20 Natural Medicines That Anyone Can Make

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Imagine a scenario where disaster strikes your town, stores close their doors, or supply chain issues make common medicines scarce. In a world that feels increasingly dangerous, the ability to craft your own natural medicines from the herbs in your garden or from common foods like honey or oatmeal isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity.

Even better, you won’t have to worry about unexpected side effects. Many over-the-counter medications work in the short-term, but in the long term, they take a toll on your health. If you care about what you put in your body or about being self-sufficient, learning to grow your own herbs and use them to treat common ailments is a fun and fascinating hobby.

In this article, we’ll list 20 common ailments and explain how to concoct an effective, natural remedy for each one. From the comfort of your home, you can harness the healing powers of nature and create natural medicines that will ensure your well-being no matter what the future holds.

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Acne

Here’s how to make a tea tree oil acne treatment:

1. In a small bowl, combine 12 drops of 100% pure tea tree oil, 2 tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel, and 1/2 teaspoon of argan oil.
2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until well blended.
3. Apply a small amount of the mixture to clean skin before bedtime.
4. Rinse off with warm water in the morning.

For more details, visit Dr. Axe.

Allergies

Here’s how to make a tea for allergy relief in a few simple steps:

1. Measure 2 to 3 tablespoons of dried nettle leaves for an 8-ounce serving.
2. Pour near-boiling water over the leaves.
3. Cover and steep for about ten minutes to extract the full benefits.
4. Strain the tea and enjoy.

For larger batches, use 4-5 tablespoons per quart of water, steep overnight, strain in the morning, and consume throughout the day.

For more details, visit Gardenista.

Anxiety

Here’s how to make an herbal tea for anxiety relief:

1. Combine 4 tbsp chamomile flowers, 4 tbsp lemon balm, 2 tbsp peppermint, and 2 tbsp ashwagandha root in a mixing bowl.
2. Transfer the mix to an airtight jar for storage.
3. To prepare the tea, boil 1.5 cups of filtered water.
4. Add 2 tbsp of the tea mix to the boiling water.
5. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
6. Strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and enjoy hot.

For more details, visit The Homestead Challenge.

Arthritis / Inflammation

Here’s how to make Golden Milk, an anti-inflammatory turmeric tea that can help ease arthritis pain:

1. Heat your choice of milk on the stove.
2. If using Golden Milk paste, stir in about 1/4 teaspoon into one cup of the heated milk.
3. For a fresh mix, combine 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper, a small piece of grated ginger, a pinch of cinnamon and cardamom, and optionally, 1/4 teaspoon of honey.
4. Simmer the mixture gently for about 15 minutes but do not let it boil.
5. Strain if needed and enjoy warm.

For more details, visit Elizabeth Rider.

Common Cold

Here’s how to make Echinacea tea to boost your immune system:

1. Bring 10 ounces of water to a boil.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of dried echinacea (or 2 tablespoons if fresh) to the boiling water.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer with a lid on for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture to remove the echinacea.
5. Optionally, enhance the flavor with honey or lemon before serving.

For more details, visit Sencha Tea Bar.

Constipation

Here’s how to make roasted dandelion root tea for constipation relief:

1. Place a medium pot over medium heat and add 4½ teaspoons of dried dandelion root.
2. Toast the root until it becomes fragrant and golden brown.
3. Add 2 cups of water and any optional flavorings like cinnamon or ginger.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes.
5. Strain the tea, and optionally blend in sweetener and cream or butter to taste.

For more details, visit Mommypotamus.

Cough

Here’s how to make thyme cough syrup for cough relief:

1. Place fresh thyme in a pint-sized mason jar or another heat-proof container.
2. Boil water, then pour it over the thyme.
3. Allow the infusion to steep until the water cools to room temperature.
4. Strain out the thyme, then stir in raw honey while the infusion is still warm.
5. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste.
6. Store the syrup in the refrigerator and use within 2-4 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in small portions.

For more details, visit Grow Forage Cook Ferment.

Diarrhea

Here’s how to make an herbal tea for diarrhea relief using chamomile:

1. Quantity: Use about 1-2 teaspoons of chamomile per cup of water.
2. Prepare water: Boil the water, then let it cool slightly for 1-2 minutes before adding it to the herbs.
3. Extraction: Add the slightly cooled water to the herbs and cover the container for 5-10 minutes. This helps preserve the essential oils in the tea.
4. Drain and Serve: Strain the tea to remove the herb particles, and serve the tea warm. Optionally, add honey or lemon for flavor.

For more details, visit Tofillo.

Flu

Here’s how to make elderberry syrup to help combat flu symptoms:

1. Combine 2/3 cup dried elderberries, 3.5 cups water, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp whole or ground cloves in a medium saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by almost half.
3. After cooling slightly, strain the mixture into a glass bowl.
4. Stir in 1 cup of raw honey when the mixture is completely cool.
5. Transfer the syrup to a jar or bottle and refrigerate.

For more details, visit Faithful Plateful.

