Top 10 Herbal Medicine Cabinet Essentials | A Crunchy Mom’s Guide
Are you a crunchy mom? If not, you may be, at least partially, after we share our top ten herbal remedies to stock your medicine cabinet.

Grandma was a crunchy mom. Oh, really?! Yes, really. A crunchy mom is defined as someone who practices a parenting style that typically avoids technology, modern medicine, processed food and societal institutions in favor of natural alternatives and personal choice.
Read that again. That describes my grandma perfectly and probably describes your grandma perfectly. Apparently, grandma was crunchy before crunchy was cool.
Don’t get me wrong, technology and modern medicine can have their place, but we have strayed too far and are way too dependent on others instead of having that self-sufficient mind set. We have lost so much of the knowledge our ancestors possessed. Things like how to cure a cough with homestead items or how to heal a rash with what was grown on the farm.
If you are a crunchy mom wanting to do better by your kids or just interested in a more holistic way of treating ailments, then follow along as we discuss the top ten herbal remedies to consider stocking in your medicine cabinet.
10 common health problems & herbs to remedy them

#1 Problem – Cough, Earache
Solution – Mullein
Recipe:
- Tea – Harvest and dry whole leaves then crumble and store in an airtight, cool, dry place. To make a tea, place a rounded tablespoon of leaves in a mug. Pour boiling water over leaves, cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain leaves out. Drink freely for cough, or irritation of throat and chest.
- Flower oil – Pick flowers on a sunny dry day. Lay in single layer on paper to dry. Put in a jar and pour olive oil over to cover completely. Cover with breathable cloth to allow moisture to escape. Place in sunny location for two weeks. Strain flowers and bottle oil. Store in a cool dry place for up to a year. For earache, place one to three drops of oil in affected ear as needed for pain.

#2 Problem – fever
Solution – Peppermint
Recipe:
- Apply leaves to forehead and temple for relief of headache and/or fever
- Tea – Pour one cup boiling water over one teaspoon dried peppermint leaves or 6-8 fresh leaves. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Enjoy.

#3 Problem – rash (including diaper)
Solution – calendula
Recipe:
- Melt 60 g of beeswax with 2 cups of olive oil and 120 g of dried or 300 g of fresh herb in a glass bowl. Cover and place in a warm oven for 3 hours. Remove, strain and pour into jars.


#4 Problem – bite or sting
Solution – lavender or basil
Recipe:
- Rub fresh leaves or tincture on and around the sting or bite. To make a tincture, harvest lavender or basil and let dry. Put dried herb in a jar and cover with alcohol (vodka) or vegetable glycerin. Cover and let steep for four to six weeks. Strain herb. Cover and store in cool dry place.

#5 Problem – diarrhea
Solution – garlic
Recipe:
- Fermented garlic honey. Peel cloves and place in an airtight container like a mason jar. Cover with raw honey (local is best) making sure all the cloves are submerged. Place lid on container. Remember to burp daily until gases subside. Ready to use in 4-6 weeks. Take one half to one clove as needed. Shelf life – indefinitely.

#6 Problem – gas and/or colic
Solution – ginger
Recipe:
- Ages 1-6 Give ¼ level tsp of powder with ¼ cup of hot water 1-2 times daily. For those under 6 months, the infusion can be taken by breastfeeding mothers. 6-12 months ⅓ of the dose. 7-12 years old 1 ½ dose

#7 Problem – Teething and/or difficulty sleeping
Solution – german chamomile
Recipe:
- Add 1 level tsp of dried herb to ¾ cup of water. Give up to 1 ⅔ cup per day ages 1-6. For those under 6 months, the infusion can be taken by breastfeeding mothers. 6-12 months ⅓ of the dose. 7-12 years old 1 ½ dose

#8 Problem – bleeding
Solution – yarrow
Recipe:
- Mash or masticate yarrow leaves/flowers and apply to bleeding wound

#9 Problem – Cold, congestion, chest cough
Solution – thyme
Recipe:
- Make an infusion with 1 level tsp of herb to ¾ cup of water. Give ⅔ to one cup daily ages 1-6, 6-12 months ⅓ of the dose. 7-12 years old 1 ½ dose

#10 Problem – Chicken pox/cold sores
Solution – lemon balm
Recipe:
- Make an infusion by infusion 1 ½ tbsp of fresh or 3 tsp dried leaves in ¾ cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and dab on spots 3-5 times daily.
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References & Additional Sources
We have gathered our knowledge of medicinal herbs/plants from the following resources over the years. Check them out here!
**At Centennial Roots, we prioritize the safety of our followers and encourage informed decisions about health matters. The information on this website is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Centennial Roots is not liable for risks associated with using the information on its site.