July 26, 2026

Happy Sunday, Reader 🥰

First, thank YOU so much. I love you. I appreciate you. More than you know.

The other day, I wrote a note about how I have not been doing well with all the things online, being very real, and I'm struggling... I asked, "If you and I were sitting in my apothecary, what question would you have for me?"

Oh, my goodness!

Literally hundreds of notes and questions poured in, along with so much encouragement. Thank you!

I promised I would be answering these in my email newsletters--that way they're relevant to you, at least mostly. I've categorized them into topic areas, too. I'm still going through these and likely will for a few more days because they're still coming in!

Another thing I must mention, and I got a GREAT belly laugh out of this---on my mistake---

Some readers replied and asked me what "AMA" meant, as I used that acronym in my last note. I'm so very sorry about this--I should have written it out.

I replied to most of these, and (YIKES) I replied incorrectly!!!

AMA stands for the American Medical Association. But I didn't use it that way in my last note as I had forgotten that I had used it.

It also stands for "Ask Me Anything," which I occasionally do series of these live on YouTube. **I'll be scheduling another series soon, so stay tuned!

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🌼 Reader Question 🌼

This first reader question requires some urgency....

This question is relevant because many of us here in the Northern hemisphere are busy harvesting our mullein flowers! Harvesting tiny mullein flowers is rather tedious, but if you can get about a half pint (around a cup or a little more by volume once dried) then you can make up a nice full pint of the infused herbal oil.

Most formulations you may see call for fresh garlic or garlic oil and St. John's wort in the oil with the mullein flowers---or just combining all three infused oils together.

You can also just use mullein flower infused oil by itself--or combined with just one of the other herbs. **You can also use essential oil, but more on that in a moment.....

WARNING:

Here's the thing....

Traditional herbal uses aren't "always" the best ways, even though we love them, mostly. For years and years, people have been putting oil into ears, including garlic infused oil. But science has shown explicitly that this can be dangerous.

Some herbalists say you can put Garlic-Mullein Oil into ears. Some herbalists say, "NO."

I'm on the "NO" side, and here's why:

1) Concern One is the eardrum. The hard rule is that we never should put anything at all into the ear if the eardrum is ruptured. The thing is (and especially if you're working with a young child) is that you often (usually) don't even know if the eardrum is ruptured or intact, and especially with those who have recurrent infections.

You don't want oil seeping into the middle ear canal, where it can do some significant damage.

2) Concern Two: The garlic. Fresh garlic-infused oil (which some herbalists make--not me) has some potent anti-microbial properties, but it can be irritating to fragile tissue--like the ear.

The allicin in the garlic is HOT and can cause pain on its own in a tender place like the ear. **You can use dried mullein flowers by themselves to make your oil--that's what I do. If you want to use garlic, I suggest purchasing a commercial option, which has been standardized in a lab.

3) Concern Three: Trapped moisture and debris. The ear canal is a self-cleaning mechanism, through a process called epithelial migration. This is where the skin cells slowly move outward from the eardrum to the opening, carrying along wax and debris with them.

When you put oil into the ear canal, it can create a film that gums up that migration. The oil mixes with cerumen (earwax) and can actually cause the wax to swell, soften, and then form a plug rather than moving out naturally. Impacted wax isn't fun, and may also contribute to infection and pain.

4) Concern Four: The microbiome of the ear. The ear canal likes to be dry and slightly acidic. Like any self-cleaning part of our body, there's what is a healthy and stable microbiome and the ear canal has its own special needs.

Introducing oil can potentially change the moisture and pH balance in the ear, and this in turn can create an environment perfect for fungal overgrowth. This is called "otomycosis" and this type of fungal infection is extremely difficult to treat, as well as being painful and awful.

5) Concern Five: Is the herbal oil really going where it needs to go? Most middle ear infections start in the eustachian tube--that's the passage that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat--not in the ear canal itself. So, oil you put into the canal can just sit in there without ever reaching the infected area, unless the ear drum is perforated, and as I said above...that's dangerous, too.

🌼 How to Apply Mullein Flower Oil 🌼

I apply it when needed to the panicle (outer) of the ear to just where the curvy cartilage starts. I'll also massage it around the ear itself and down the neck over the lymph node.