Headaches

Here’s how to use peppermint oil for headache relief:

1. Mix 1-2 drops of high-quality peppermint essential oil with a teaspoon of a carrier oil like jojoba or avocado oil.
2. Apply a small amount of the mixture to areas where you have a headache, such as the temples, sinuses, or neck.
3. Gently massage the area until the oil is mostly absorbed, enjoying the tingling and numbing effects.

For more details, visit Pickles & Honey.

Hemorrhoids

Here’s how to make a natural hemorrhoid cream:

1. Melt 2 oz of shea butter in a double boiler or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water.
2. Stir in 2 oz of coconut oil until well combined.
3. Add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar, 1 oz of aloe vera gel, 1 tsp of witch hazel, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of turmeric essential oil, and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil.
4. Mix well, remove from heat, and allow to cool slightly before transferring to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
5. Refrigerate to harden and apply twice daily.

For more details, visit Vitacost.

High Blood Pressure

Here’s how to make Sparkling Hibiscus Green Iced Tea, which may help lower your blood pressure:

1. Boil water and steep whole cloves and star anise in it for about 10 minutes.
2. In a large pitcher, combine cold water, hibiscus tea bags, green tea bags, and cranberry juice.
3. Squeeze fresh orange juice into the mixture and add orange slices if desired.
4. After the spices have steeped, add them to the pitcher and let everything brew for 2 hours.
5. Serve the tea over ice and top with seltzer water.

For more details, visit Craving Something Healthy.

Indigestion

Here’s how to make an after-dinner belly-soothing tea:

1. Combine 1 teaspoon each of dried chamomile flowers, dried peppermint leaves, and lightly crushed fennel seeds, along with 1/2 teaspoon of dried cut ginger pieces in a teapot or mug.
2. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over the mixture.
3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
4. Strain the tea, then optionally sweeten with honey to taste.

For more details, visit The Kitchn.

Insomnia

Here’s how to make a passionflower and valerian tincture for sleep:

1. Optionally, infuse vodka with a smoky quartz crystal overnight.
2. Add 50g each of dried passionflower and valerian root to 500ml of 100-proof vodka in a sterilized glass jar.
3. Secure the lid and store the jar away from direct sunlight for about six weeks, topping up alcohol if necessary.
4. Strain the tincture using a fine mesh bag.
5. Bottle the tincture in dark amber glass dropper bottles.

For more details, visit Ascension Kitchen.

Menstrual Cramps

It seems there was an issue accessing the page on Sacred Plant Co. about cramp bark tea. You might want to visit the page directly for detailed instructions on preparing the tea. Here’s a general method based on common practices for making herbal teas like cramp bark tea:

1. Measure approximately 2 teaspoons of dried cramp bark into a tea infuser or teapot.
2. Boil water and pour over the cramp bark.
3. Cover and steep for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the tea and optionally add honey or lemon to taste before drinking.

For more detailed instructions and additional benefits, please check the article directly at Sacred Plant Co.

Nausea

Here’s how to make deliciously healthy ginger chews:

1. Grate and pack 1/4 cup of fresh ginger root and simmer in 2 cups of water until reduced by half.
2. Strain and mix the ginger decoction with 3/4 cup organic cane sugar and 1/4 cup honey.
3. Heat the mixture to 260 degrees Fahrenheit or until it passes the water drop test.
4. Pour into a greased and parchment-lined dish and let set.
5. Cut into small strips and wrap individually.

For more details, visit Growing Up Herbal.

Rashes / Skin Irritations

Here’s how to make a homemade oatmeal mask for skin rashes:

1. Mix warm water into a bowl of organic, steel-cut oatmeal until it forms a thick paste.
2. Apply the paste gently to the affected skin areas.
3. Allow the paste to dry on the skin.
4. Once dry, rinse off gently and apply moisturizer to soothe the skin.

For more details, visit Push Doctor.

Sore Throat

Here’s how to make a sore throat gargle:

1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of Himalayan or sea salt in 1 cup of warm water.
2. Add a few drops of both tea tree and lemon essential oils.
3. Gargle with the mixture several times a day as needed to soothe a sore throat.

For more details, visit Healing River Chiropractic.

Sunburn

Here’s how to make DIY frozen aloe and calendula cubes to soothe sunburns:

1. Prepare calendula-infused aloe vera gel by steeping dried calendula flowers in aloe vera gel in the refrigerator for two weeks.
2. Brew a strong calendula tea by steeping dried flowers in hot water, allowing it to infuse for at least an hour.
3. Combine the infused aloe vera gel and calendula tea.
4. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze.

For more details, visit Herbal Academy.

Toothache

Here’s how to make your own clove oil for toothache relief:

1. Crush half a teaspoon of whole cloves with a tablespoon of olive oil using a mortar and pestle.
2. Add the remaining olive oil to the crushed cloves.
3. Pour the mixture into a small jar and let it sit in a cool, dark place for a week.
4. After a week, strain the oil through muslin into a sterilized jar or bottle.
5. Dip a Q-tip into the oil and press it on to the sore gum/tooth area.

For more details, visit Larder Love.

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