clotting and shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy.

Lemon Balm: Grow This One for Those Days

When your mind won’t switch off, you’ll appreciate having lemon balm nearby. Give it a 2 L (68 oz) bottle or gallon jug, then harvest its wonderfully lemon-scented leaves. Traditionally, lemon balm has been used for mild stress, sleep support and digestive complaints such as bloating—a lovely herb for those restless evenings.

Lemon balm is wonderful to grow, but if you don’t want to wait for the plant, harvest it, and prepare it every time, there’s an easier option.

Nicole Apelian makes a wild-harvested, 100% organic Lemon Balm Tincture that’s already prepared and ready when you need it.

If you want the easy version, this is the one I’d keep in the herbal cabinet.

Parsley: Don’t Underestimate What You Already Know

A 1.5–2 L (51–68 oz) bottle can keep fresh parsley right beside your kitchen. Its leaves provide nutrients including vitamins A and C and iron, and unlike some herbs you’ll grow “just in case,” you’ll probably use parsley constantly. Snip it fresh into soups, eggs, potatoes, sauces and salads.

Lavender: Sometimes the Aroma Is Enough

Start young lavender in a 2 L (68 oz) bottle, then move it to a gallon container as it grows. Give it plenty of drainage and avoid keeping the roots constantly wet. Lavender has a long history in aromatic preparations and remains closely associated with calm and relaxation. Concentrated preparations and essential oils require more caution than ordinary culinary use.

When a Little Bottle Just Isn’t Enough

Some medicinal plants can start in a bottle but need more room as they mature. For the herbs below, save your larger 1–5 gallon water jugs. Moving a plant into a bigger container isn’t failure—the little bottle simply did its job.

Chicory: An Old-Fashioned Bitter Herb

Because its root is traditionally valued, give chicory a deep gallon jug. Chicory root has long been used as a coffee substitute and traditionally for digestive complaints such as fullness, flatulence and slow digestion. It’s a wonderful example of how food and herbal tradition often overlap.

Yarrow: An Herb With a Long Memory

Start yarrow in a smaller bottle, then move it into a gallon jug as it grows. For generations, yarrow preparations have traditionally been used for minor menstrual cramps and small superficial wounds. Significant wounds or uncontrolled bleeding, of course, require proper medical care.

I used to pick yarrow with my mom when I was little.

Back then, I hated it.

Now I’d do almost anything to turn back time and make one of those old remedies with her again.

I can’t do that anymore, so keeping Nicole’s Yarrow Tincture in my cabinet brings back a little of that feeling for me.

This is one of those traditional herbs I really think is worth keeping close.

California Poppy: A Different Kind of Poppy

Give California poppy a deep, well-drained jug and enjoy those unmistakable orange flowers. Traditionally, the herb has been used for mild stress, restlessness and nervousness, and to support sleep during stressful periods—making it an interesting companion to chamomile, lavender and lemon balm.

Marshmallow: Yes, There Really Is a Plant

The original marshmallow is Althaea officinalis, and because its root is traditionally valued, it needs a deep water jug rather than a small bottle. Its soothing, mucilaginous root has traditionally been used for dry throat irritation and mild gastrointestinal discomfort.

Marshmallow is a great plant to grow, but getting from plant to tincture takes a little more work.

You need enough room for the root to develop, then you have to harvest it, clean it, prepare it properly, and wait for the extraction.

And if you want to combine it with other gut-soothing plants, there’s another problem: slippery elm comes from a tree, so that’s not exactly something you’re growing in a bottle on your windowsill.

That’s why I like the easier version.

Nicole’s gut-health tincture combines the traditional plants above, so you get several classic gut-supporting plants in one ready-made tincture.

If growing and preparing all of that yourself sounds like too much trouble, I’ve got you — this is the one I’d use.

Evening Primrose: More Than a Pretty Flower

Give evening primrose at least a gallon jug. Native American communities traditionally used parts of the plant for skin concerns, minor wounds, gastrointestinal complaints and sore throats. Modern evening primrose oil comes from its seeds, so think of your bottle garden as a way to grow and appreciate the living herb—not as a home oil factory.

Echinacea: North American Herbal History

Start echinacea in a bottle, but eventually give this perennial a gallon-plus container or garden space. Native American traditions included its use for respiratory complaints and tooth pain, and today it’s strongly associated with cold-season herbal preparations. Allergic reactions and medication interactions are possible.

Stinging Nettle: The Plant You Were Told Not to Touch

Give nettle a gallon container and keep it somewhere bare arms won’t accidentally brush against it! Nettle has traditionally been used for minor joint pain and urinary complaints, and has also appeared in soups, teas and spring greens for generations. Its urinary use isn’t appropriate for people medically advised to restrict fluids.

Our ancestors even practiced urtication — deliberately brushing or striking painful areas with fresh stinging nettle.

Interesting tradition.

But there’s no way I’m covering myself in nettle stings just to use the plant.

I’d rather keep a ready-made Nettle Tincture and skip the burning, itching, gloves, and harvesting altogether. Same plant. Much easier.

Yerba Santa: A Western Herb With Deep Roots

Yerba santa can start in a bottle, but this woody Western North American plant will eventually need considerably more space. Indigenous Californian peoples traditionally used it in several preparations, including documented use for colds. Growing it offers a living connection to the herbal traditions of the American West.

If I had to pick one tincture to have ready at this time of year, this one right here, the Yerba Santa Tincture, would be very high on my list.

Winter is coming, and this is exactly when people start stocking up on the herbs they trust for cold season.

Nicole’s prices are already very reasonable, and her seasonal remedies tend to get a lot more attention once everyone suddenly realizes they need them.

That’s why I wouldn’t wait until winter is already here.

Yerba Santa is also included in her Winter Defense Bundle, together with other cold-season herbs — including yarrow.

Cayenne Pepper: From Bottle to Spice Cupboard

Start cayenne in a 2 L (68 oz) bottle, then move it into a larger water jug if you want plenty of peppers. Its heat comes from capsaicin, a compound also used in topical preparations for certain kinds of pain. At home, simply dry your peppers, grind them and enjoy your harvest in the kitchen.

You can absolutely make your own cayenne salve.

First, you need to infuse the cayenne into oil, strain it properly, melt in the wax, get the consistency right, pour it before it sets, and somehow avoid touching your eyes with cayenne-covered fingers in the process.

So yes, it can be done.

You can also buy one of those synthetic spicy creams at the store, but personally, I’d rather use something built around actual plants.

Nicole came up with a 100% plant-based Joint & Movement Salve with cayenne and several other traditional herbs for joints and movement.

No infusing. No straining. No kitchen mess.

And what I really like is that she’s kept it accessible instead of turning it into some overpriced “premium” herbal product.

If you want the cayenne effect without making the whole salve yourself, this is the one I’d keep around.

Keep Your Bottle Apothecary Alive

Small bottles heat up and dry out quickly, so check the soil rather than watering on a rigid schedule. Make sure excess water can drain, feed plants when appropriate and move them into larger containers when they become cramped. Your bottle doesn’t need to be the plant’s forever home—sometimes its job is simply to turn a tiny seed into a healthy young herb.

