October 7th, 2026

Happy Wednesday's Herbal Note!

Today's note is going to be pretty passionate. Because what I’m seeing right now is a flashing red warning light… and too many people are ignoring it. We always think we have more time than we do.

And then time's up.....

Drug shortages are still happening in 2026, and they're on the rise according to the ASHP (American Society of Health System Pharmacists). And supply issues aren’t the only concern. The prices of medication are still skyrocketing in 2026 as well, according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Did you know that almost 100% of the ingredients or complete medications for United States persons come from overseas? A couple of years ago that number was significantly lower, at around 61%.

And today?

The percentage has risen to between 70% and 90%, depending on whether we're speaking of ingredients or finished or generic medications. The majority of these are made in India and China, and ONLY 10% are made in the United States? Source​

I don't know about you, but I find this frightening for people. ​

This tells us that those of us who rely on over-the-counter and Rx medications may be at risk of not being able to buy things they need...or they'll just become too expensive. It's disturbing when I receive notes along the lines of, "What can I do for my mom's (insert health issue), because she can't get her medication?"

Or...

"My prescription now costs almost $1,000 a month, and we can't afford it. What can we do?"

And yes, I've received LOTS of these kinds of notes over the years.

And I don’t say that to scare you. I say it because I want you prepared.

🌼 The solution is older than Big Pharma

Medicinal herbs and essential oils can almost always replace over-the-counter medications for usual ailments (and in some cases even some prescriptions—always with wise medical oversight, please).

Plant medicine is the traditional People's Medicine, and according to the World Health Organization, 80% of the world's people still rely on herbalism as a first recourse.

But, in modern developed countries, we have lost the knowledge. It's time for a reclamation!

I’ve gotten messages for years like:

• “I can’t find what we need.”
• “My medications are too expensive now.”
• “I’m tired of giving my kids harsh chemicals.”
• “We’re always sick and not getting better.”
• “The side effects are wearing me down.”
• "The doctors can't figure this (xyz thing) out."

A mom once emailed me from Saskatchewan asking what to do for her baby’s fever because she couldn’t find medicine anywhere there. The shelves were bare.

And honestly? When I see things like $30+ for Mucinex, I just shake my head. Because in many cases, herbal remedies work better—and they support the body in its natural healing processes instead of bulldozing it.

A few months ago, one of my YouTube viewers said it perfectly:

And I’ll be honest: it breaks my heart at how un-empowered modern people are with our health.

🌼 It’s not our fault.

Like 99% of our modern population, I, too, used to think those OTC drug products were “safe” because they were "normal" to me. Approved by the government. Taken for granted as the ONLY way to go.

But I also remember what it felt like when I finally learned (from a good and wise natural doctor) that the medications were CAUSING my many health issues—not solving them.

And long-term use of OTC and Rx meds starting in my twenties is still causing lingering health issues for me today, which really makes me angry. Most of us don't realize that over-the-counter medications aren't always safe just because we can go to the store to buy them.

Now? At my much wiser age of 62, we use the plants that God created for us right at home to make our natural medicine—plants and liquids the body recognizes and can work with, that support the healing process.

We've been OTC and RX FREE in our household for around 15 years now!

(And many of my students are too. If you missed yesterday's note, there's a great case study for you!)

NOTE: By the way, I am NOT anti-medicine or medical doctor. Sometimes prescriptions are necessary. My own daughter is a brilliant doctor in a busy hospital, and there are many medical professionals in my family. I think doctors are overall, pretty great. When you need a diagnosis, that's where you want to head. However, they're just not trained in herbal medicine, and they are taught NOT to use herbs.

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💡The moment I’ll never forget...

Years ago, when we still lived in Las Vegas and before we moved off-grid to the Southern Nevada Mountains (so it's been quite awhile now), Mr. V. and I were in CVS Drugstore in Las Vegas with a $50 gift card. We walked aisle after aisle…

He called out from over the top of an aisle and said, "Do you have anything in your basket?"

"No," I said back.....

He replied, “Heidi… we don’t need any of this stuff. You make all of it.”

We stood there and just laughed—because the light bulb had gone on!

We were no longer dependent.

It happened gradually for us because I didn't have a mentor to support me in my herbalism learning 20 years ago.

**A real mentor to answer your questions as they arise helps you learn a LOT more quickly and also BETTER.

That’s what I want for you. And, I'm here to be a real live person--a mentor--as you learn. No artificial intelligence, and all my text books for our courses that are written by me without A.I.

You need a real live person. A village of like-minded supportive friends who "get" you. And excellent content written by a human being with experience that teaches and attends to a variety of learning styles.

That's how we operate here at the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences (SOBAS).

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Ready to build your home apothecary?

If you already know you’re ready to stop dabbling and start building a real home medicine chest for your favorite people, my signature family herbalism program is now open!

Enrollment for this cohort closes in three days (Saturday, October 10th).

We’ll have our Welcome + Orientation live chat on that day, too! If you can’t attend live, you’ll have the replay.

During the cohort, I host live Q&A chats for about six weeks (often longer if students need it). Those are recorded too—and we now have over 130+ searchable past Q&A replays that I give you as a valuable bonus resource.

This is not a “watch videos and hope it works” course. This isn't a course with a bunch of slide deck notes and no texts. It's not me trying to sell my formulations.

​Our Family Herbalism programs offer support, structure, and a plan. And I created them like this so you can actually implement with confidence.

Inside you’ll get:

• Recorded video lessons
• Textbooks written and researched by me and not Artificial Intelligence
• Projects and formulas (200+ remedies and hundreds more in the Certification option)
• Live instruction and Q&A's with all replays, past, present, and future
• Community + real help when you need it
• Guidance for substitutions and adjustments and any non-medical question you have
• Help and structure for planning and organizing your apothecary...so you don't waste money on herbs and oils you don't need
• And yes—I can even help create custom formula options for students, depending on the need
• and MORE

OR.....

PLUS you own the course for life, so you can fit it in the margins of your life or move quickly—your call.

You're also welcome to attend any future student groups, too!

If you’re the kind of woman or man who is:

• not afraid to learn
• ready to take back your health choices
• feeling like this is the time
• wanting real medical preparedness with natural options…

then you’ll love either of these programs.

​👉 Become your family's trusted herbalist​​

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Encouragement + Inspiration

God made medicinal plants for our use as both food and medicine. Over the centuries, big money entities have stolen our knowledge of plant medicine, leaving us dependent on Big Pharma.

"He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of mankind, so that they may produce food from the earth..." (And we know that our food is our medicine, such as elderberry, garlic, thyme, rosemary, hawthorn, and many, many more)

"Is there no balm in Gilead?" --Jeremiah 8:22, referring to a famous healing ointment from the region of Gilead

"Then Isaiah said, 'Take a cake of figs.' And they took it and placed it on the inflamed spot, and he recovered." 2 Kings 20:7

Isn’t it comforting to know we’re not alone? Even when we feel alone, we aren’t. God is near, He is good, and He’s faithful. He gives us what we need!

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”​
—Jeremiah 29:11

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I hope you can join us inside! ​

Hugs, Health, and Herbs

Heidi 🌿

P.S. If you’ve been meaning to build a real home medicine chest… there’s no time like right now. Your future self and your family will thank you. 🥰

​Join us today!​

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Time is ticking away! I hope you can join us and get your home apothecary created while you learn solid herbalism.

If you have any questions, please reach out to support@healingharvesthomestead.com or just hit "reply," and we'll answer personally.

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