My Favorite Medicinal Recipes to Make at Home

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About ten years ago, I made a significant shift in how I approached my health. Instead of just treating symptoms when I got sick, I began focusing on preventing illness altogether. Although I have immense respect for modern medicine—having spent most of my career in healthcare—I started exploring homeopathic and natural remedies thanks to my husband. His interest in homeopathy and Eastern medicine sparked my curiosity, and I gradually embraced a more holistic approach to health.

Discovering Medicinal Recipes

Before this shift, I was frequently ill. Every time I got sick, I’d end up with a fever and tachycardia, where my heart would race over 100 beats per minute. This concerned my doctors and me, making it crucial to find ways to prevent getting sick in the first place. This led me down the path of homeopathics, which I found not only effective in treating illnesses but also in preventing them.

Believe it or not, I haven’t been seriously sick in nearly ten years. While I still get the occasional headache or allergy symptoms, I haven’t had the flu, COVID, or a fever in a decade. I credit this to the wellness approach I’ve adopted.

Starting with Natural Products

When I first ventured into medicinal recipes, I started by purchasing natural products from stores. Over time, I began making my own remedies, buying herbs and ingredients online. As my gardening skills improved, I started growing and processing my own plants, turning them into medicinal products.

Growing and Processing Herbs

Growing and processing medicinal herbs can take a year, but the effort is worth it. Some of my favorite herbs include borage, chamomile, calendula, ginger, turmeric, garlic, elderberry, bee balm, and lavender. If you’re not up for growing your own, many of these ingredients are available online.

Making Tinctures

One of the first medicinal recipes I tried was tinctures. For this, I collected flowers like borage and bee balm. I laid them out to air dry for about 7 days and then stored them until I was ready to use them.

Borage Tincture

Borage is known for its calming effects, helpful for anxiety and sleep. It’s best not to consume borage daily since it is known for having a negative affect on liver and kidney functions when used in high dosages or taken regularly for an extended period of time.

Bee Balm Tincture

Bee balm is great for colds and coughs, helping to alleviate symptoms when you’re sick.

To make a tincture, I typically use glycerin, but I’ve started incorporating vodka for its longer shelf life. High-proof vodka is perfect for extracting the medicinal properties from the herbs. After filling a jar with dried flowers and vodka, I let it sit in a dark, cool place for 6-8 weeks, shaking it occasionally. Once infused, I strain out the flowers, and the resulting tincture can last up to five years.

Making Oxymels

For a non-alcoholic alternative, I make oxymels. These are similar to tinctures but use apple cider vinegar and honey instead of alcohol. They are soothing for scratchy throats and combine the benefits of medicinal herbs, vinegar, and honey. I particularly like this medicinal with bee balm to treat cold symptoms.

Creating Lotion Bars and Lip Balm

Calendula Lotion Bars

For dry skin, sunburns, and minor scratches, I make lotion bars using equal parts calendula oil, beeswax, and shea butter (start with 1/4 cup of each ingredient). Calendula oil is made by steeping the calendula flowers in olive oil at room temperature for 4-6 weeks. Store in a dark cool place and shake the jar occasionally. When you are ready to use the oil, separate the flowers from the oil and dispose of the flowers. Melt together the three ingredients and pour into molds. Allow the bars to cool overnight or place in the refridgerator to cool more quickly. These bars provide a soothing, healing balm for the skin and can be used for scraps, burns, dry skin.

Coconut Oil Lip Balm

My husband loves chapstick, so I made a homemade version using calendula-infused olive oil, beeswax, calendula infused coconut oil, vanilla essential oil, and vitamin E oil. Poured into chapstick tubes and left to solidify, these provide a natural, soothing lip balm. Check out the recipe here.

Strawberry Leaf Tea

As a part of managing female health, I use strawberry leaf tea. Strawberry leaves are rich in tannins, helping with digestion and inflammation. After drying the leaves, I grind them into a powder and mix them with chamomile for a soothing tea that helps manage monthly cycles.

These medicinal recipes are just the beginning. There’s a whole world of natural remedies to explore, from mosquito sprays to elderberry syrups. If you’re interested in more, check out my post on my favorite 30 herbs and spices.

I hope you enjoyed this journey through medicinal recipes. Happy gardening and stay healthy!