Grow What You’ll Actually Use

You don’t need dozens of medicinal plants. Grow the ones that fit your life. Choose chamomile, lemon balm or lavender for quiet evenings; parsley and cayenne for the kitchen; calendula for traditional skin preparations; or nettle, yarrow, echinacea and yerba santa to reconnect with old herbal traditions. A few plants you truly know and use are worth far more than a garden full of herbs you barely recognize.

So Where Do You Get the Seeds?

You can collect them outside when you know exactly what you’re looking for.

Or you can skip the scavenger hunt and start with them already sorted for you.

Nicole’s Medicinal Garden Kit contains 4,818 non-GMO seeds for 10 medicinal plants, including many we’ve just talked about: yarrow, marshmallow, chamomile, evening primrose, lavender, echinacea, calendula, feverfew, and chicory. 

And when you break the price down across all those seeds, it works out to roughly $0.01 per seed.

That’s basically next to nothing compared with what you can spend buying finished herbal products again and again.

You also get a guide showing you how to plant, grow, harvest, and turn them into tinctures, salves, poultices, decoctions, infusions, and more. 

And many of these plants either come back every year or reseed themselves.

Click here to see the Medicinal Garden Kit and start your own little bottle pharmacy.

One Last Thing Before You Start Your Home Apothecary

Growing these plants is one thing.

Knowing when to harvest them, what part to use, how to prepare them, and what to actually do with them afterward is another.

And this is where I really appreciate Nicole.

She has decades of experience with medicinal plants, and instead of just giving you another written recipe, she actually sits down on video and shows you the plant, explains what you need to know about it, and then teaches you how to use it.

So with something like lemon balm, you don’t just read that it’s useful.

You can actually watch Nicole talk you through the plant and then show you how to prepare it yourself. 

That’s the kind of knowledge I wish more of us had been taught growing up.

Click here to watch Nicole teach you how to use the medicinal plants you’re growing.

Our ancestors simply kept useful plants close to home.

Now you can too—even if all you have is one sunny windowsill.

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🌿 Join Our Private Herbal Community For Free. 👉 Click here!

The post 15 Plants You Can Grow in Water Bottles appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

That said, dogs are not small humans, and a few real precautions apply before you start sprinkling ginger into your dog’s bowl. This guide covers what the research actually supports, how much is safe, the best ways to serve it, and exactly which dogs should steer clear.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Every dog is different, and a condition, medication, or upcoming surgery can change whether ginger is appropriate. Talk with your veterinarian before adding ginger to your dog’s routine.

The Short Answer: Yes, in Small Amounts

Plain fresh ginger, ginger powder, and mild ginger tea are generally considered safe for dogs when given in small, controlled amounts. Ginger is not on the list of foods that are outright toxic to dogs, the way grapes, onions, or chocolate are, which is part of why so many herbalist-minded pet owners reach for it.

Safe does not mean unlimited, though. Ginger is potent, and a dog’s smaller body size means the margin between a helpful pinch and an upsetting overdose is much narrower than it is for a person.

What Makes Ginger Beneficial for Dogs

Easing Nausea and Motion Sickness

Ginger’s best-documented use, in humans and in traditional veterinary practice alike, is settling an upset stomach. Many dog owners give a small amount of ginger before car rides specifically to help with motion sickness, since the same gentle stimulation of digestive function that helps human nausea appears to carry over reasonably well to dogs.

Supporting Digestion

A small amount of ginger may help move things along in a sluggish digestive tract and ease mild gas or bloating. This is one of the more traditional uses of the root across herbal medicine systems, and it is a large part of why ginger shows up in commercial digestive support treats for dogs.

Anti-Inflammatory Support for Joints

Ginger’s active compounds, gingerols and shogaols, have documented anti-inflammatory activity. A small but genuine veterinary study published in the Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery found that puppies given oral ginger rhizome powder before and after spay surgery showed a statistically significant reduction in inflammatory markers, including CRP, fibrinogen, and interleukin 6, compared to a control group that did not receive ginger.

That was a small, preliminary study, and it should not be read as a green light to use ginger as a substitute for prescribed post-surgical pain management. But it is a genuine, dog-specific data point behind the anti-inflammatory reputation ginger has long carried in herbal medicine.

How Much Ginger Can You Give a Dog

There is no single official veterinary dosing standard, but the general guidance that shows up consistently across veterinary sources is to start small and go by body weight. A common rule of thumb is roughly 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger, or a similarly small pinch of ginger powder, for a small dog, scaling up modestly for larger breeds.

Start with the smallest possible amount the first time you offer it, and wait to see how your dog’s stomach responds before making it a regular addition. There is rarely a good reason to give more than a teaspoon or so, even for a large breed dog, since more is not more effective here.

The Best Ways to Feed Ginger to Your Dog

Fresh Ginger

Peel the skin off thoroughly, since it can be tough to digest, then finely mince or grate the root before mixing a small amount into your dog’s regular food. Fresh ginger has the strongest flavor, so start with an especially small amount if your dog is picky.

Powdered Ginger

Plain ground ginger, the same jar you’d use for baking, is an easy way to introduce a consistent, measurable dose. Just double check the label to confirm it contains nothing but ginger, since some blends include other spices that are not appropriate for dogs.

Ginger Tea

A weak ginger tea, made by steeping a small slice of fresh ginger in hot water and letting it cool completely, is a gentle way to offer ginger to a dog with an upset stomach who may not want to eat much of anything. Never add honey, sugar, or lemon to a tea meant for your dog.

What to Avoid: Pickled, Candied, and Ginger Snaps

Pickled ginger, candied ginger, gingerbread, and ginger snaps are all off the table. These preparations are loaded with added sugar, salt, or artificial sweeteners, and some sugar-free versions contain xylitol, which is genuinely dangerous for dogs. North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine explains that xylitol triggers a surge of insulin in dogs that can cause severe, rapid hypoglycemia, and symptoms can begin within thirty minutes of ingestion.

Stick to plain, unprocessed ginger in its simplest forms. If a product has an ingredient list longer than just ginger, it is not the right choice for your dog.

Signs Your Dog Has Had Too Much

Too much ginger typically shows up as straightforward digestive upset: gas, mild diarrhea, or an unsettled stomach. Most of these effects resolve on their own once ginger is stopped.

Watch also for unusual lethargy, excessive drooling, or a noticeably increased heart rate, and stop giving ginger and call your vet if you see any of these signs, especially in a small dog that may have received a proportionally large dose.

Important Safety Notes

Ginger has genuine blood-thinning properties. Human research summarized by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center explains that ginger inhibits platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation, the same mechanism behind documented case reports of excessive bleeding when ginger was combined with blood-thinning medication. This is worth knowing before giving ginger to a dog on anticoagulant medication or one with a bleeding disorder.

Avoid ginger in the two weeks before any scheduled surgery, and do not give it immediately afterward without your vet’s approval, since the same MSKCC review notes that ginger supplements are routinely avoided in the perioperative period in human medicine specifically because of increased bleeding risk.

Dogs with gallstones or gallbladder disease should avoid ginger, since it can increase bile flow and potentially aggravate the condition.

Pregnant or nursing dogs should not be given ginger, as its safety in this context has not been established.

Ginger can lower blood sugar, so dogs on insulin or other diabetes medication need veterinary guidance before starting ginger, to avoid the added risk of hypoglycemia.

Never give a dog ginger essential oil internally. Essential oils are highly concentrated and are not the same thing as culinary ginger; internal use in dogs can cause serious harm.

