Natural Remedy Marathon: Herbal Teas, Syrups, Tinctures, Salves, and More

I recently created a special Natural Remedy Marathon video to curate my most popular herbal remedy videos into one complete experience.

For this marathon, I wove together clips from individual videos, added new introductions, and included gentle transitions so everything flows smoothly from one remedy to the next. Think of it as us spending a quiet afternoon together, learning about traditional remedies that have comforted families for generations.

When you start this Natural Remedy Marathon video, we’ll first make The Best Herbal Tea for a Great Night’s Sleep. You can watch the marathon straight through for more natural remedies, or check the video description for timestamps to jump to a specific natural remedy that interests you.

Once you’ve watched the marathon, scroll down this blog post to explore each remedy in more depth. Each section below includes a link to the corresponding blog post and individual recipe video with printable recipes you can save, print, and keep.

😴 The Star of the Show: Herbal Tea for a Great Night’s Sleep

We begin this Natural Remedy Marathon with one of the most important foundations of good health: sleep.

A simple cup of herbal tea in the evening can be a gentle, time-honored way to help your body relax and prepare for rest. In this video, I share how to make my Herbal Tea for a Great Night’s Sleep, using traditional herbs that have long been valued for their calming properties.

• Learn more with printable recipe: How to Make a Great Night’s Sleep Herb Tea

Disclaimer

Note: I am not a doctor or medical professional. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any type of illness. If you are not feeling well, please seek professional medical attention and medicine. And if you are thinking of supplementing your treatment with home remedies, be sure to talk to your medical professional about them. It’s important that you get the medicine and treatments you need to get back to good health.

• Mary’s Nest Website Disclaimer Text

🚪What is a Healing Pantry?

Before we delve into the other natural remedies, you’ll want to understand the concept of a Healing Pantry and an Herbal Medicine cabinet.

As I’ve shared with you in the past, I think of my pantry as a Four Corners Pantry:

• Main Working Pantry
• Refrigerator
• Freezer
• Extended or “Prepper” Pantry

The Extended Pantry has multiple subpantries, but today we’ll just focus on The Healing Pantry. This subpantry is part of your Extended Pantry, where you store the different supplies you need to make your natural remedies. Then once you’ve prepared the remedies, you’ll store them in an area I like to call The Herbal Medicine Cabinet.

This “cabinet” may not be in just one place in your home. Some remedies may like a cool, dark, dry area while others will need to be refrigerated. What’s important is that you designate certain areas specifically for your natural remedies. Together, these areas make up your Herbal Medicine Cabinet.

Relying on Herbal Remedies

For generations, families relied on simple herbal remedies like teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, salves, and other traditional preparations made right at home to keep their families healthy and to comfort them when they were under the weather. As Modern Pioneers in the Kitchen, we want to do the same today.

My “How to Stock Your Healing Pantry and Create an Herbal Medicine Cabinet” video walks you through, in detail, how to create your Healing Pantry and Herbal Medicine Cabinet. Plus, there’s a link in the accompanying blog post where you can get a printable inventory list to help you with the process.

• Learn more and get free printable downloads: How to Stock Your Healing Pantry and Create an Herbal Medicine Cabinet

Now…on to learning how to create gentle, old-fashioned natural remedies you can keep on hand in your Herbal Medicine Cabinet and reach for when needed.

🌿Learning the Basics: Master Recipe for Making Herbal Teas

Once you’re comfortable making a sleep tea, you’ll find it much easier to branch out into other herbal teas (also known as tisanes) for everyday wellness. Having a simple, reliable method gives you the confidence to work with many different herbs and tailor teas to your own needs.

In the “Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tea” video, I share a master recipe for making medicinal herbal teas, and I focus on the foundational technique rather than on a single herb or formula. You’ll learn how to properly prepare herbal teas, how long to steep them, and how to work confidently with dried herbs in your kitchen so you can create nourishing teas anytime.

This master approach allows you to:

• Use a wide variety of herbs with confidence
• Adjust strength and steeping time as needed
• Build a flexible, practical Healing Pantry skill

This video is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in traditional herbal preparations and a dependable method you’ll return to again and again.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tea

🍯 A Sweet & Traditional Remedy: Master Recipe for Making Herbal Syrups

Another treasured part of a traditional herbal medicine cabinet is herbal syrups. For generations, syrups were a gentle and practical way to take medicinal herbs for anyone who preferred something soothing and easy to take.

