Welcome to the Garden Cafe Blog x Cozy Bee Cottage partnership page — devoted to herbs and their actions!
On this page, you can find information on the herbal tinctures I’ve made, listed in an alphabetical fashion for user ease. I encourage you to do your own research, but I unclude a brief description of their uses, ingredients, dosages, warnings, and more.
Further down is a dictionary to define the herbs’ actions, as well as a brief explanation of warming vs. cooling herbs, and herbal flavors. Feel free to comment with any questions.
I recommend keeping a journal for your own family’s personal use, tracking the date of application, ages, heights, and weights (especially for kids), dosages and frequency, symptoms prior and reactions to the herbs, and the effectiveness of each herb you or your family takes. Using that information, you can best tailor the herbs to your needs and cut out much of the guesswork to future health. You can download my Patient Record Form here.
Remember that herbs are not pharmaceutical drugs. They may not help within 20 minutes, or even within your first dose, but will build in your system to boost your body, allowing your body to heal and fight largely on its own.
All Cozy Bee Cottage tinctures made to date use vodka as the carrier. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, use them with caution and research.
Herbs
Elderberry
Dosage: For those over 12 years old, take 2 dropperfuls 3 times per day for those who are sick, or take 2 dropperfuls, once daily for preventive use.
Uses: Antiviral against colds and flus, boosts immune system.
Actions: alterative, astringent, demulcent, detoxant, diaphoretic, expectorant, immunomodulator
Temperature: Cooling
Flavor: Sour
Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra
Ingredients: 80-proof vodka, locally grown black elder berries
Warnings:
– Individuals with autoimmune conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or lupus, may experience immune overstimulation and should use in moderation, monitoring symptoms.
– Individuals allergic to other plants in the caprifoliaceae family (i.e. honeysuckle) may be sensitive or have anaphylactic reactions, especially to high dosages or consistent usage.
Goldenrod (WIP)
Dosage:
Uses:
Actions:
Temperature:
Flavor:
Botanical Name: Solidago gigantea
Ingredients: 80-proof vodka, organic goldenrod buds and leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs
Warnings:
Mullein (WIP)
Dosage:
Uses:
Actions:
Temperature:
Flavor:
Botanical Name: Verbascum thapsus
Ingredients: 80-proof vodka, organic mullein leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs
Warnings:
Spearmint
Dosage: For those over 12 years old, take 2 dropperfuls up to 3 times per day for those who are experiencing symptoms.
Uses: Relieves digestive disorders such as flatulence, indigestion, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome; effective against harmful bacterial and fungal strains.
Actions: antiemetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic agent
Temperature: Warming and cooling
Flavor: Sweet
Botanical Name: Mentha spicata
Ingredients: 80-proof vodka, locally grown spearmint leaves and buds
Warnings: Spearmint is known to be safe when taken in moderation. Continued, heavy usage may damage liver and kidneys (…but not before the vodka does it first lol).
Yarrow
Dosage: For those over 12 years old, take 1-2 dropperfuls daily for those who are experiencing acute symptoms, or half a dropperful 1-3 times daily for chronic use.
Uses: Supports digestive health, stimulates digestion, relieves nausea, bloating, and dyspepsia. Helps to regulate menstruation, eases cramping, and is used to treat colds, flu, fevers, coughs, and sore throats.
Actions: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, cardiac tonic, choleretic, diaphoretic, digestive bitter, emmenagogue, hemostatic, immunomodulator, mild nervine, mild sedative
Temperature: Warming and cooling
Flavor: Pungent
Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium
Ingredients: 80-proof vodka, locally grown yarrow flowers and buds
Warnings:
– Not to be used by pregnant women due to its stimulation of the uterus.
– Individuals allergic to other plants in the asteraceae family (i.e. ragweed) may be sensitive or have reactions, especially to high dosages or consistent usage.
Herbal Actions
Below is a list of herbal actions in alphabetical order with their meanings.