Which Dogs Should Avoid Ginger Entirely

Beyond the specific conditions above, any dog with a known bleeding disorder, a dog currently taking blood-thinning or diabetes medication, or a dog scheduled for surgery should not be given ginger without your veterinarian’s explicit go-ahead. Puppies under a few months old have more sensitive digestive systems overall, so it is worth waiting and asking your vet before introducing ginger that early.

If your dog has never eaten ginger before and has a history of a sensitive stomach, introduce it separately from any other new food so you can clearly tell what caused a reaction if one occurs.

How to Introduce Ginger Gradually

The safest way to add ginger to your dog’s routine is the same approach vets recommend for any new food: start with a tiny test amount, wait 24 hours, and watch for any digestive upset before making it a regular addition. This is especially worth doing carefully with a dog who has a sensitive stomach or known food sensitivities.

Once you know your dog tolerates ginger well, you can offer it a few times a week rather than daily, particularly if you’re using it for general digestive support rather than a specific short-term issue like an upcoming car ride.

Ginger Compared to Other Digestive Herbs for Dogs

Ginger is often mentioned alongside other gentle digestive herbs like chamomile and slippery elm, but each works a little differently. Chamomile tends to be more calming and is sometimes used for anxiety-related stomach upset, while slippery elm coats and soothes irritated digestive tissue directly.

Ginger’s particular strength is its effect on nausea and motion, which is why it remains the go-to choice specifically for car rides and mild queasiness rather than general anxiety or a already-irritated gut lining.

What the Research Still Doesn’t Tell Us

It’s worth being honest about the state of the evidence here. Much of what is known about ginger’s effects on nausea and inflammation comes from human research and a small number of animal studies, rather than large-scale clinical trials in dogs specifically.

The postoperative inflammation study out of the Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery is a genuine, encouraging data point, but it involved a small sample of ten puppies. That is enough to justify cautious, informed use of ginger in dogs, but not enough to treat it as a proven treatment for any specific canine condition.

Common Questions About Dogs and Ginger

Can Puppies Have Ginger?

Most guidance suggests waiting until a puppy is a bit older, generally past the earliest weeks of life, and starting with an especially tiny amount even then. A puppy’s digestive system is still developing, so it is worth checking with your vet before introducing ginger, or any new food, to a very young dog.

Is Ginger the Same as Ginger Essential Oil for Dogs?

No, and this distinction matters. Culinary ginger, fresh, powdered, or in a weak tea, is very different from concentrated ginger essential oil. Essential oils should never be given internally to a dog, since their concentration is far higher than anything found in food.

Can I Give My Dog Ginger for Car Sickness?

Many pet owners do exactly this, offering a small amount of fresh or powdered ginger roughly thirty minutes to an hour before a car ride. It is a reasonable, low-risk thing to try for a dog with mild motion sickness, though a dog with severe or chronic car sickness deserves a proper veterinary evaluation rather than relying on ginger alone.

Does Ginger Help With Bloat in Dogs?

Ginger’s reputation for supporting digestion sometimes leads owners to wonder about bloat, a genuine medical emergency involving a twisted, gas-filled stomach. Ginger is not a treatment or preventive measure for bloat, and any dog showing signs of bloat, a distended abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness, needs emergency veterinary care immediately rather than a home remedy.

Can Ginger Replace My Dog’s Anti-Nausea Medication?

No. Ginger can be a reasonable, gentle option for mild, occasional nausea, but it is not a substitute for prescribed anti-nausea medication when a dog has a diagnosed condition or is dealing with something more serious than routine car sickness. Always follow your veterinarian’s guidance when medication has already been prescribed.

How Many Remedies Are Already Hiding in Your Kitchen?

Ginger is just one example of how an ordinary ingredient can have uses most people never learn about. But knowing what to use, how to prepare it, and when NOT to use it is what separates practical herbal knowledge from guesswork.

That’s why we created The Forgotten Home Apothecary.

Inside, you’ll discover how common herbs, plants, and everyday ingredients were traditionally turned into teas, tinctures, salves, poultices, infused oils, and other homemade preparations—along with practical instructions for building your own home apothecary.

Instead of waiting until you need something and then searching the internet for answers, you can have this forgotten knowledge organized and within reach on your bookshelf.

Your backyard, pantry, and kitchen may contain far more useful plants and ingredients than you realize.

Discover The Forgotten Home Apothecary Here →

Final Thoughts

Ginger is a genuinely useful herb to have on hand for dogs, with real traditional and some emerging scientific support for easing nausea, supporting digestion, and calming mild inflammation. The key is staying in the realm of small, plain, unprocessed amounts, and knowing the specific situations, bleeding risk, surgery, gallbladder disease, pregnancy, and diabetes medication, where it should be avoided.

When in doubt, a quick check with your veterinarian before adding ginger to your dog’s routine costs you nothing and gives you real peace of mind.

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The post Can Dogs Eat Ginger? What Every Pet Owner Should Know appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

People reached for roots, herbs, warming spices, broths, and whatever was growing nearby long before every discomfort came with a bottle attached to it. And this Golden Soup brings some of that old wisdom back to the table.

It’s golden because of the carrots, squash, turmeric, and ginger. But it’s also “golden” because these are exactly the kinds of traditional ingredients worth keeping close as you get older.

Chronic inflammation can quietly build for years, contributing to stiffness, digestive trouble, cardiovascular problems, metabolic disease, and other age-related health issues. The frustrating part is that you may not notice much at first.

That’s why waiting until your body is demanding attention isn’t a great strategy.

This soup gives you a much simpler place to start.

Inside one warming bowl, you’ll find many herbs and spices traditionally used against inflammation that are probably already sitting in your kitchen.

Keep reading, because I’ll show you exactly which plants make this soup so useful, what they can do for your body, and how you can turn an ordinary meal into something your grandmother might have recognized as both food and remedy.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Inflammation

Chronic inflammation doesn’t always hurt enough to get your attention.

Sometimes it looks more ordinary: stiff mornings, nagging aches, low energy, brain fog, digestive trouble, or that feeling that your body simply doesn’t bounce back like it used to.

Those symptoms can have many causes, but persistent inflammation is one piece of the puzzle worth paying attention to — especially because long-term inflammation is associated with problems affecting your joints, heart, metabolism, gut, and brain.

And the longer unhealthy habits stay in place, the more reason you have to change what you can now, rather than waiting for a diagnosis to make health suddenly feel urgent.

This Golden Soup brings a handful of anti-inflammatory ingredients together in one bowl.

Here’s what each one brings to the table.

Carrot & Butternut Squash

Never underestimate the power of these orange vegetables sitting in your kitchen.

Carrots and butternut squash get their bright color from carotenoids, including beta-carotene. These plant compounds act as antioxidants and help protect your cells from oxidative stress.

Butternut squash also gives you fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A precursors, making it much more than just a soup thickener.

Carrots bring their own mix of carotenoids and flavonoids.

Together, they give you the naturally sweet, velvety base of the soup while packing in compounds associated with healthier inflammatory balance.

And practically speaking?

They’re also one of the easiest ways to make a nourishing soup taste rich and creamy without dumping heavy cream into it.

Your joints will appreciate the nutrients, and your taste buds, the sweetness.

Nettles Belong in This Soup

This is where the recipe starts feeling like something your grandmother might have made on purpose.