In my “Master Recipe for Making Medicinal Herbal Syrups Using Any Herb – Herbal Syrup Recipe” video, I show you how to make medicinal herbal syrups using virtually any herb, so you’re not limited to just one recipe. Once you understand this simple method, you can adapt the recipe to the herbs you have on hand or grow in your own garden.

Herbal syrups are often used to:

• Support the immune system
• Soothe the throat
• Comfort coughs and seasonal discomforts
• Preserve the benefits of herbs in a shelf-stable, traditional way

They’re an excellent bridge between the kitchen and the apothecary—made with simple ingredients like herbs, water, and a natural sweetener.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: How to Make Medicinal Herbal Syrups Using Any Herb

🌿 Concentrated Natural Remedies: Master Recipe for Making Herbal Tinctures

Herbal tinctures are another time-honored way to preserve the goodness of medicinal herbs and keep them ready at hand. Traditionally made by steeping herbs in alcohol (or glycerin for an alcohol-free option), tinctures are concentrated herbal preparations that can be stored for long periods and used in very small amounts.

In my “Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tinctures Using Any Herb” video, I walk you through making medicinal herbal tinctures with almost any herb, focusing on a simple, foundational method rather than complicated formulas. Once you understand the process, you can confidently work with the herbs you have available—whether they’re homegrown, dried, or purchased.

Tinctures have long been valued because they are:

• Easy to store in an Herbal Medicine Cabinet
• Long-lasting when properly prepared
• Simple to use, requiring only a few drops at a time

They’re an ideal example of how traditional kitchens quietly doubled as home apothecaries, offering gentle support using simple, trusted methods.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tinctures Using Any Herb

🧴💦 Natural Remedies for the Skin: Master Recipe for Making Herbal Oils & Salves

Herbal oils and salves have long been staples in traditional households, used to soothe, protect, and comfort the skin. These preparations allow herbs to be applied externally, making them especially helpful for everyday bumps, dryness, and general skin care.

In my “Master Recipe for Making Medicinal Herbal Oils and Herbal Salves Using Any Herb” video, I share how to make medicinal herbal oils and herbal salves using simple, time-honored methods. Herbal oils are created by gently infusing herbs into a nourishing oil, while salves take that infused oil and transform it into a thicker, easy-to-use remedy with the addition of natural wax.

Once you understand the basic process, you can:

• Customize oils and salves using the herbs you grow or keep on hand
• Create remedies suited for different seasons and needs
• Stock your Herbal Medicine Cabinet with practical, homemade preparations

These remedies beautifully reflect the old-fashioned wisdom of caring for the body using simple ingredients, patience, and care.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: How to Make Medicinal Herbal Oils and Herbal Salves

🤕 One of the Oldest Home Remedies: Master Recipe for Making an Herbal Poultice

An herbal poultice is among the oldest forms of traditional herbal remedies. Long before jars, bottles, or tinctures, herbs were simply moistened and applied directly to the body to offer comfort and support.

In my “Master Recipe for How to Make a Medicinal Herbal Poultice using Fresh Herbs or Dried Herbs” video, I show how to make a medicinal herbal poultice using simple ingredients and gentle methods. Poultices can be made with fresh or dried herbs and are typically used externally, often wrapped in cloth and placed where support is needed.

Poultices have traditionally been used to:

• Provide soothing comfort
• Support tired or overworked areas
• Offer gentle, localized care

What makes poultices so special is their simplicity. They remind us that healing doesn’t always require elaborate preparations—sometimes it’s about slowing down and returning to the most basic, thoughtful methods.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: How to Make a Medicinal Herbal Poultice

🍲 A Comforting Remedy from the Kitchen: Master Recipe for Making a Medicinal Herbal Soup

Food has always played an important role in traditional healing, and warm, nourishing soups were often the very first remedy offered when someone needed comfort or extra care. Long before modern conveniences, a pot of soup simmering on the stove was both food and medicine.

In my “Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Soups Using Any Herb – Herbal Soup Recipe” video, I share a master recipe for making a medicinal herbal soup, focusing on simple techniques rather than a rigid recipe. By learning this method, you can adapt your soup to the herbs and ingredients you have on hand, making it a practical and flexible addition to your healing pantry.

