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July 9, 2025

Happy Wednesday, Reader!

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ---Robert Brault

The tragedy of the Texas flooding is heartbreaking. Children and adults there...and then gone in an instant. It hurts the heart....

It's truly a reminder to us, isn't it?

When horrific events happen, it reminds us all how fragile it all really is, our lives, our friends, our family and homes.... It changes the way we see things, and puts a new and necessary perspective on our lives.

What we have right now matters, and it's up to us to be present with the people we love. To remember in gratitude how fortunate we are.

Savor the moments you have now. While we have them. And let's pray for the hurting people....

Here's an article with some helps for grief, trauma, and emotional pain.

​How Essential Oils Can Help the Grief and Trauma Process​

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The Best Choice

I read this disturbing quote literally just now right before I began to write to you, and I think it's a great heads' up that's very aligned with what I know to be true about these kinds of things:

"If you give your child Tylenol between the age of 12 and 18 months, you're 20 times more likely to have a child with autism." --William Parker, PhD; based on the work of Stephen Schulz

And then there was this:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not safe to use during pregnancy. Based on a study through Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2019, researchers took umbilical cord blood from over 1,000 births to look for biomarkers of acetaminophen exposure, then followed the children for years.

They found that "higher levels of acetaminophen metabolites in cord blood were linked to a significantly increased risk of both ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...in a dose-response fashion."

I don't know about you, but that's simply disturbing.

There are MANY other similar studies with similar conclusions you can find, too. You can read through one source here.

Acetaminophen, in fact, is what nearly killed one of my fourth grade students in 2016. His doctor told his grandmother to give it to him often to make him more comfortable and to bring his fever down. After many days of this, my young student experienced a terrible seizure and went into a coma for a week.

Doctors in the hospital determined that he had been given the incorrect antibiotic (not an uncommon occurrence) for a typical infection, and the acetaminophen was masking the fever.

He wasn't getting well---he was just more comfortable while his little body was giving out.

This isn't fear-mongering.

It's a real problem.

And the truth is there are MUCH better options, natural ones, than acetaminophen.

A medical professional once asked me what I would substitute for acetaminophen? What herb or preparation?

And this kind of question shows the allopathic mindset, which is not how a good herbalist operates.

My question in response was: "What kind of pain? Because this will determine the best choice of herbs and/or essential oils I would choose."

At any rate a VERY interesting conversation followed, and now that medical professional is very much into learning about herbalism. Hurray!

Let's just take a simple headache as an example of how we might think about this situation.

An herbalist will choose different herbs and oils for a migraine than for a sinus headache. And a tension headache would call for potentially others with some overlaps of course.

It's not complicated or difficult either. Once you learn a few simple things about how herbs and essential oils act on the body, it's actually pretty easy (and fun) to choose the best herbs and oils for the person and their situation.

BEST of all?

Herbs and essential oils support the health and wellness of the body and mind. They help the healing process along. They don't mask symptoms. They support healing.

Isn't that SO much better than possibly dangerous drugs that have unpleasant side effects?

Here's a YouTube video I created discussing herbs and oils for pain relief:

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There are MANY other videos I've created on specific formulations for various different kinds of pains on YouTube, too. But remember...herbalists like to work with a person to be sure you're choosing the best options. And that's what I teach in our Family Herbalism course, Ditch the Drugstore.

We're starting a new student cohort soon (live chats and more), so if you're already a student of either the Ditch the Drugstore or the Family Herbalist Certification, check the event schedule inside your student community! Many of you enjoy going through with new groups each time, and you're ALL welcome again if you're already a student.

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FREE Herbalism Video Series

Yesterday, I invited you to watch our FREE four herbalism video series.

Here's a quote from a viewer just today:

"I just watched your first video with the cough syrup. Just a few weeks back I tried your formulation for the first time, and found my hacking cough quit!" --Jesse

I hear this ALL the time. I used to be pleasantly and happily surprised. Now, I'm just expectant and grateful. All are positive feelings, and I'm always thrilled.

If you'd like to watch these videos, the first three are out and ready to go!

Enjoy!