Stinging nettle has a long history of use for joint discomfort, seasonal irritation, and inflammatory complaints. Once properly dried or cooked, the plant that once stung your ankles becomes mild, nourishing, and surprisingly easy to use.

In this soup, nettle adds a soft, green earthiness without taking over the flavor.

More importantly, it gives the recipe another traditional plant that has been valued for generations when the body feels stiff, achy, or run-down.

So don’t leave it sitting in the herbal cabinet. Put it in the pot.

You can absolutely forage nettles yourself, but don’t grab them barehanded.

Those tiny hairs sting for a reason, and yes, they hurt.

Wear thick gloves, long sleeves, and use scissors. Pick young, healthy tops from clean areas far from roads, sprayed lawns, farm runoff, or polluted soil. Once nettle is dried, cooked, or steeped properly, the sting disappears.

You can also buy dried nettle, but choose organic or carefully sourced herbs whenever possible. Cheap nettle can come with exactly what you don’t want in your soup: pesticides, sprays, and mystery handling.

The easy version I found is Nicole’s ready-made Stinging Nettle Tincture.

I already add a few drops to my shampoo for thinning hair, but I also use it when this soup is done so I can get the nettle compounds without foraging, drying, straining, or stinging my hands.

Click here to get Nicole’s Stinging Nettle Tincture.

Turmeric & Ginger

This is where the soup really earns its golden reputation.

If you’ve spent any time around herbal remedies, you already know turmeric.

Its most famous compound, curcumin, has been studied extensively for its anti-inflammatory properties and joint discomfort.

Turmeric has also been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese practices, especially when stiffness and discomfort are involved.

Then there’s ginger.

Ginger contains compounds such as gingerols, which are responsible for much of its characteristic heat and many of its studied anti-inflammatory properties.

You may already reach for ginger when your stomach feels unsettled.

But it also has a long history of use for stiffness, aches, and cold-weather discomfort.

Put turmeric and ginger together and you get one of those herbal pairings that simply makes sense.

Garlic & Cardamom

Garlic is one of the most potent traditional kitchen remedies. Everybody knows and uses garlic. 

Garlic contains sulfur compounds, including compounds derived from allicin, that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Pro tip: if you want to enable allicin, crush your garlic and let it sit for 10 minutes. Otherwise, allicin doesn’t have enough time to form. Let me know down in the comments if you knew this already.

Cardamom, however, brings a completely different story.

It’s slightly sweet, citrusy, almost minty, and it adds warmth without making the soup aggressively spicy.

Traditional herbal systems have used cardamom for digestion, discomfort, and general inflammatory support for generations.

And flavor-wise? It keeps the soup interesting.

Because healthy food still has to taste good if you actually want to keep eating it.

Honorable Mention: Plantain Leaf

If you know your backyard herbs, plantain leaf deserves a mention too.

This humble plant has been used traditionally for generations to soothe irritated tissues, support digestion, and calm minor inflammatory discomfort.

I wouldn’t necessarily add it to this soup, but it’s one of those old-fashioned herbs worth remembering — especially because many people walk past it every day without realizing what they’re looking at.

But here’s something wild: What happens if you put a plantain leaf in your shoe and walk around all day? The answer will surprise you—and your feet will thank you.

Click here to discover the strange plantain shoe trick.

Bone Broth & Coconut Milk

This is where everything turns silky.

Bone broth is the most collagen-filled remedy you can ever make at home. And it’s all natural. 

Collagen is an important structural component of cartilage, connective tissue, skin, and joints, which is why collagen-rich foods and supplements have become so popular among people thinking about mobility as they age.

It also makes the soup feel far more satisfying than vegetable broth alone.

Then comes coconut milk.

Besides making everything creamy, coconut milk gives you fat.

And that matters because curcumin is fat-soluble.

In simple terms, consuming turmeric with fat may help your body absorb more of its active compounds.

This is another pro tip. Always know what the synergistic combinations between remedies.

The Medicinal Mushroom Blend Matters Too

I would NEVER skip the medicinal mushrooms used in the East for millennia. 

Reishi, cordyceps, and turkey tail bring a completely different set of plant compounds into the recipe, including beta-glucans and antioxidant compounds that support immunity and help the body fight inflammation. 

Reishi has long been associated with immune balance.

Cordyceps has traditionally been used for stamina and resilience.

Turkey tail is especially rich in beta-glucans and has a long history of use in traditional Asian practices.

That’s exactly what I want from an herbal recipe: real plants, traditional wisdom, and something you’ll actually want to eat again.

What Nicole Says About These Mushrooms

I could tell you why these mushrooms matter…

But honestly, I’d rather let Nicole Apelian say it herself.

Because when someone has spent decades working with medicinal plants and mushrooms, and has used them in her own life, her words carry a different weight.

Here’s what Nicole says in one of her articles:

“Personally, I have found medicinal mushrooms to be outstanding for addressing inflammation, multiple sclerosis/autoimmunity, and other chronic health conditions. Four specific mushrooms — lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, and cordyceps — are particularly impressive. As a matter of fact, these are the very extracts that got me out of my wheelchair and stopped the MS from progressing. They are that powerful. […] It is important to use only dual-extracted, fruiting body extracts for full potency and effectiveness — like those found in my Mushroom FOURtress Bundle. To learn more about why our tinctures are the gold standard of herbal extracts, visit the apothecary today!“

That’s why I wouldn’t treat medicinal mushrooms like some random “wellness trend.”

When you use them, quality matters. Extraction matters. And the part of the mushroom matters too.

Click here to see Nicole’s Mushroom FOURtress Bundle.

Now let me show you how to make it:

Anti-Inflammatory Golden Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups Butternut Squash Puree
• 2 cups Bone Broth
• 1 can Coconut Milk (400 ml / 14 oz)
• 2–4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
• 1 inch fresh Ginger, finely chopped
• 1 Carrot, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons Turmeric
• ½ teaspoon Cardamom
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1–2 tablespoons dried Nettle Leaf or tincture
• 1–2 teaspoons Medicinal Mushroom Powder Blend or tincture (you can make one by powdering the following: Reishi, Cordyceps, and Turkey Tail)

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and carrot and cook for 2–3 minutes, until fragrant and slightly softened.
2. Add the turmeric and cardamom. Stir for about 1 minute to wake up the spices and release their aroma.
3. Transfer everything to a large pot. Add the butternut squash puree, bone broth, coconut milk, dried nettle, and medicinal mushroom blend. Stir until smooth and well combined.
4. Heat over medium until the soup begins to gently bubble. Then lower the heat and simmer for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This gives the nettle time to soften and allows the spices and mushrooms to blend into the soup.
5. Serve warm and enjoy it slowly. This is the kind of recipe that feels less like “health food” and more like bringing an old kitchen remedy back to life. 

Homemade Butternut Squash Puree

Slice a large butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds.

Bake the halves cut-side up at 350°F for 45–60 minutes, or until very soft.

Scoop out the flesh and blend until smooth.

Homemade Bone Broth

Place bones from your local butcher into a large pot and cover them with water.

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently. Add warm water as needed to keep the bones covered and skim away any foam that rises to the surface.

After 8–12 hours, let the broth cool and remove the bones.

Actually, I have an entire article where I’ve cooked this myself, and I’m showing you every step of it. You can find it here.