Another thing I've found (and remember, I do NOT use garlic in my mullein flower infused oil) is that a 1% dilution of "opening" essential oils can be helpful. These are also extremely antimicrobial and can help with infection, just like garlic can. And they smell a whole lot better!

NOTE: Like with garlic or oil, please never, ever put essential oils into the ear canal.

These "opening" and antimicrobial essential oils include:

rosemary (ct. cineole or ct. camphor),

thyme (ct. thymol for adults; ct. linalool for children),

peppermint (adults only--not for children under 10 in this area);

eucalyptus (also adults only--not for children under 10 around the ear or nose).

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🌼 Essential Oils for Body Needs 🌼

Here's a little list to help you choose essential oils to support different areas of the body.

Please remember, that just like herbs, in fact, even more, you must do research on each essential oil for the person you're working with because they can have contraindications you may not know---and neither do 95% of the essential oil fans out there with no aromatherapy training---just saying.

Be safe!

Here's a list, but if you're working with children, the elderly, anyone on medication, people with asthma, or pregnant/nursing women, be sure you know how to use them.

Also, these are generalizations and ideas---it's best if you can dial in a blend specific for the individual....

The Respiratory System

• Eucalyptus (E. globulus)
• Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• Laurel (Lauris nobilis)
• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Sleep and Relaxation (Nervous System)

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Chamomile, Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
• Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
• Black spruce (Picea mariana)
• Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
• Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)

Muscle and Joint Relief

• Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
• Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus)
• Eucalyptus (E. globulus)

Skincare

• Lavender (L. angustifolia)
• Frankincense (Boswellia spp)
• Helichrysum (H. italicum)
• Rose (Rosa spp)
• Tea Tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia)
• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Digestion

• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

These are just a few of my favorites---there are many others! And I make choices based on the person I'm working with.....

I'm likely going to open my Aromatherapy Specialist Certification course one more time this year, before I apply to NAHA for it to become a Level 2 course. (We ARE a NAHA approved school, so your certification counts.) The price will stay the same for this last hoorah as a Level 1.

It's a self-study course, and I'm also planning to have some additional hand-holding sessions on top of the thorough video and text instruction through the "tougher" (but FUN) parts, like chemistry and A&P (anatomy & physiology).

Are you interested in learning more about essential oils and practicing with them?

They can truly boost your herbal practice, more than 100%!

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🌼 The Last Day 🌼

Today is the last day to get my course, the Art of Herbal Tea for Pleasure and Health, OUTSIDE of being a member of the Confident Herbalist Tribe---our incredible herbal community. AND, it's still on sale for 50% off the normal price....at only $63. It's a steal. (Use the code: TEA50)

It comes with my 220 page Big Book of Herbal Teas, too! It's filled with formulations to help you make and love medicinal teas or teas for pleasure!

If you have any questions about any thing, just reach out to support@healingharvesthomestead.com

REMEMBER: Use the coupon code: TEA50 to get the discount!

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🌼 Encouragement and Inspiration 🌼

You can find my writings on mindset, life, faith, some herbal and aromatic supports for stress and the mind, and encouragement over on my new Substack site, KYLLA!

​I hope you'll join me over there. Feedback has been very positive, and I think you'll enjoy my "fuller" thoughts on KYLLA (Keep Your Lamp Lit, Always), too.

"Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward." ---Ecclesiastes 5:18.

Enjoy working with your herbs and oils! I can think of little else more fun.

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My newsletters are a labor of love, and a way for me to spend some creative writing energy....and teach the things I know work for so many people so you can learn whether a course is right for you or not......

I'm so grateful that you're here 🥰,

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

🌿 Heidi

P.S. Don't forget about it being the last day of the

​Art of Herbal Tea for Pleasure and Health sale!

Use the code: TEA50 and enjoy this terrific course that includes videos, all the things to learn about herbal tea for medicine, pleasure, and more; and many of my formulations---over 140 of them---for half off!

NOTE: If you're in the Confident Herbalist Tribe, you have access to this course--no need to buy it. ,

P.P.S. I may not write a note this coming Wednesday. I may...but I think I might take a little rest this week so I can catch up in the gardens and get my ferments going strong. That's why the Sunday note this weekend.