​Easy Herbal Remedies and Becoming an Herbalist​

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And there's MORE: FREE Webinar Training Invite

If you haven't attended our popular FREE webinar training in the past, Five BEST Herbs for Your Home Apothecary, you'll definitely want to register!

Registration is needed to save your seat, and if you haven't attended, you'll really enjoy learning about these five herbs, their medicinal actions on the body, and practical ways to use them.

Guess what?

These are ALL herbs you can find in your grocery store. Easily.

And they're all easy to grow, too, if you're a gardener.

They all have many, many uses, too.

This free webinar comes with a FREE book I wrote for you that contains remedies so you can get started right away, too.

Click the link below to save your seat!

​Five BEST Herbs for Your Home Apothecary​

If you know of a friend who would also enjoy this information, send along the link or forward this note! You can enjoy it together!

You know what?

Herbalism can definitely bless your life and your family members' lives. Come learn with us!

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Helpful Essential Oil Tips!

Many people (I was one of these long ago back in the day) will get a few essential oils, and then because they're just not sure what to do with them, let them sit in a cupboard and get old and oxidized. I threw away my fair share back then.....

Here are a few ways to use your essential oils:

1) Be sure to properly dilute them in a carrier oil. (More on that below)

2) For headaches, apply on the back of the neck, around the ears, and on the temples and forehead.

3) For energy and focus, the best areas are the temples, forehead, wrists, crown of the head, and the neck.

4) If you're very stressed, place a drop or two of calming oils into your palm, rub together, and cup them over your nose while inhaling deeply. Mindfully breathe and relax.... Instant peace.

5) If your tummy is upset, rub a diluted blend into your abdomen. There are essential oils specifically for helping relax smooth muscle and supporting the digestive process.

6) Sleeping: Cupping is an excellent and fast way to enjoy calming essential oils. Also, diluted application on wrists, over the heart, on the neck, and forehead.

7) For pain relief: Use topically on painful areas. You would choose essential oils for the specific type of pain.

Here are some generalizations for body supports.....depending on the individual, though, you may want to substitute some of these:

1) Respiratory Support:

Eucalyptus, bay laurel, rosemary, peppermint, saro and ravintsara

2) Sleep:

Lavender, clary sage, chamomile, black spruce, sweet marjoram, tangerine, patchouli, nutmeg (one of my favorites)

3) Inflammatory joint pains or sore muscles:

Balsam copaiba, German chamomile, lavender, helichrysum, peppermint, eucalyptus, black pepper, ginger

4) Skincare:

Rose, lavender, helichrysum, frankincense, and (depending on the issue) tea tree

5) Digestion:

Fennel, peppermint, ginger, cardamom, tangerine

Curious about best dilution ratios?

For the face or those with fragile skin: 0.2 to 1.5%

Pregnancy: 1%

Body massage: 1.5 to 2% for whole body. For body parts, may increase to 3% to 4%

Bath and body products: 1.5 to 3%

Acute pains: 5% to 20% (again, depending on the situation and person)

The age of the person will make a BIG difference in the number of drops you'll use as well. The guidelines above are for mature teens and adults.

These are all just a few of the MANY things you'll learn in Ditch the Drugstore and the Family Herbalist Certification program.

I hope these tips and guidelines are helpful and that you enjoy the free videos and articles here and on my website and YouTube channel!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

​P.S. Don't forget to save your seat to the FREE herbalism training next week! Five BEST Herbs for Your Home Apothecary. You'll be amazed at what these wonderful, easy-to-find herbs can do for you! Save your seat by clicking the button below (and yes, there's a replay if you can't make it):

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This newsletter is sponsored by the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences (SOBAS) by Healing Harvest Homestead!

If you're ready to learn herbalism, especially if you're a believer, then our school is the one for you. You'll get answers, help and support, science-backed as well as experiential information, and make lots of great friends with like-minded people.

​Join us today!​

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***[ANSWER] The tree in the picture above is elderberry (Sambucus nigra spp). The native elderberries here are Sambucus canadensis, and they're not that easy to forage--this is why we chose varieties of S. nigra. Note the sweet, tiny flowers.....