When Inflammation Strikes From the Outside

If you’re dealing with any type of inflammation (especially chronic joint pain) this syrup will help from the inside. But inflammation is a war that requires fighting on multiple fronts. You need external relief too.

Try making a turmeric poultice and applying it directly to painful joints. For immediate pain relief, add some cayenne powder to numb the area on contact. But if your pain is constant and debilitating, making fresh poultices daily becomes exhausting and messy.

That’s when you need a professional-grade salve that you can apply anytime, anywhere. The problem with making your own? Getting the ratios right, ensuring proper extraction of active compounds, and achieving the right consistency takes years of practice. Most homemade attempts are either too weak to be effective or too strong and cause skin irritation.

Skip the trial and error. Get the most powerful natural pain reliever in America, crafted by one of the country’s most trusted master herbalists using time-tested formulations. This salve has helped thousands find relief when nothing else worked. Get Your Professional Pain Relief Salve Here. Here’s what people say about it:

Can You Beat Inflammation For Good?

Managing inflammation isn’t a one-herb job. It’s a lifestyle. But here’s what shocked me – you don’t need to change everything forever. Just for a little while. Until healthier habits begin to feel like your normal routine.

I thought it would be torture. Giving up foods I loved. Following strict rules. But it’s actually not hard at all. When you know exactly what to eat, drink, and do, you realize these are changes anyone can make. Small swaps. Massive impact.

Swap heavily processed foods for more whole-food sources of healthy fats. Trade processed junk for real food. Add drinks rich in plant compounds being studied for metabolic and inflammatory health. Simple shifts that feel natural, not restrictive.

This is what real wellness looks like – living as comfortably as possible without the side effects. Less guesswork. More practical habits. And a plan you can actually follow.

The complete anti-inflammatory protocol (diet included) is on page 297. Everything you need to build a more inflammation-conscious daily routine. Stop guessing which habits matter. Start building a routine around the factors you can actually control.

Click here to get to it.

Chronic inflammation is tied to some of the biggest long-term health challenges people face today. Don’t wait until your everyday habits become harder to change. Start using the plants, foods, and habits available to you now, while small changes are still easy to make.

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The post Homemade Anti-Inflammatory Golden Soup appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

That is what makes clogged arteries so easy to ignore.

Early atherosclerosis can be remarkably quiet. You may feel completely normal while plaque gradually develops inside the artery wall and blood vessels become narrower and less flexible.

As that buildup progresses, blood flow can become restricted, placing more strain on the heart and increasing the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.

So this is one of those health issues you do not want to wait to “feel.”

What Causes Clogged Arteries?

Your blood naturally carries cholesterol, fats, calcium, and other substances throughout the body. Problems begin when some of these materials accumulate within damaged or inflamed artery walls.

LDL cholesterol plays an especially important role.

Over time, plaque can grow, arteries can harden and narrow, and blood may have less room to move freely.

Lifestyle matters too. Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, inactivity, and an unhealthy diet can all push that process in the wrong direction.

And because early plaque often causes no obvious symptoms, many people only start paying attention after their numbers have already been elevated for years.

Why Atherosclerosis Deserves Your Attention

Your organs depend on a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood.

When plaque interferes with that flow, the consequences depend on which arteries are affected. The heart, brain, kidneys, and legs can all suffer when circulation becomes restricted.

In advanced cases, plaque can also rupture and trigger a blood clot, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.

That sounds serious because it is.

But it is also exactly why what you do now matters.

Regular movement, quitting smoking, improving your diet, getting enough soluble fiber, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and knowing your cholesterol numbers can all help change the environment in which atherosclerosis develops.

Most people wait until they feel chest pain to act. But there are subtle signs that your arteries are in trouble long before that.
And if you knew what to avoid, what to stop eating, and what small daily habits make the biggest difference… there is still time to improve the risk factors you can control.

That’s why I keep The Holistic Guide to Wellness close.
It doesn’t just throw herbs at the problem—it gives you a step-by-step protocol for:

• spotting early red flags in your cardiovascular health
• supporting healthy inflammatory balance
• and creating a simple daily routine that supports your heart, even if the system fails

👉 Grab the guide here—and start protecting your heart before it’s too late.

For generations, herbal traditions have used certain plants to support the heart, circulation, blood vessels, and healthy aging. Today, many of those same herbs are being explored for their effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation, circulation, and vascular function.

Used intelligently, some may give your cardiovascular system useful support while you work on the bigger factors driving plaque formation.

Here are the ones worth knowing:

Bilberry: Tiny Berry, Serious Plant Pigments

You probably know its cousin, the blueberry.

Bilberry is darker, smaller, and famously rich in anthocyanins, the blue-purple pigments that give these berries their color.

Those pigments are part of what makes bilberry so interesting for vascular health.

Anthocyanins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have been investigated for their effects on endothelial function, the ability of blood vessels to relax and respond properly.

Traditionally, bilberry has also been associated with capillary and circulation support.

And this one is wonderfully easy.

Frozen berries count.

Fresh berries count.

You can toss them into oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, or simply eat them by the handful.

Hawthorn: One of Herbalism’s Classic Heart Plants

If you asked an old-school herbalist to name a plant associated with the heart, hawthorn would probably come up very quickly.

Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers have a long history of traditional use as a cardiovascular tonic. Herbalists have traditionally turned to it to support circulation, heart function, and the strength of the cardiovascular system.

And modern research gives us a few reasons to understand why.

Hawthorn contains flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and other plant chemicals that may support blood-vessel function and circulation. Research on hawthorn has also explored its effects on lipids, inflammation, blood clotting, ischemic stress, and cardiovascular function.

Hawthorn may help your cardiovascular function, which is beneficial against arrhythmia.

But here’s the thing… consistency matters. And let’s be honest… most people don’t have time to forage berries or brew daily decoctions.

That’s why I keep the Heart Health Blend Tincture on hand. It’s a hawthorn-based formula that’s been carefully enhanced with Tulsi, Fenugreek, and Bilberry—a formula built around herbs traditionally used for cardiovascular and metabolic support.

You get the heart-toning effects of hawthorn, plus the added support from the other herbs—without having to lift a pot.

If your energy has been dipping lately, if you’ve felt exhausted quicker than you used to, or if you simply want to support your ticker before it’s too late, this blend is worth looking into.

👉 Click here to try the Heart Health Blend Tincture.

And hawthorn works beautifully as a “slow ritual” herb. It is not the kind of plant you drink once and expect fireworks from. It is traditionally used consistently.

If you’re already using cardiovascular medications, however, hawthorn is one herb you should discuss with your healthcare provider before taking concentrated extracts because its cardiovascular effects can overlap with certain medications.

Olive Leaf: A Different Side of the Olive Tree

Olive oil gets most of the attention, but olive leaf has its own cardiovascular appeal.

Rich in compounds such as oleuropein, olive leaf has been traditionally used as a tonic and may help support healthier blood pressure and vascular function.

In clinical research, concentrated olive leaf extract at around 1,000 mg daily was associated with meaningful reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

It is usually taken as an extract or tea, but if you already use blood-pressure medication, concentrated forms deserve extra caution.

Artichoke Leaf: The Bitter Herb Your Cholesterol May Appreciate

Artichoke leaf has traditionally been used for digestion, bile flow, and liver support, but it may also help your cholesterol.

A meta-analysis of nine clinical trials found artichoke extract was associated with lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, with LDL dropping by about 15 mg/dL on average.

