There’s a particular type of magic that occurs when you begin to look at your own backyard, not as a source of labor, but as a source for solace. Many of you probably have a selection of mint plants or a pot of lavender that you keep relegated to a corner of the patio, maybe for a particular use, like a mojito. But such plants have a much broader use. They can be used to stock a modern apothecary that allows you to ease the pain of a long day with nothing but what you have grown yourself.
Learning how to move from garden lover to home herbalist does not require a lab or a college education, only a little time and a different use of your morning routine.
Timing Your Snip for Maximum Potency
The first step in using your herbs for relaxation is to know exactly when to pull them from the earth. You might be tempted to grab a few leaves whenever the mood strikes you, but for the best results, you want to catch the plant at its peak.
The how of harvesting is about the essential oils. You must harvest your herbs mid-morning, right after the morning dew has dried, but before the sun gets hot enough to bake the oils out of the leaves. Use sharp, clean snips and aim for the top third of the plant. This pinching back method encourages the herb to grow bushier and fuller, so you’re actually doing the plant a favor while helping yourself. If you’re working with flowering herbs, such as Lavender or Chamomile, harvest them just as the buds are starting to open. That’s when their calming properties are most concentrated.
Preparing the Harvest: From Soil to Senses
Now that you have moved the bundles into the house, give them a little shake to get rid of any stowaway bugs in the garden. You do not need to clean them until they are dusty or covered in mud, as excess water can lead to mold during the drying process.
For immediate relaxation, fresh is often best. But if you want to create a habit that’s sustainable as part of your daily life, you’ll want to dry a portion of your harvest. Bundle your herbs-try something like Lemon Balm or Skullcap for deep relaxation-and hang them upside down in a spot away from direct sunlight. According to herbal traditions, drying herbs slowly in a dark, airy place preserves color and the chemical integrity of the plant. When the leaves feel crispy and crumble easily, strip them from the stems and store them in amber glass jars. This keeps the light out and the potency in.
Creating Your Daily Ritual
This is where the use part of your apothecary comes into play. Relaxation is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and your backyard harvest can be modified to suit whatever amount of time you truly do have.
If you have a spare twenty minutes, a slow-steeped tea is a traditional favorite. But if it is one of those days where your mind is racing, and you want to better change your internal conditions, then there are modern resources available to assist. Many herbalists are seeing the benefits of using wellness vaporizers to utilize their homegrown plants. Instead of smoking or making tea, it offers a gentle warming of extracts, such as peppermint for focus or lavender for better sleep, to a temperature point where it is enough to release these properties within a gentle form of vapor. This is a great way of taking advantage of these properties, given a lifestyle with only five minutes to clear your head.
Blending for Your Mood
Do not be shy to experiment with your own concoctions. This is what makes having a backyard apothecary so delightful because you can customize.
When your body feels tense, a combination of rosemary and mint can work to calm your nervous system. When your mind feels like a runaway freight train, combine passionflower and lemon balm.
The how of mixing is easy. Take a base herb that you like the taste of (for example, mint), and combine it with your choice of medical herb (like Skullcap) in a ratio of 2:1. This way, your relaxation routine becomes something to look forward to in terms of taste alone. The scents of these herbs alone have been shown to greatly reduce cortisol levels in clinical trials.
Conclusion: Living the Garden Life
The point of modern apothecary isn’t to make a great product but to make a better day. When you take the time to grow, harvest, and prepare your own herbs, you are participating in a cycle that is thousands of years old. You are stepping away from the digital noise and putting your hands on something real.
The owners and authors of Cinnamon Hollow are not doctors and this is in no way intended to be used as medical advice. We cannot be held responsible for your results. As with any product, service or supplement, use at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult with your personal physician before using.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
