Herbal DIY Archives

An herbalist’s guide to mullein flowers + an infused oil recipe

Agatha NoveilleJanuary 6, 2022December 31, 2021

Mullein flowers have many traditional uses and modern benefits. Here's an herbalist's guide for using them safely and effectively. This article also includes directions for making a simple infused oil...

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How to make mullein tea

Agatha NoveilleOctober 28, 2021October 28, 2021

Mullein leaf and flowers both make excellent herbal tea ingredients. In this article, I will show you how to make mullein tea, explain other herbs that pair well with mullein,...

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When to harvest mullein flowers, leaves, and roots

Agatha NoveilleJune 24, 2021June 25, 2021

Mullein leaves, flowers, and roots are used in traditional Western herbalism. We will talk about how mullein is used in another article, but this one explains the basics for harvesting....

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Best places to buy dried herbs online

Agatha NoveilleJune 17, 2021June 23, 2021

There are many places to buy dried herbs online, but which ones are the best? Although I am a big proponent of shopping locally whenever possible, sometimes the only way...

Herbal DIY

My 2021 botanical bucket list

Agatha NoveilleJanuary 1, 2021January 4, 2022

A few years ago (in 2014, actually) I wrote a post about setting herbal New Year's resolutions. It ended up becoming a sort of botanical bucket list. I just updated...

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How to create an herbal materia medica

Agatha NoveilleDecember 3, 2020December 3, 2020

One of my favorite tools is my herbal materia medica. It's a personalized journal and herbal reference that makes it easy to look up herbs that I have studied. Essentially,...

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How to tell the quality of dried herbs

Agatha NoveilleOctober 8, 2020January 4, 2022

Learning to judge the quality of dried herbs can be tricky. It's a skill that's built with experience. Growing your own herbs and drying them at home are the best...

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Alcohol free herbs for the home apothecary

Agatha NoveilleJuly 1, 2020April 11, 2022

Steeping herbs in alcohol is a quick and simple way to extract and preserve their benefits. Alcohol-based herbal extracts are potent and have a good shelf-life, so it’s no wonder...

Herbal DIY Home Apothecary Learn Herbalism

Making herbal smoking blends from scratch

Agatha NoveilleOctober 8, 2019April 14, 2022

Throughout history, dried herbs have been used to make incense, smudges, and herbal smoking blends. After all, there's something fascinating about the alchemy of herbs and smoke. Part of it...

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A Review of The Modern Herbal Dispensatory

Agatha NoveilleJuly 18, 2019September 25, 2019

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne is a valuable addition to any herbal home library. It's especially useful for home herbalists interested in taking their DIY...