If you want something more consistent than occasionally eating artichokes, standardized leaf extracts are commonly used.

Lemon Balm: Not Just a Bedtime Herb

I often mention lemon balm when it comes to relaxation and to help you “switch your brain off” at night. 

But lemon balm deserves another look.

This soft, lemon-scented member of the mint family has traditionally been used for nervousness, tension, sleep, and digestive discomfort. And if stress is constantly keeping your system in overdrive, that calming effect alone can make lemon balm a useful plant to have around.

But researchers have also looked directly at metabolic and cardiovascular markers.

A pooled analysis of human trials found lemon balm supplementation was associated with reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HbA1c, and systolic blood pressure.

The blood-pressure change was small, so lemon balm is not some dramatic pressure-lowering herb.

What makes it interesting is the combination.

You get a plant traditionally valued for calming the nervous system that may also support several metabolic markers tied to cardiovascular health.

That makes a cup of lemon balm tea in the evening feel a little more purposeful.

Try steeping 1–2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm in hot water for around 5–10 minutes. It pairs wonderfully with chamomile if you want something gentle before bed.

Brewing fresh lemon balm tea sounds wonderful until you realize quality lemon balm isn’t exactly sitting on grocery store shelves.

And those tea bags at the supermarket? They’re not as convenient as a liquid extraction. 

A proper tincture, just like this Lemon Balm Tincture, offers a concentrated dose – rosmarinic acid and all those cholesterol-fighting antioxidants on hand without brewing it each time.

Garlic: Your Kitchen May Already Have a Heart Herb

Garlic may be ordinary, but it is one of the better-researched herbs for cardiovascular support.

Garlic supplements may help modestly lower total and LDL cholesterol and may also support healthier blood pressure.

You can simply use more fresh garlic in soups, dressings, vegetables, and savory meals, while aged garlic extract offers a more concentrated option.

Just be cautious with concentrated supplements if you take aspirin, anticoagulants, or other medications that affect clotting.

Ginger: Warm, Simple, and Surprisingly Versatile

Ginger has long been used for circulation, digestion, and inflammation, and modern research suggests it may also support healthier blood pressure and lipid metabolism.

The easiest part? You can work it into your routine without another supplement. Slice fresh ginger into tea, grate it into meals, or add it to soups and dressings.

Turmeric: Think Beyond Joint Pain

Turmeric’s curcumin is best known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but those same properties also make it interesting for your arteries.

Atherosclerosis involves inflammation inside the artery wall, and curcumin has been studied for its effects on oxidative stress and endothelial function.

Use turmeric in soups, curries, eggs, rice, or tea. Concentrated curcumin supplements are much stronger, so be more cautious with them if you take blood-thinning medication.

Cordyceps: A Very Different Kind of Cardiovascular Ally

Cordyceps is technically a fungus, not an herb, but it’s one of my favorites.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cordyceps has long been valued as a tonic for vitality, endurance, and recovery.

Rather than thinking of cordyceps as a direct cholesterol herb, think of it more as a whole-body energy and resilience tonic.

Preclinical research has explored cordyceps and its compounds for heart protection, circulation, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and oxygen utilization.

But if your herbal cabinet is built around supporting stamina, aging, and resilience as well as cardiovascular health, cordyceps is one of the more interesting fungi to know.

Cordyceps got famous when it was featured in The Last of Us series. You know, that mushroom that supposedly takes control of your brain.

While the series is made for entertainment, it does contain a bit of truth: cordyceps actually interacts with your brain, and many other parts of your body.

Herbalists like Nicole Apelian knew long before the series what cordyceps does to your body. And she was promoting her Cordyceps Tincture, which has become one of her better-known mushroom tinctures.

You can get it here.

Powders can be mixed into coffee, cocoa, or smoothies, while extracts and capsules offer a more concentrated option.

Ginkgo: When You’re Thinking About Circulation

Ginkgo is best known as a memory herb, but its effects on circulation are just as interesting.

Its flavonoids and terpenoids may support blood-vessel function and microcirculation, helping blood reach smaller vessels and tissues more efficiently.

Standardized extracts are commonly used, but concentrated ginkgo can affect platelet function, so use extra caution if you take blood-thinning medication.

Dandelion: Don’t Ignore the Weeds

Dandelion may be a common weed, but herbalists have long valued it for digestion, liver support, and fluid balance.

The leaves are naturally rich in potassium and have traditionally been used as a gentle diuretic, while the root is better known as a bitter digestive tonic.

You can add young leaves to salads, cook older greens, or drink roasted dandelion root as tea. It is not a major cholesterol herb, but it can still fit nicely into a heart-conscious herbal routine.

The Part You Shouldn’t Ignore

Atherosclerosis can progress quietly, so feeling fine doesn’t always tell you what’s happening inside your arteries.

Know your numbers: blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar. Then support them with the basics that matter most—movement, fiber-rich foods, less smoking exposure, and smart use of herbs.

🧠 If You Don’t Learn This Now… You’ll Wish You Had When It’s Too Late

You just read about 11 powerful herbs traditionally used for heart, circulation, and metabolic support. But knowing their names is only part of the skill.
But let’s be honest—will you actually remember how to use them tomorrow? Or next week?

That’s the problem.
Knowing the herbs means nothing… unless you know how to identify them, prepare them, and use them correctly.
And that’s exactly what you’ll learn inside The Lost Remedies Academy.

Take the remedy in the photo.
It may look like a smoothie, but it’s actually a medicinal juice traditionally used for cardiovascular health made from simple, powerful plants.
This is just one of the many remedies Nicole teaches you inside the Academy.

If you’ve ever felt your blood pressure creeping up…
If you have a family history of stroke, heart attacks, or cholesterol problems…
Then this recipe—along with dozens more—could be the difference you were looking for.

Inside the Academy, you’ll also discover:

• How to make heart-supporting traditional recipes from wild plants growing around your home
• How to make your own Lubricating Joint Juice
• A full-body herbal map to know exactly what to use and when
• How to brew anti-inflammatory teas, salves, and tinctures—even if you’ve never made a remedy before

These are the skills that keep you and your family safe when pharmacies go dry, or when help isn’t coming.

👉 Click here to join The Lost Remedies Academy now—before you need what’s inside.

If you already take cardiovascular medication, keep working with your healthcare provider. Herbs can support the bigger picture without replacing prescribed treatment.

The important part is to act. Every better meal, walk, and herbal habit gives your blood vessels another reason to thank you.

A Quick Herbalist’s Note: Heart and blood-pressure medications can interact with herbs. This matters especially with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, blood-pressure medications, heart-rhythm medicines, diabetes drugs, and before surgery. If you already have diagnosed cardiovascular disease or take prescription medication, check concentrated herbal extracts with your doctor or pharmacist before adding them. Never stop or reduce prescribed cardiovascular medication based on an herb alone.

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Soothing Elixir For Cold and Flu Season

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Licorice Root: What It Heals, How to Grow It, and When to Avoid It

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Rub This Kitchen Spice on Your Joints Before Bed

The post Clogged Arteries? Read This. appeared first on The Lost Herbs.

Your evenings changed. Your stress levels shift. Colder weather settles in. 

And suddenly you’re staring at your kitchen shelf thinking: Do I really need a different bottle for every single problem? 

The truth is, you don’t need a cabinet overflowing with 30 different bottles to practice herbalism at home.

