October 4, 2026

Happy Sunday!

It's a glorious day, and I'm so thankful for my life, the knowledge I have about medicine making using God's gifts of perfect plants, and for YOU.

I'll answer another reader question today, and then I have a special fall recipe for you, too!

I'm so glad Donna asked this question here, as it's very relevant for many people. Inside the Ditch the Drugstore community, we answer questions like this all the time, both on live zoom meetings where we can dig in for more information and also in the feed within the community. It's a wealth of information, and it's all human-driven (no AI), but most importantly, we help you actually IMPLEMENT your knowledge of herbal medicine!

So, energy levels.....

As we age, it's common to feel less pep in our step, as time goes on. I know this as a 62 year old myself!

Here are my general thoughts (I can't provide specifics without speaking to the client, of course, and I'm not a medical doctor either---so none of this is medical advice.):

1) Low iron may be a culprit. If you're deficient in iron levels, most will feel some level of fatigue, cold intolerance, and hair loss. You would need lab testing from a medical professional to discover your numbers---and then you can choose to approach it with herbs as supports or other means.

2) The next thing on the list would be to have your thyroid levels checked too. This also requires medical testing.

3) Then, and this is definitely a possibility, depending on stress levels---is depletion. This is a nervous system that's been running on high alert for a long time without rebuilding or enough rest. It feels like "bone-deep tiredness" that sleep doesn't really help. Often, brain fog, sensitivity to light and sound, and just feeling worn out come with this kind of tiredness.

This kind of depletion comes (for some) with that 3 a.m. wake up time where your mind is racing, and sleep evades you, even though you're exhausted. Right now, inside the Confident Herbalist Tribe, we're learning all about sleep, the hormones involved, and protocols for improving it!

The questions I'd like to ask would be around a) sleep quality; b) use of caffeine and when it's taken during the day; c) alcohol use; d) and hours of actual sleep. Then we could take it from there.

Choosing Herbs and Essential Oils.....

So, the herbs and essential oils you would choose to work with are dependent on what is causing the issue of the tiredness. So, my suggestions here are also generalizations, and not specific to an individual.

1) Milky Oats (Avena sativa): I would purchase a fresh herb tincture as most people can't get the milky oats harvested at the right time unless you grow it yourself---which is actually easy to do! This is a fabulous nervine tonic for exhaustion and burnout. It's gentle, nourishing, neutral in terms of constitutional alignment, moistens the body, and is excellent and safe for long-term use. In fact, you need to use it for four to six weeks before it tends to kick in for most people...and you'll just notice "feeling better."

2) Damiana (Turnera diffusa): This is another herb that is very gentle and uplifting. Some people will feel a mild euphoria or feeling of calm. Some feel it may also have aphrodisiac qualities. Little is scientifically known about damiana, though---we have mostly anecdotal evidence.

3) Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum): Also known as holy basil, tulsi is one of my favorites for helping with a little boost during the day. In some cultures, it's even taken every morning. There is no caffeine, but the compounds it contains are traditionally thought to support healthy emotional balance and energy levels, especially in women.

4) Eleuthero (Eleuthero senticosus): This is an adaptogen, and although rhodiola is a great choice, it's not sustainable, so I usually go with eleuthero because of this. It works fairly quickly, and it helps the body deal with any imbalances that come with chronic stress.

5) Stimulating and Uplifting Essential Oils: Diffusing essential oils that uplift the spirits and that are energizing can also be very helpful, especially during energy slumps during the day. I love diffusing blends that support my brain and my body as I work. Here are a few of them: Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Lemon (Citrus limon), Eucalyptus (E. globulus), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), a touch of Sage (Salvia officinalis), and there are many others!

Don't discount the power of aromatherapy! What an incredible way to use God's plants.

The bottom line is we must support the body, and often, it will naturally heal itself, as this is what it was made to do!

My friend.....If you are dealing with chronic stress and you feel that your thoughts and thinking processes may be swirling negatively, please join Keep Your Lamp Lit on Substack.

Besides the writings there, I'm putting something together that may help---what I've learned in two different Christian Life Coaching certification programs has helped me tremendously, and even normalized my previously super high blood pressure (along with a little help from supportive herbs). Our mind is powerful---let's turn it into an ally!

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Building Your Home Apothecary Webinar This Afternoon and Tomorrow!

This will be the second time I've hosted this webinar training, as it's quite different from my original. You'll learn more about herbalism and building your home apothecary as well as about the five best herbs to get started with.....so anyone can walk away from this training and get started. TWO free guides come with it, too!

​You can register HERE, and if you can't make it live, there will be a replay. But I encourage you to show up, as I do love talking about herbs and I'll have a Q&A session, too.

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The Art of Becoming an Herbalist Workshop Series

Last week, I dripped out a series of videos for you, along with worksheets and did some live Q&A's on zoom.

We had a bit of trouble with the zoom meetings, but I now have replays, and we've got passwords in case you can't get in automatically to watch them. BUT...I do believe we've got it fixed so no password is needed to watch.

​You can find everything right on the same page HERE. It's a GREAT series if you're interested in herbal medicine, and it will be available for a few more days!

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Well, this has gotten longer than I expected, so I'll sign off! But before I do, I promised you a Fall formulation....and you can find a great fall deodorant formula in the video below. It's wonderful! **It's an older video, so I look quite different, but the formulation is great.

If you have sensitive underarms or skin, you can cut the baking soda in half to start.....

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

​P.S. We're opening enrollment in our signature Family Herbalist programs starting today, and you'll be receiving a few extra notes from me this coming week so people don't miss the opening.

Please be patient, and if you're not interested, just ignore them for the week coming.

Play the video below for the Fall Deodorant Formula:

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