I owe some of you some info…
I know I mentioned I would follow up with info, send me a quick email (or Instagram DM ) so I can forward that to ya!
Okay real talk — these notes exist because there's so much information flying around in our sessions and you deserve to actually have it written down somewhere. Hopefully this is helpful and infomative. Also follow up with your own research. The plants come first. Everything else follows.
We talk about herbs the way aunties always have — with specificity, with care, and without gatekeeping. If something can help you and your babies, you deserve to know it. If something has limits, you deserve to know that too.
Use the tabs above to navigate. Tap any section to expand the details.
Before you make anything, you need to understand how plant medicine actually works — pulling compounds out of a plant into a usable form.
Infusions use above-ground parts — leaves, petals, flowers. Hot or cold water. Your chamomile tea? Infusion.
Decoctions use roots and bark. Dense material needs heat — simmer and boil on the stove. Mauby bark, dandelion root = decoction.
Exception: Valerian root is technically a resin — infuse it, don't boil.
A tincture is a concentrated extract made by soaking plant matter in a solvent — usually alcohol. In Caribbean tradition: bitters. Bitter, potent, used for generations.
Do not pre-mix herbs before extraction. Soak each one separately, then combine. Every herb extracts at a different rate — mixing compromises potency and makes it impossible to track reactions.
Start in spring/summer so they're ready for fall cold season.
These are the herbs that come up again and again — in our sessions, in Caribbean wellness, and in clinical research. Your starter kit.
Warm cloves in castor oil. Soak cloth, wrap around arthritic joints. Grandmother-approved for joint pain and inflammation.
Antifungal including candida. Respiratory support for bronchitis, cold, flu. Gut microbiome regulator — not a laxative. Helps everything find its own rhythm.
Looks like cinnamon bark. Golden-yellow brew. Intensely bitter — sugar is mandatory. A Caribbean staple.
Twice daily for two weeks = measurable blood pressure reduction in studies. Antihypertensive, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory.
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal. Cardiovascular support. Digestive relief — gas, bloating, constipation, stomach ulcers.
Topically antibacterial — great for minor wound care. Can also be smoked.
For overthinkers. Doesn't sedate — creates balanced calm. You feel steady and clear, not knocked out.
Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is most potent. Neuroprotective, antiviral, antibacterial. Safe for regular use as tea or tincture. Can be smoked.
Most effective plant for lung health. Expectorant, anti-inflammatory, demulcent. Works fast in every form — tea, tincture, steam, smoke.
Steam technique: Steep generously, lean over the pot, breathe the steam. Clears lungs almost immediately.
Also effective for ear infections as mullein oil. Clinically documented antiviral activity against influenza A and herpes.
Increases GABA in the brain — same pathway as anxiolytics, gentler and non-habit-forming. Clinically comparable to standard anti-anxiety medication.
Best for racing thoughts at night, stress-driven insomnia, ADHD focus issues. Safe for regular use.
The wrong oil doesn't just do nothing — it can actively cause the problem you're trying to solve.
Mimics natural sebum. Balances oil, supports skin barrier. Lightweight for face and body. Safe for eczema and acne-prone skin.
Use on skin and scalp freely.
Vitamin A, C, fatty acids that activate collagen and repair the skin barrier. Exceptional for hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Photosensitive.
Evening use only. Not for scalp.
Rare omega-7 fatty acids. Restores and repairs damaged skin. Powerful for eczema. It will tint — a drop or two is enough.
Dilute before use. Not for baths.
Deepest moisturizer available. Rich and heavy. Great for very dry skin but significantly more expensive than jojoba for marginal extra benefit.
Very dry skin only.
Great for skin and as a carrier base for products. Do not use on the scalp — disrupts the microbiome and causes itchiness over time.
Body + blending only.
Reinforces the skin barrier. Warm, nutty scent pairs well with herbal blends. Not for scalp.
Body only.
Lightest carrier oil. Non-comedogenic. Best for oily or acne-prone skin who want oils. Not the most economical vs jojoba.
Oily skin types only.
Very high in protein — buildup causes dryness over time. What starts as moisture eventually flips. Not for daily use.
Occasional use only.
Sits on top of skin rather than absorbing. Irritating for eczema-prone skin. There are much better options.
Not recommended for skin.
Bath salts can be irritating — especially for eczema. Here's the alternative: the glycerin soak.
Glycerin is a humectant — pulls moisture from the environment into the skin. In a warm bath it surrounds the body in hydration continuously throughout the soak.
Vegetable glycerin absorbs more readily — smaller molecules, better skin penetration.
Glycerin (half) + rosehip oil + jojoba oil + dried calendula flowers. Skew toward more rosehip for dry or eczema-prone skin.
Add oat milk powder — clinically recognized for eczema relief in infants. Pair with lavender in a cheesecloth bag.
Lavender, geranium, rose buds in cheesecloth for aromatics. Lemon peel, orange peel, hibiscus petals for skin. Hibiscus adds gentle AHAs to bath water.
Every herb from our sessions. Tap to expand. Bookmark this tab.
Relaxation, sleep, mood enhancement, mild aphrodisiac. From ancient Egypt — traditionally smoked in ritual. Longer steep = stronger effect. Note your preferred steeping time for consistency.
Difficult to find in quality form — many people don't feel effects because of poor sourcing. If you find it, make sure it's from Egypt or India. Mix with lavender + chamomile to improve the rough taste.
Digestive support, anxiety relief, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, immune support. One of the safest, most researched plants available.
Tea, tincture, or hydrosol. Can be added to oils. Great for babies — eczema, skin irritation, sun exposure.
External: warm decoction in castor oil for joint pain and arthritis. Internal: antifungal including candida, respiratory support, gut microbiome regulator — not a laxative.
Nervous system calming, sleep, digestive aid, headache relief, antioxidant, skin anti-inflammatory. One of the most researched nervines available. Bath, tea, tincture, essential oil, or smoke. Safe for babies when diluted.
Antihypertensive, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant. Golden-yellow brew. Intensely bitter. Twice daily for two weeks = measurable blood pressure reduction. ⚠ Interacts with Warfarin — do not use with blood thinners without medical guidance.
Lung detox, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral (influenza A + herpes), ear health. Works fast in all forms. Steam inhalation clears lungs almost immediately. Mullein oil for ear infections. Can be smoked.
Powerful antimicrobial, immune support, respiratory. Take immediately when you feel something coming on.
Anxiety, insomnia, ADHD focus support. Increases GABA — same pathway as anxiolytics but gentler and non-habit-forming. Clinically comparable to standard anti-anxiety medication.
Mix with blue lotus, tulsi, lavender for sleep. Can be smoked.
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardiovascular support, antimicrobial, antifungal, digestive relief. Topically antibacterial. Can also be smoked.
Food-safe petals are small — ⅓ the size of ornamental roses. Deep fuchsia to light pink. Ask about sourcing. Hesitation = red flag.
Anxiety, stress, sleep support, neuroprotective, antiviral. Doesn't sedate — creates balanced calm. Chinese skullcap is most potent. Safe for regular use as tea or tincture. Can be smoked. ⚠ Nursing: use with caution.
I know I mentioned I would follow up with info, send me a quick email (or Instagram DM ) so I can forward that to ya!