The same herb that winds down your evening can also be food. The same plant prepared one way helps your stress; prepared another way, it addresses something completely different.

And that matters, especially when every bottle costs money, and your shelf space is limited.

Here are some of the multi-purpose herbs you should have within reach this season:

1. Stinging Nettle: The Herb That Does Far More Than Its Name Suggests 

Once properly prepared, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) becomes one of the most versatile plants in the herbal cabinet.

The leaves contain minerals and plant compounds that have made nettle a traditional food and remedy for generations.

Why You Might Keep Nettle Around

Nettle has traditionally been used for:

• seasonal respiratory and allergy discomfort
• urinary support
• joint comfort
• general nourishment
• skin and scalp care
• hair rinses and traditional hair preparations

Different parts of the plant also have different histories of use. Nettle root, for example, has been studied particularly for urinary symptoms associated with benign prostate enlargement, while the leaf is far more commonly used as a nutritive herb.

And then there’s your hair.

Nettle has become extremely popular in scalp oils, shampoos, rinses, and hair formulas. 

Nettle has a long history in scalp care, but it’s not the only plant our grandparents would have looked at for hair.

And no, I’m not saying you should sting your own scalp just to “wake up” the blood flow around your follicles.

What I’m saying is that you can still make your own hair-support recipe at home without synthetic fragrances, harsh chemicals, or ingredients you can barely pronounce.

Inside Nicole’s home apothecary book, there’s a Scalp-Revive Spray made with rosemary infusion, castor oil, and clove bud essential oil. 

It even shows you the steps, how to apply it, and the safety notes to keep in mind.

Click here to see the Scalp-Revive Spray recipe.

Why It Makes Sense in Fall

Fall can bring changing pollen, dry indoor air, less time outdoors, heavier meals, and an entirely different rhythm for your body.

Instead of buying one herb for your scalp, another for seasonal discomfort, and something else for nourishment, nettle gives you several possibilities from one plant.

You can drink the leaves as tea, cook young nettles like greens, use herbal preparations internally, or incorporate a cooled nettle infusion into your scalp routine.

Here’s what I like about Nicole’s Nettle Tincture: it isn’t just one of those “single-use” bottles.

Nettle has a long history as a spring tonic, but herbalists also value it during allergy season and for general seasonal support.

And I’ll tell you exactly how I use it sometimes.

I add a few drops of nettle tincture into my shampoo, just to bring those nettle compounds into a more natural scalp routine.

Is it fancy? No. But that’s the whole point.

One plant with several uses. No giant shelf of products and more money in your pocket.

Click here to see Nicole’s Nettle Tincture.

2. Elderberry: Not Just Something You Remember When You’re Already Sick

Elderberry has practically become synonymous with cold season.

But I wouldn’t wait until everyone around you is sniffling to remember it exists.

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) contains deeply pigmented compounds called anthocyanins, along with other polyphenols.

Its best-known modern use is for support during upper-respiratory infections, and some human research suggests elderberry preparations may help reduce the duration or severity of cold or flu-like symptoms.

Traditionally, herbalists have also reached for elderberry for:

• immune support
• respiratory-season wellness
• antioxidant-rich preparations
• warming seasonal syrups and teas

And elderflowers have their own traditional uses, especially in teas during cold and flu season.

Elderberry is one of those remedies that became popular for a reason.

Long before every store had an “immune support” aisle, families were making elderberry syrups, teas, and extracts for the cold season.

And now it feels like half the country is finally catching up.

Across the U.S., people keep elderberry close when the weather turns cold and everyone around them starts coughing, sneezing, and reaching for the same overpriced seasonal products.

That’s why I like having this ready-made version from Nicole Apelian. (Click here to check it out). 

No boiling berries. No straining syrup. No wondering if you prepared it right.

Just elderberry in a clean tincture from a herbalist I trust. 

Why It Earns a Fall Shelf Spot

Because this is the season when everyone suddenly starts buying “immune” products.

Elderberry allows you to simplify.

Instead of thinking of it as a magic berry that makes illness disappear, think of it as a seasonal herbal staple you can turn into syrups, teas, extracts, or tinctures.

3. Lemon Balm: For the Nights When Your Brain Refuses to Clock Out

I’m curious if this is only me in the evenings; I’m totally exhausted.

You’re replaying conversations, remembering today’s mistakes or tomorrow’s to-do list, checking your phone again, and wondering why you’re still awake.

That’s when I understand why herbalists have loved lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) for centuries.

Lemon balm has traditionally been used as a gentle calming herb, and human research has explored its effects on mood, stress, anxiety, and sleep. 

It also has another side that doesn’t get nearly as much attention.

Lemon balm has traditionally been used for digestive discomfort, particularly when a nervous stomach seems to arrive at the same time as stress.

That gives you one herb with several practical roles:

• helping you wind down
• supporting relaxation
• supporting sleep
• soothing occasional digestive discomfort
• making a surprisingly good-tasting tea

That’s useful because your nervous system and digestion don’t live in separate little boxes. I’m sure you know well about the gut-brain connection.

You’ve probably already experienced it yourself. A stressful day can become a tight stomach. A restless mind can become a restless night.

The Easiest Way to Use It

Make tea. Lemon balm is one of those herbs you don’t need to turn into an elaborate herbal project.

A warm cup in the evening can become part of the signal you give your body that the day is finished.

Tea is lovely, but tincture form is simply easier.

A few drops in water, tea, or even coffee, and you’ve brought lemon balm into your day without steeping, waiting, or cleaning another cup.

And honestly, lemon balm in coffee makes more sense than people think.

Coffee wakes you up, but sometimes it can also make your mind feel a little too sharp around the edges. Lemon balm brings a softer, calmer side to the ritual.

For evenings, stressful afternoons, or those days when your gut and your nerves seem to be speaking the same anxious language.

Click here to get your Lemon Balm Tincture.

4. Yarrow: One of Those Herbs Your Grandparents Would Have Known

If you want to understand old-fashioned household herbalism, learn about yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

It’s been used for thousands of years.

Traditionally, yarrow has been used externally for minor skin concerns and internally in preparations associated with digestion, menstrual comfort, feverish illnesses, and respiratory-season support.

Yarrow demonstrates something important about traditional herbalism: a useful plant didn’t necessarily belong to one body system.

Yarrow became associated traditionally with:

• minor cuts and skin care
• digestive support
• menstrual comfort
• seasonal teas
• sweating during feverish conditions

It’s this versatility that made herbs like yarrow so valuable when people couldn’t simply run to a store and buy a different product for every situation.

Yarrow is not the kind of herb you buy because it looks trendy.

You keep yarrow because generations before you knew it was useful.

Digestion. Seasonal teas. Menstrual comfort. Minor skin care. Old household preparations.

That’s the power of a true multi-purpose herb. 

But with yarrow, I don’t want weak herbs from a random shelf or a plant I’m not 100% sure I identified correctly.

I want it prepared by someone who actually knows what they’re doing.

That’s why Nicole’s Yarrow Tincture is my favorite pick.

One Caution

Yarrow belongs to the Asteraceae family, so anyone with sensitivities to plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, or daisies should be particularly careful.

Pregnancy is another situation where yarrow shouldn’t be casually experimented with.

Traditional doesn’t automatically mean appropriate for everyone; that’s why you need guidance.

