March 18, 2026

Happy Herbal Wednesday!

I'm SO looking forward to spring planting! And I'm just loving the sound of the spring birds. This morning, I heard the Canadian geese flying back home. We have a pond that we can't see from the house, but luckily we look right down on our neighbor's beautiful pond. It's so peaceful watching these graceful birds resting along their travel route.

In today's note, you'll find out more about formulating herbal medicine, kitchen herbs that support the cognitive ability, focus, memory (essentially the brain), and I've got another wonderful recipe for you to enjoy!

Here's part two about how you can become a master formulator for the people you love. If you didn't read the first message, you can read that here.

Figuring out how to create effective herbal formulations isn't about following someone else's "recipe." (Although this can often be a fine thing to do when you're not sure.)

And it's not a cookie-cutter thing. It's not using a template or copying someone else's formula.

Effective herbal formulation requires a complete PARADIGM Shift! A paradigm shift is when we change the way we think about something. Often radically!

There are a couple of BIG mistakes that many herbalists make in their practice...

First, they make the assumption that if a great herbalist formulated a remedy, then it will 100% work for everyone. They assume that all cold and flu remedies are the exact thing needed to solve a congestion problem. But that congestion problem might have some unique behind-the-scenes reasons to consider!

For example, a good herbalist won't treat all fevers the same way. They'll consider how it's presenting in the person's body....as well as the specific type of body they're working with.

The second mistake is that they make it all too complicated!

I've seen herbalists who aren't quite sure what herbs to work with just decide to "throw the kitchen sink" at the problem. This means they create a very complex formulation that contains ALL the herbs they can think of... and this just NEVER works.

Effective formulation really isn't all that hard. But it requires knowledge.

Instead of thinking about "Which herb should I use for 'this situation or symptom,'" the shift happens when we broaden our view to ask more deeply about the person's needs than just what seems to present on the surface.

It's about honing in on the individual you're working with to identify their specific body state and then matching the plants in a step-by-step formulation process just for them.

As Wayne Dyer once said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!"

But I have the fix!

It's my course on Western Herbal Energetics.

If you're creating herbal remedies for your people (or you want to), then you're probably doing these things:

1) Identifying a change you want your family member or client to have

2) Thinking about which herb(s) you can give them to solve the problem

3) Giving them either too many herbs or choosing herbs that aren't going to work for the client

Why?

Because every person is unique. Every person has a special body that we need to consider.

When we don't take this into consideration, we're bound to make errors in our formulation practice with our family and friends.

The best things we can do are to:

1) Consider the human we're working with (and there's quite a lot that goes into this)

2) Then consider the situation we're honing in on in terms of tissue states

3) Brainstorm some herbs, then make decisions based on science and logic

4) Create an effective formula that contains between just three and seven herbs that matches the human!

This is a super-simplified list of things to do when you apply Western Herbal Energetics correctly, and there's quite a lot more to it than this...but it's so easy with this information under your belt.

Best of all? It's FUN!

Isn't it time to dial in your herbal formulations? If the answer is "YES!" then I invite you into our newest course, Western Herbal Energetics.

Because it's a beta (brand new course) launch, I'm giving everyone $45 off the price for just a couple more days.

The sale ends Friday evening!

Be sure to use the coupon code: ENERGETIC

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Nootropic Herbs....And Why They're Important

In Sunday's note, I shared a great roller bottle blend called "A Beautiful Mind," and this blend uses aromatherapy to sharpen the abilities of the brain. It's lovely, too!

This week, we're going to talk more about the herbs.

Nootropics can be Big Pharma medications. OR (and much better) they can be plants God has gifted to us!

Nootropics were first researched and identified in the 1970's by a Romanian psychologist and chemist, Dr. Corneliu Giurgea. Nootropic is a word that comes from the Greek language: "Nöos" means "thinking," while "tropein" means "to guide."

Nootropics may:

• Improve learning and memory retention
• Increase resilience to stress hormones and even trauma
• Protect brain cells and improve activity in the brain
• Promote intercellular communication by strengthening neurotransmitters

Here are some herbs that are considered to have nootropic characteristics, and you're going to love this list because you probably have a LOT of these!

Mints: Rosemary, Lemon balm, Tulsi, Garden sage

Adaptogens: Tulsi, Gotu kola, Bacopa, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero

Mushrooms: Lion's Mane, Cordyceps

And MANY others.....

Are you enjoying this peek into kitchen herbs that are also medicinal? If so, stay tuned! I have something special coming!

Brain Health Tea Blend

Ingredients (dried herbs):

1 part Rosemary leaves, crushed

1 part Lemon Balm leaves

1 part Tulsi (Holy basil)

1/2 part Garden Sage leaves

1/2 part Marshmallow leaf

1/2 part Ginger

Directions:

Blend the herbs together in a bowl, then store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place. When you're ready to make your herbal tea, use 1 tbsp per cup of just boiled water. Be sure to cover the top with a lid so the aromatics (the medicinal portion) won't evaporate!

Use as needed to enhance your brain power and focus. One cup a day is a good start, and three cups a day is considered a medicinal amount when taken consistently over a period of time. I always suggest taking a break when using medicinal amounts of herbs, even safe ones like these, after about three to four weeks. Rest for a week. Then return.

Enjoy!

If you missed last week's Beautiful Mind Brain Blend, you can read about it HERE.

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More Information on Herbal Brain Health

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Here's another video you may enjoy, especially since lemon balm is starting to pop up! The beautiful spring leaves are wonderful for making a tincture. In this video you'll find out why you want this tincture on hand....not to mention it's got nootropic qualities!

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Finally, here's an article I wrote a few years ago that's still highly relevant today! In this article, I share the best, safe essential oils for energy and focus. I love these oils, and none of them are super expensive. You can play around with the fragrances in your diffuser to make a blend the way you like it!

​Essential Oils for Energy and Mental Clarity​

Let's get ready for Spring by boosting our energy levels and brain power!

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Encouragement and Inspiration

I was listening to a lady speak today, and she said: "I begin with grace, and I grow at God's pace."

I have decided to adopt this statement and to say it at least once a day....because I tend to be impatient. Sometimes that impatience bleeds into comparing myself with others....as in, "Why am I not as far along as "x" is?" I have SO much more I want to do with my life and so many other ways I want to give....

Here are a couple of verses that help:

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time." ---Isaiah 60:22

and of course, this old favorite:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." ---Ecclesiastes 3:1

Let's be patient in our growth! It will come. We just need to keep on keeping on and be grateful in the process.

I love you----

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. If you've been studying herbalism for a time, and if you're a person who would love to know more about how to apply energetics to your herbal (and aromatic) practice, I hope you'll join us inside our new course, Western Herbal Energetics!

Use the coupon code: ENERGETIC to get $45 off! This sale ends on Friday.