Medicinal herbal soups are valued because they:

• Provide warmth and comfort
• Are easy to digest
• Allow herbs to gently support the body through nourishment

This kind of soup fits beautifully into everyday life—whether enjoyed as a simple meal or offered as a comforting remedy when someone isn’t feeling their best.

• Learn more and get the printable recipe: Master Recipe for How to Make a Medicinal Herbal Soup

Top 15 Medicinal Herbs to Grow

If you’ve ever wanted to begin growing your own medicinal herbs, these two companion posts, including accompanying videos, are a wonderful place to start. In the first, I share 10 Essential Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Your Garden, including calendula, chamomile, echinacea, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, thyme, yarrow, and more.

Then, in the follow-up post, I add 5 More Essential Medicinal Herbs, including holy basil, feverfew, rosemary, sage, and moringa, along with a couple of bonus herbs suggested by my sweet friends.

Together, these posts introduce you to 15 useful herbs, explain some of their traditional uses, and offer tips for growing them—whether you have a full kitchen garden, a few pots on the patio, or simply a sunny windowsill. They’re a lovely way to begin building your own homegrown herbal pantry for teas, salves, oils, tinctures, and other traditional home remedies.

Survival Garden Seeds

In my research into the best vegetable and herb seeds for the garden, I discovered Survival Garden Seeds and their extensive collection of heirloom seeds. If you’re looking for high-quality, open-pollinated, non-GMO, and non-hybrid garden seeds, be sure to use my special MARYSNEST discount code to get 10% off any of the following products:

• Home Garden Collection (30 Pack)
• Homesteader Collection (50 Pack)
• Farmers Seed Vault Collection (100 Pack)
• Ultimate Medicinal Herb Collection (36 Variety Pack)
• Kids’ Easy Garden Collection

Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)

If you are looking for an excellent source for dry herbs, look no further than Farmhouse Teas. And even better, they are offering my sweet friends a 10% discount off their wide selection of herbal tea blends and individual dry herbs.

You can also use my discount code and links below to get the ingredients to make the following natural remedies that I’ve shown you how to make in earlier recipe videos.

• Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
  • 5 Most Surprising Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
  • Get the ingredients from Farmhouse Teas
• Herbal Acne Salve
  • Get Herbal Acne Salve recipe and watch video
  • Get the ingredients from Farmhouse Teas
• Star Anise Tincture
  • Get Star Anise Tincture recipe and watch video
  • Get the ingredients from Farmhouse Teas
• Herbal Elixir
  • Get Herbal Elixir recipe and watch video
  • Get the ingredients from Farmhouse Teas

School of Botanical Arts and Sciences

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Free Modern Pioneer Curricula for Students in Grades K-12

As I mentioned in my Natural Remedy Marathon video, you can download free copies of the following curricula with lesson plans for grades K-12 to teach children, grandchildren, and students about traditional foods and help them gain lifelong skills in the kitchen.

• The Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum provides comprehensive lesson plans for teaching traditional food recipes and kitchen techniques to students in grades K-12. The curriculum is free and over 250 pages long. (This curriculum uses The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.)
• The Modern Pioneer Celebrates America Curriculum celebrates America’s 250th birthday with lesson plans for students in grades K-12 to make traditional recipes and learn about American history. The curriculum is free and over 150 pages long. (This curriculum does not require any additional books.)

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

Kitchen Academy Videos

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Baking Questions Answered with Ted and Mary!

Join me and my husband Ted for a Q&A filled with practical kitchen tips, helpful techniques, and answers to your baking questions.

Baking with Whole Grains: The Maslin Method, Grain Mills, and America’s Bread Basket

Explore whole grain baking with The Maslin Method, fresh-milled flour, grain mills, heritage wheats, and more.

A Sweet Season of Celebration and New Beginnings with The Maslin Method Baking School Series

Celebrate the close of a heartfelt book tour and the exciting launch of The Maslin Method Baking School for traditional baking.

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
5. Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

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Recommended Reading

• The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
• The Modern Pioneer Pantry
• Nourishing Traditions
• Books by Rosemary Gladstar:
  • Medicinal Herbs – A Beginner’s Guide
  • Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
  • Family Herbal
  • Herbal Healing for Women