- alterative — supports the body’s natural cleansing processes, restoring your body to normal health
- analgesic — reduces or eliminates pain
- anticatarrhal — removes excess mucous from ears, nose, throat and sinuses
- antiemetic — relieves nausea and vomiting
- antifungal — kills fungi
- anti-inflammatory — brings down inflammation, irritation, and swelling
- antimicrobial — kills microbes and bacteria
- antioxidant — slows or prevents oxidation
- antiseptic — kills or inhibits growth of harmful microorganisms and germs, reduces infection, and cleans wounds
- antispasmodic — relieves spasming
- astringent — dries, draws or shrinks tissue (wound healing)
- cardiac tonic — strengthens the cardiovascular system
- carminative — expulses gas
- cholagogue — promotes the discharge of bile
- choleretic — stimulates production of bile
- circulatory stimulant — increases heart activity and functions of the circulatory system
- demulcent — soothes or softens irritated mucous membranes
- detoxant — remove harmful substances or their effects from the body
- diaphoretic — increases perspiration
- digestive bitter — stimulates digestive system with production of digestive juices and enzymes
- diuretic — increases urine
- emmenagogue — stimulates menstruation, regulates menstrual cycles by improving circulation to the reproductive organs
- expectorant — expels phlegm and mucus from the respiratory system
- hemostatic — capable of stopping the flow of blood, particularly by arresting hemorrhage or promoting clot formation
- immune stimulant — improves immune response
- immunomodulator — modifies the immune system’s activity, either by stimulating or suppressing immune responses
- grief support — supports and boosts mood
- laxative — causing looseness or relaxation, especially of the bowels
- mucilage — coats membranes
- nootropic — increases cognitive abilities
- pectoral — strengthens the respiratory system
- rubefacient — dilates capillaries and increases blood circulation
- sedative — sooths, calms; reduces or relieves anxiety, stress, irritability, or excitement
- stimulating nervine — increases responsiveness, alertness
- stimulator — temporarily arouses or accelerates physiological or organic activity
- stomachic agent — strengthens or stimulates the stomach, particularly in relation to digestion
- vulnerary — promotes healing by reducing inflammation, supporting tissue regeneration, and preventing infection
Herbal Temperature and Flavors
When two herbs have the same or overlapping Actions, it can be a stab in the dark to decide which one to take. Herbal temperature and flavors can help make that stab a little easier by providing more information to the broad picture.
Herbs can be “warming” and “cooling”. If someone is naturally warm, it may be helpful to tailor their herbs to cooling ones is an option arises between herbs with the same actions, or vise versa with someone being naturally cool. It can also be useful to note that you may cancel out or confuse the effects of some herbs by using warm and cool together.
- Warming herbs — plants classified by their ability to create a sense of warmth and stimulation in the body’s systems, both physically and energetically. They are especially beneficial during colder months when the body may feel chilled or sluggish.
- Many warming herbs also have antimicrobial, antiviral, or antifungal properties, making them valuable allies in preventing and managing seasonal illnesses.
- Common warming herbs include cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, oregano, and garlic.
- Cooling herbs — plants classified by their ability to create a sense of coolness and relaxation of the body’s systems. They are known to help regulate body temperature, reduce inflammation, and support overall well-being during hot weather.
- Cooling herbs work through various mechanisms, including acting as refrigerants, diaphoretics, and astringents, which help regulate internal heat and support detoxification.
- Common cooling herbs include spearmint, lemon balm, hibiscus, aloe vera, and fennel.
Herbs also are classified with flavors. These can be useful when integrating herbs into your diet, enabling you to suit your preference or the preferences of picky eaters.
- Bitter — herbs that make your tongue react.
- Common herbs/foods: dandelion leaves, kale, cocoa, and Oregon grape root
- Cools, dries, promotes digestion and nutrient absorption
- Pungent — herbs that make your sinuses react.
- Common herbs/foods: pepper, ginger, cayenne, and cumin
- Stimulates circulation, warms, dries, stimulates digestion, increases metabolism, aids in expelling mucous
- Salty — herbs that make your thirst react.
- Common herbs/foods: salt, seaweed, nettle, cleavers, and oat straw
- Promotes digestion, moistens, acts as a laxative, relieves stiffness
- Sour — herbs that make your face react.
- Common herbs/foods: fermented foods, yogurt, lemon, rose hips, and elderberries
- Increases digestion, strengthens bodily tissues, counters thirst, promotes intestinal flora, nourishes
- Sweet — herbs that make your brain react.
- Common herbs/foods: marshmallow, slippery elm, astragalus root, and licorice root
- Builds and strengthens, moistens tissues, soothes inflammation, nourishes blood, relieves burning sensation, promotes calmness and centeredness
The book used for reference is Taste of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret. It is currently out of print, but her Youtube channel is Herbs with Rosalee.