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June 18, 2025

Happy Herbal Wednesday, Reader!

I need to share something with you that sometimes still keeps me up at night, even though it happened over two whole decades ago.

I had just turned 40, and my youngest son was 15 at the time. I was aware of herbalism but had only just begun dabbling in herbal supplements. I had no idea about the power of herbal medicine back then or about using real plants for wellness and feeling better.

And like most moms, I thought I was doing everything right!

My son was experiencing extreme growing pains. In fact, that year, he grew an astounding six or seven inches at least! He was also a football player, the quarterback on his high school team, and his father (whom I was co-parenting with back then) had much to say about his football habits.

Although we didn't take much in the way of over-the-counter drugs, this was not the case for his father. And the sports team's doctor.....

So when my son came to me complaining that his stomach hurt (a LOT), I told him it would be ok, and that it would go away soon.

But it didn't....

After three days of this (I feel so guilty!) and my young son nearly in tears, I made a doctor's appointment for him, and off we went.

Expensive X-rays were in order.

And the good doctor made the diagnosis that it was an ulcer caused by.... over-the-counter pain-relievers.

WHAT???

The doctor and I both turned to my son and asked if he had been taking anything.

He answered, "Yes", and it was Advil....a LOT of it. Like several times a day. On the advice of the team doctor and his father (who told him just to take more when his legs hurt).

The doctor's suggestion to fix the ulcer?

To stop taking the Advil. Immediately.

Only, I didn't know what on earth to do about the growing pains, so my poor son just gritted it out.

I was a good mom, doing what every other good mom was doing. But the problem was that I didn't know what to do to help him.

Also, I had no clue whatsoever that taking Advil could be a bad thing.

Boy-howdy!

Who knew?

Who knew that by taking that much Advil, he was slowly and systematically damaging his liver? Not to mention his stomach....And what about the other over-the-counter drugs I found he was taking?

I paid a lot more attention after that.

You see, back then, and even now, we trusted that if something was available over the counter, it must be safe. If the doctor recommended it, it must be the best option. And if everyone else was using it, it surely must be fine.

Nobody told us that:

🌿 Those "harmless" pain relievers were causing thousands of liver failures every year

🌿 The antibiotics and OTC stomach medications were destroying the beneficial bacteria our children needed for proper immune function and overall health

🌿 The DM in cough syrup is classified as a "watch" ingredient by the DEA because some teens and adults use the cough syrups to get high

🌿 "Child-safe" is meaningless when it comes to the greed of the PTB (Powers that Be, like Big Pharma)

For years before this, I gave all these things to all of my children, never questioning and never researching, and of course, never imagining I could be causing harm.

But what breaks my heart the MOST is that even had I known....

And even once I found out about the dangers of OTC medications with my son's stomach ulcer...

I didn't have a clue what to do instead.

None of us do! Well, 99.9% of us....

The knowledge of herbal medicine, gentle remedies that support the body's healing processes, and alternatives to harsh drugs have been taught OUT of our common knowledge and understanding over the past 150+ years.

I am now 61 years old, a grandmother of six, and I've spent the past 15 to 20 years since then finding and learning through books, thousands of hours of coursework and certifications, working with clients, formulating products, teaching students, and personally experiencing medicinal plants.

All this to learn what I didn't know back then, so that I can help others now.

We collectively deserve to have this knowledge of herbal medicine and to have health choices. With knowledge comes power. We may still choose the allopathic (modern medicine) way because sometimes it's the better way, but we have options when we know how to work with plants for medicine and therapies.

Right now, people don't have many (or any) health choices unless we go on a search for alternatives.

All we have is what doctors and the pharma industry tell us.

UNLESS we take steps to learn for ourselves.

Isn't it time to exit this trap?

Here's what I treasure the MOST (besides the time I get to spend with my kids and grandkids) about this time in my life....

🌿 My adult children (including a daughter-in-law who is a PA in a busy urban hospital) now come to ME when they don't feel well or when a grandchild needs something, asking for "Grandma's plants" instead of just blindly heading to the drugstore

🌿 The grandchildren who spend the most time with me are growing up knowing that plants can support their bodies in healing and that they're not helpless victims of every bad cold or cough.

🌿 I get to teach them the wisdom I wish I'd had when their parents were little.

Now, today...

What drives my passion and all the time spent cheering on herbal medicine is the regret about what I didn't know (even though it wasn't my fault).

It's the regret that even though there were many better options than drugs and so many natural ways to help with all the pains and illnesses, from infections, cold & flu, growing pains, colic...all the things that I just didn't know about.

This is why I teach herbalism to anyone and everyone who will listen.

It's because somewhere out there is a mom just like I was 20 to 40 years ago---loving her children SO fiercely but unknowingly making choices that could hurt them.

I can't change my past...but I can help change your future.

I can help you to become the confident, equipped, knowledgeable health advocate your family needs you to be.

Because here's what I know after 20 years of studying, trying to find legitimate resources in those early days before the internet took off, and learning and applying the wisdom of herbal remedies and medicine:

God provides everything we need for healing in His creation. Our great-great-great grandmothers knew this. Indigenous cultures all around the world still know this.

This incredible knowledge was stolen from those of us in developed countries, and it's not yet too late to reclaim it!

You can start learning herbalism (and/or aromatherapy) today! Right where you are, and with whatever health challenges you're facing.

In my note next week, I'll share more about how I built the confidence to make this transition from blind trust in drugs to using plant medicine safely---because I know the fear of "what if I make things worse?" is real and valid.

I'll also share how to know when you should choose medical care over herbal remedies...because good medical professionals absolutely have their place.

Don't let another 20 years pass by wishing you'd started sooner.....

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Super Plant for a Super Summer!

Can you guess what it is?

It's aloe vera!

​Enjoy this article on all things aloe, including how to grow your own in your home, how to make your own aloe vera gel from the leaves, and more!

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Pain and Muscle Soothing Salve

We all have aches and pains on our minds in our home these days because we're still moving! It feels like the longest move ever.

In addition to this, Joe and our brother-in-law, Barry, have been busy tilling and planting out Sambucus nigra species of elderberries in one of the farm areas on the new property. Sambucus canadensis syn. cerulea grows natively here, but not in super great quantities for our farm. So we're planting 50 ish this year, and then a few more next year.

We've moved a little late for gardening season, but I'm making plans to build out the medicinal herb gardens on top of the elderberries and comfrey. More to come on that!

If you're out doing any kind of manual labor or have back pains, the salve formulation below may do the trick for you! It's served us very well, and will continue to do so. I wish I'd had this for my son's growing pains back in the day!

​Cayenne, Arnica (or Comfrey), and St. John's Salve​

**TIP: Don't have St. John's wort or arnica? Just substitute either with comfrey. It's not an exact substitute, but it's still effective.

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"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

I hope your summer (or winter if you're in the south of the world) is treating you very well right now! Stay comfortable, and now I'm back to unpacking ever more tinctures.....

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. Did you get your FREE Guide to Creating a Home Apothecary? If you didn't get this one, just click the link above and use the same email address you're getting this note from so you don't get double notes. And...I'd surely love if you'd forward this note along to a friend!

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This note is proudly sponsored by the Confident Herbalist Tribe!

Whether you're brand new to herbalism or a seasoned veteran, nothing beats the content, camaraderie, learning, and fellowship in our herbal village!

​Become an herbalist and join us!​

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If you're not interested in the Confident Herbalist Tribe right now, that's ok! Check out the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences for your perfect herbal adventure.

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