10 Things I’m Adding to My DIY Natural Medicine Cabinet This Year

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I’ve been looking through my medicine cabinet and collection of herbs here lately, and taking note of what natural medicines I want to make this year.  I like to be well prepared to keep my family well.

With all the herbs available, and different recipes at your fingertips, how do you know what DIY medicines to make?

First, know that medicines and natural antibiotics for the immune system are a must for every household.  Next, think about what your family’s health needs are.  Does anyone in your family have heart problems?  Thyroid or hormone imbalances?  Asthma?  Liver toxicity?  Write down your family’s needs and go from there.  Find recipes in good herbal books to help remedy these health needs that your family has.

Here are my plans for this year.  As I make these medicines, I will share the how-to part of it, but for now I’m just giving you an idea of some of the things on my agenda this year.

Brain Tonic Tincture

Do you ever get the feeling that your memory just isn’t what it used to be or could be?  I know I do!  In Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, she shares a brain tonic recipe that nourishes and repairs the brain, which sounds like just what I need!  She combines ginkgo leaf, gotu kola, peppermint, rosemary, and sage.  I can’t wait to give this a try for increased memory and clearer thinking!

Double E Immune Booster Tincture

I love this mixture of herbs that the Bulk Herb Store has put together – so much so that I’ve written about it here, here, and here.  My goal this year is to take this pre-mix of herbs and make at least a gallon of tincture with it to have on hand for long-term use.

Nerve Tonic

Another recipe from Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, is a nerve tonic formula.  Lemon balm, chamomile, oats, chrysantemum flowers, rose petals, and lavender flowers make this a recipe that rejuvenates the nervous system.

Vinegar of the Four Thieves 

The Vinegar of the Four Thieves is known to ward off plagues and viruses.  This is definitely a good remedy to have on hand just in case…, and I’ve also read that you can can it for long-term storage.  I want to can some jars of it this year.  The Bulk Herb Store shares the recipe for this here, and you can also buy the pre-mix that they have put together.

Fire Cider

This combines the powers of garlic, horseradish, onion, cayenne, and ginger to make a powerful medicine.  I have found it very effective to treat all sorts of illnesses.  I would like to can several jars of this too.

Pickled Garlic

I currently have a large bag of garlic on hand.  Wanting to put it to good use, I looked up a recipe in one of my books and found one for pickled garlic!  How genius!  I read that pickled garlic has the same medicinal value as raw garlic.  It also keeps well stored in the cabinet for a year!  I can’t wait to give this a try and would like to always have some on hand for an immune booster and natural antibiotic.

Lung Tea Tincture

I use a tea mixture that I refer to as “lung tea” often for coughs, congestion, and my daughter’s asthma.  I plan to make tinctures out of these herbs to have on hand for emergencies.  You can find the recipe for the tea here.

Adrenal Formula

The adrenal glands are something that can be thrown off balance due to traumatic experiences and physical, emotional, or mental stress.  Daily housekeeping and job situations can cause a person to be under a lot of stress  without them realizing it.  I have been taking an adrenal formula from Mountain Meadow Herbs {which is great}, but I am a do-it-yourself-save-all-the-money-I-can person, so I plan to make a big ol’ quart jar of it myself.

Cayenne Tincture

Cayenne is used to stop bleeding, heart attacks, strokes, and ease headaches.  It’s one of those remedies you want on hand for emergencies, and to ward off migraines if they come.  I do use powdered cayenne for the occasional headache, but I’ve been wanting to make a tincture out of the peppers for a while now to have for emergencies.

Homemade Vitamins

I am a true believer that the best vitamins come from whole foods and not a science lab.  There are good whole food vitamins out there, but I would rather make my own as a cheaper option since I have several herbs on hand.  I’m not positive which herbs I’ll combine, but right now I’m leaning towards combining red raspberry, oatstraw, chamomile, lemon balm, chickweed, astragalus and peppermint.  I’ll be sure to share when I have my final product done.

Are you a DIY person?  Check out The Ultimate DIY Bundle available for only a few more days!  It may be just what you are needing for inspiration!

Are you planning to add any natural medicines to your cabinets this year?

Linked to: A Mama’s Story    What Joy Is Mine    The Modest Mom    Wildcrafting Wednesday    Raising Homemakers    Wise Woman Link-Up

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