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Let’s talk budget-friendly herbalism! Gas and grocery prices have a lot of people watching their wallets extra carefully these days, but thankfully herbs are still pretty affordable. Herbalism was the original budget-friendly wellness practice, after all. People simply grew and foraged what they needed. At first glance, modern herbalism may seem like a pricey lifestyle. Just a glimpse of supplement prices these days gives me sticker shock! So what do you do if you yearn for the herbalist life but need something more affordable? Here are some tips for embracing the simplicity of folk herbalism and my best budget-friendly herbalism ideas.
Tea is one of the best budget-friendly herbalism ideas
The least expensive option for herbal preparations is a basic herbs + water combination. Make several servings ahead of time and store in the refrigerator, or brew a single serving at a time. In order to maximize the amount of herbal goodness in each cup, earn to make an infusion for leaves and flowers and simmered decoctions for roots, berries, and bark.
Buy in bulk to save money
If you have an herb shop nearby you can buy small amounts of whatever herbs you need. Many of us need to buy online instead, and you’ll usually find bulk options to buy 4oz to a pound at a time.
Try bulk ordering with friends or family and splitting everything. Otherwise, it’s best to stick to 4oz at a time so that nothing goes to waste – especially for cut and sifted leaves, 4oz can be a lot!
Take things one herb at a time
There’s also no need to buy many herbs at once. Although it is tempting, especially if you’re like me and enjoy tinkering with herbal recipes! However, starting with a single herb and learning all the traditional uses helps stretch your dollar.
Some herbs have a narrow scope of traditional use, but others are surprisingly versatile. You may need to read up on an herb before you decide if it works in this context, but that’s part of the fun. If you like this idea, I have an article on studying one herb at a time.
Learn one recipe at a time
Alternatively, you can start with a single tea recipe and go from there. This allows you to focus on a specific herbal goal. Maybe you want an herbal infusion to support a specific organ system or health challenge.
Make sure to source your recipe from an experienced herbalist or reputable book. AI is obnoxiously prevalent in the herbalism world at the moment, and there’s always some good old AIA (Awful Internet Advice).
Use the library
I’m a huge fan of libraries. If you can’t find good herbal titles on your library shelves, ask your librarian about interlibrary loan. They may be able to borrow a book from another library system for you. Some of my favorite titles are in this list.
Affordable online resources
Many herbal blogs and YouTube channels are available for free. One of my favorite resources is Henriette’s Herbal, which is a website that focuses on herbal books written in the 1800s and early 1900s. Many of them are available to search right on the website!
There are also some budget-friendly herbal ideas in this category that are low-cost and worth paying for. I particularly like The Herbarium by the Herbal Academy (#affiliate). You can subscribe quarterly or annually, and the annual subscription works out to about $6.50 a month.
In the Herbarium, you’ll find over 200 in-depth plant monographs, masterclasses and intensives taught by expert herbalists, eBooks, podcasts, and other resources. The best part is it’s all vetted and produced by the Herbal Academy, so you don’t have to worry about fake, AI generated nonsense.
I also enjoy using a Spotify Premium subscription ($12.99/month) to listen to eBooks and podcasts. Some of my favorite herbal finds recently are Naturally: The Herbalist’s Guide to Health and Transformation by Rachelle Robinette RH(AHG), and Herbal Radio by Mountain Rose Herbs.
Focus on foundations
Tailoring your herbal resources to your specific situation is also important if you are working on a tight budget. I find that focusing on foundations first is key for me. Herbalism embraces a holistic approach to the body, including foundational concepts for supporting health. Rather than focus on illness, it looks at what the body needs to thrive. Tonic herbs, alteratives, bitters, nootropics, and adaptogens are some broad categories that bring this into focus.
In my own life, I like incorporating adaptogens, nervines, alteratives, and lymphatics into my wellness routines on a rotating basis. Supplements can get pricey, but making your own extracts with bulk herbs or buying pre-packaged teas keeps things more affordable.
Add seasonal support
Spring, summer, fall, and winter each have a unique activity level in the natural world and specific health challenges that can accompany them. By balancing the inner and outer world, you access a traditional way of supporting the body. This can also be an effective budgeting trick, because it helps you focus on what will be most effective for the season at hand.
Think about how cold winter can be. Adding warming herbs and spices to your recipes and routines can counteract winter’s dark and chill. In spring, herbal bitters and alteratives can help the body refresh and reset after a sluggish winter. Cooling, moistening herbs can counteract summer’s dry heat. And building herbs and tonics in fall can help the transition into winter.
Focusing on seasonal, homemade recipes is the ultimate flex for your budget in this regard. For example, it’s easy to add a teaspoon of a powdered herbs to your bowl of soup, or mix herbal tea into your summer lemonade.
Budget-friendly herbalism ideas
As long as you go back to basics and embrace the DIY aspect, you’ll find many ways to enjoy having herbs in your life.
