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Sharon
I’m trying to tweak the herbs I have, the herbs I need to have, and the herbs I want to try and grow this next summer – is there a list of all the herbs that are represented in the various formulas (other than going to the store and looking thru every item)? Also, and even more important in my mind, would be a list of substitutions that work effectively so we could replace X with Y in a formula if we don’t have or can’t grow “X”? I hope this question makes sense. I have such a minuscule amount of garden space that is safe from all the deer, elk, rabbits, etc. (no more fencing allowed). Thank you in advance.
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Annett
Hey Sharon, IDK if this is helpful but…
As I get to know each plant I’m able to figure out which plant could be used in place of another and also pairing of plants and how many parts of that plant to put into a formula. Each plant has its unique set of constituents so I don’t think you can always swap one for the other exactly. As you get to know the plants more and more you can make up a totally different formula with what you have.
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Oh Annett, you are SOOOOO far ahead of me in your herbal knowledge! I plan on being able to do as you suggested one day as my knowledge grows, but right now, I’m trying to buy the herbs I need, and plan for what I might be able to grow. Many herbs in the formulas here have only a couple of different “uses” (meaning only 1-3 formulas that use that particular herb) – not that this makes them less valuable by any means, but storage of larger amounts of herbs that the two of us will take perhaps a very long time to use might not be as practical in our situation as say a substitute herb that might cross over and be used in more formulas. I hope that this makes sense, often I confuse people with the way I word things!
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Dr. Patrick Jones
Hi Sharon, I recently put up a bunch of lessons that show all of my formulas. They’re in the formulas and formulations section. You could go through there and identify “the usual suspects”.
I don’t have a list per se of “must-have” herbs. But my book The HomeGrown Herbalist has about 25 or so that cover most of the bases. There is also a lesson video in the Supplemental Videos section called Ten Plants That Can Change Your Life That would be a good starting place.
The other way to look at it would be to identify what sorts of issues you address in your family and go to the lesson on that body system or issue and get some ideas.
Or, you could go to the Learning the Lingo Lesson in the General Herbalism section and see what categories you want and pick good a good representative from the categories you want.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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I have gone thru most, not all of your formulas, and have been putting them into a spreadsheet so I know which herbs are used most, which are hardly ever used, etc. That is helpful to me, but I also know that there are (as you’ve answered on many questions that I have to go back and dig out again) along the lines of “what if I don’t have “X” – what can I use instead?”
I watched “Ten Plants That Can Change Your Life” while I was working in the kitchen, so I didn’t get to take notes. I will go back and review it again with pen in hand!
The other way to look at it would be to identify what sorts of issues you address in your family and go to the lesson on that body system or issue and get some ideas.
I like the idea of picking a good representative from the categories I want. Will make a note to do that as well. Muchos Garcia Doc!
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Think in categories of action for your substitutions. Need an antispasmodic? Use Lobelia, or cramp bark or gumweed. Need a diuretic? Use dandelion leaf or parsley or nettles. Need a cough suppressant? Use wild cherry bark or mullein etc…
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Think in categories of action for your substitutions. Need an antispasmodic? Use Lobelia, or cramp bark or gumweed. Need a diuretic? Use dandelion leaf or parsley or nettles. Need a cough suppressant? Use wild cherry bark or mullein etc…
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Excellent! That’s rather what I was thinking, and I am almost positive that I’ve seen a breakdown somewhere here in the class – for what herbs perform which actions, but cannot remember where it was if I did find it earlier. Tincturing the memory formula, but it’s not done yet!! Thanks for the mini list you just “primed the pump” with. 🙂
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Kyra McQuary
New student here! I can identify with this so much! I too am trying to decide what to try to grow this spring out of all the possible choices and it can be daunting!
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Have a look at my book The HomeGrown Herbalist. That has a good bunch things that are easy to grow. There’s also a video in the Supplemental videos section Called Ten Plantss That Can Change Your life. Those would all be good to start with too. :0)
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Yolanda Pretorius
I would also love a spreadsheet with the main active ingredients and effect of each herb in order to find substitutions more easy. I recently also bumped into an issue with the common names of herbs. e.g. in South Africa Devils Claw seems to be another plant from what is reffered to in America. Is it possible to add the scientific name to all the plants referred to in the course?
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If you look in the Individual Plants section or at the lessons on plants for a a given system at the end of any particular series of lessons (ie…Lower Digestive System III: The Plants) , you’ll find the Latin names. If you ever need a Latin name and can’t find it, don’t hesitate to let me know.
If you find a lesson that doesn’t have Latin names, let me know that too and I’ll get them put in. I thought I was pretty good about that.
You’re absolutely right about common names. They can often refer to several species based on one’s geography. Whenever you’re doing an internet search, use the Latin.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Thank you. I worked through the cleansing module with formulas but somehow missed the Latin names there. The lesson inspired me so much that I wanted to try the whole cleansing thing out myself 😉 However, when I started looking for the herbs in the formula list that I don’t have in my garden I realised we had some different plants with the same name here in SA. Also, the formula sometimes only have the name and not whether it is the root, whole plant, leaf or flowers….but maybe all of this will become cleare as I progress through the course ?
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The part Yolanda said about not knowing whether to use leave, root, whatever – I have found that is the case on quite a few (about 9 that I’ve gone thru so far). It would be great to know which part – Doc, maybe you could get someone to go over all the slides and formulas to tweak that point? I have a list so far, but I’m only less than half way thru all the formulation information! But loving, loving, loving the AMAZING information you share with us. The formula issue is so minor in the big picture though. Thank you Doc for ALL you do to help so many people!
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In the new lessons I’ve been more diligent about putting the part of the plant used. I can go back through the old lessons and poke those in.
That said, at the end of each lesson or series of lessons (ie, Lower Digestive lessons 1-3) there will be a section (or entire lesson) called The Plants. That’s where we get deeper into each plant and tell you what it’s doing and what part we’re using.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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