5. Yerba Santa: A Fall Herb Your Lungs May Appreciate

Yerba santa literally became known as the “holy herb.” That’s quite a reputation to live up to.

Native to western North America, Eriodictyon species have a long history of traditional use, particularly among Indigenous peoples, for respiratory complaints.

Today herbalists commonly associate yerba santa with:

• throat comfort
• respiratory support
• mucus and occasional congestion
• soothing herbal teas and tinctures

Its aromatic leaves were traditionally used when breathing felt uncomfortable or when coughs and mucus made respiratory illnesses miserable.

People have used this plant for generations, herbalists still value it, and modern research hasn’t fully caught up yet.

You can try to find it yourself, dry it, and prepare it at home.

Or you can keep the ready-made tincture nearby and skip the guesswork.

Click here to see why herbalists still respect Yerba Santa.

Why Fall?

Cool weather means more time indoors. Then the dry heat turns on.

Your throat gets scratchy. Your nose feels dry. Everyone seems to be coughing somewhere in the grocery store.

That makes respiratory herbs particularly interesting this time of year.

For persistent wheezing, breathing difficulty, chest pain, or significant respiratory symptoms, though, don’t rely on an herb. Those symptoms deserve medical evaluation.

6. Reishi: Not Just an “Immune Mushroom”

Calling reishi an immune mushroom is a little like calling a smartphone a calculator.

Technically true.

But you’re missing most of the picture.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum and related species) has been used in East Asian traditional medicine for centuries and contains beta-glucans, triterpenes, and numerous other compounds that continue to attract scientific interest.

You’ll often see reishi discussed for:

• immune function
• stress resilience
• sleep and relaxation
• fatigue and general wellness

Reishi’s broad traditional role is exactly what makes it interesting. Because it’s an adaptogen.

It wasn’t historically viewed as something you used for three days and forgot about. It was closer to a general wellness tonic.

For a modern herbalist, that makes reishi particularly interesting during fall, when darker evenings, busy schedules, disrupted sleep, and the start of respiratory season often arrive all at once.

Fall asks your body to adapt.

Less sunlight. Colder mornings. More time indoors. More stress. More people getting sick around you.

And that’s exactly where reishi makes sense.

Reishi is an adaptogen, and that’s literally what adaptogens are known for in herbal tradition: helping the body stay steady when life, seasons, and stress start shifting around you.

It’s not a quick jolt like coffee.

It’s more like long-game support for resilience, calm, immune balance, and general wellness.

That’s why I like it in tincture form.

Just a few drops of one of the most respected mushrooms in traditional herbalism.

Click here to see Nicole’s Reishi Tincture.

7. Lion’s Mane: The Mushroom You May Want on Busy Fall Mornings

Fall has a way of speeding everything up. Work picks up. Schools reopen. Holidays start creeping onto your calendar.

And somehow you’re supposed to function the same.

That’s why it’s a must to mention lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus).

Unlike herbs traditionally associated mainly with respiratory or digestive complaints, lion’s mane has attracted attention because of research surrounding the nervous system and cognition.

Human studies are still relatively small, but researchers have explored lion’s mane for areas including:

• cognitive function
• memory and concentration
• mood
• stress
• general nervous-system support

Inside this mushroom are rare compounds called hericenones and erinacines, and they do something no pharmaceutical has ever mastered:
They stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) — a natural compound your brain uses to grow new neurons and repair the old ones.

That’s right — Lion’s Mane doesn’t just protect your brain. It helps regrow it.

Start with one cup. Let your brain feel the difference.

No Time to Brew? 
If you’re short on time or just prefer something quicker, you can skip the stove entirely. A few drops of Lion’s Mane Tincture in your morning coffee or water gives you all the brain-boosting power — no steeping required. 
👉 Try the tincture here.

You can actually cook fresh lion’s mane mushrooms.

That’s the kind of multi-use plant medicine I like: something that can live both in the kitchen and in the herbal cabinet.

You Don’t Need More Herbs. You Need to Know Your Herbs Better. 

“Supplements” can accidentally become another form of consumerism.

One problem? Buy a bottle.

New symptom? Buy another bottle.

Before long, you’ve spent hundreds of dollars and still aren’t quite sure what half of those bottles actually do.

There’s another way.

Build a smaller herbal cabinet around plants that can earn their space.

Plant knowledge gives you something a bottle never can:

confidence in what you’re using and why you’re using it.

The Best Place to Learn Herbs Is From a Real Herbalist

This is the part people forget.

Buying herbs is easy.

Knowing what to do with them is the real skill.

Because one plant can be used as a tea, a tincture, a salve, a poultice, an oil, a syrup, or even food — and each preparation can change the way you use it.

That’s why learning from a real herbalist matters.

Inside The Lost Remedies Academy, Nicole Apelian shows you how to identify medicinal plants, avoid dangerous lookalikes, and turn them into real remedies step by step. You don’t just read the recipe. You watch how it’s done.

Some of the lessons inside include:

• The Stress Relieving “Pills” That Grow on THIS Plant
• Doxycycline of the Woods
• The Fatty Liver Repair Tea
• Homemade Anti-Fungal Salve
• How to Make Your Own Lubricating Joint Juice
• Better Than Sleeping Pills
• The Herb You Can Add to Your Coffee or Tea
• The Plant That Can Save Your Life in a Crisis
• Grandma’s Antibiotic in a Jar
• Nature’s Anesthetic

And that’s exactly the kind of knowledge that helps you stop collecting random bottles and start understanding the plants themselves.

Click here to watch Nicole’s free video about The Lost Remedies Academy.

A Quick Herbalist’s Note: Herbs can interact with medications and health conditions. Check with your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, preparing for surgery, taking prescriptions, or managing a chronic condition. Avoid ashwagandha during pregnancy and use caution with thyroid, autoimmune, blood pressure, or diabetes concerns. Use elderberry properly cooked, berries only; raw or unripe berries may cause digestive upset.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. These plants are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting new herbs, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or managing health conditions. Seek medical care for any symptom that persists or concerns you.

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🌿 Join Our Private Herbal Community For Free. 👉 Click here!

References

For editorial verification and further reading:

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH):
  https://www.nccih.nih.gov/
• PubMed — Urtica dioica / stinging nettle research:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Urtica+dioica
• PubMed — stinging nettle and benign prostatic hyperplasia:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Urtica+dioica+benign+prostatic+hyperplasia
• PubMed — elderberry clinical research:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Sambucus+nigra+elderberry+clinical+trial
• PubMed — elderberry and respiratory infections:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=elderberry+respiratory+infection
• PubMed — lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), anxiety, stress, and sleep:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Melissa+officinalis+anxiety+sleep
• PubMed — yarrow (Achillea millefolium):
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Achillea+millefolium
• PubMed — yerba santa / Eriodictyon:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Eriodictyon+yerba+santa
• PubMed — reishi / Ganoderma lucidum:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Ganoderma+lucidum+clinical
• PubMed — lion’s mane / Hericium erinaceus and cognition:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Hericium+erinaceus+cognition
• PubMed — lion’s mane, anxiety, and depression:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Hericium+erinaceus+anxiety+depression
• PubMed — turkey tail / Trametes versicolor:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Trametes+versicolor
• National Library of Medicine / PubMed:
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

The post Multi-Use Herbs You Need This Fall appeared first on The Lost Herbs.