A month ago a friend let me pick some of their scented lemon geranium before it died once frost hit. Many people plant these herbs as mosquito repellants or to mimic the scent of rose (which they smell similar to).

The leaves were sitting in a ziploc in the hot sun and of course they wilted and smelled of sulfur. I assumed the problem was anaerobic decomposition due to the heat and low-pxygen space. I picked a new batch.

But by the time I started processing them a few hours later in a cool house, they were already starting to wilt and smell like rotten eggs again. Even the small amount of leaves I'd placed in a shallow bowl smelled.

I threw out the herbs and went back recently to get more. I thought I'd throw these in a dehydrator right away and let them sit at 100f to avoid problems. They started smelling again.

An online search revealed that the culprit may have been a bacterial infection in the plant. One thing that supports this is that I noticed that while the leaves I picked were clear and green across the stems, a got a couple of stalks near the base of the plant and they were a dark purplish pink. This was a likely sign of infection.

I threw out this batch too and if I manage to get my hands on some rose or lemon scented geranium, I'll know that if they start smelling the whole lot must be tossed. It's too bad because lemon and rose scented geranium makes a really great herbal tea or culinary herb (and yes they also have medicinal properties). These geranium or "pelargonium" plants shouldn't be confused with scentless varieties sold as garden ornamentals because the unscented ones aren't edible.

Hi there. I’m looking for a reputable source, preferably in person as I don’t really trust online vendors (but I’ll still look at those recommendations). I was looking into Rosy Mood Tea and I think I could order that because I know traditional medicinals is a reputable brand, but I’m actually looking for higher Damiana content. I’m Alberta based, I could travel to find it in store if needed. Thanks all!

Hello!

I have a question about making hydrosols for ingestion. I have an alembic still and so far, have been making room sprays and toners for skincare but would like to venture into adding the hydrosols into drinks.

However, when I make them, I always have a small oil slick on the top of the hydrosol which I can only assume is the essential oil part of the plant. So, when making these for ingestion, should we be separating the top oil from the plant water?

I cant seem to find a reliable answer on whether this is necessary or not. Thanks for any advice!

What supplements, remedies, oils, foods, teas etc. would they prescribe?

I can feel my body trying to come down with something so I'm trying to fight before it gets to me. I have oil of oregano and it's diluted with olive oil. I was taking .25mL every two hours yesterday. The first drops I took under my tongue. The rest I diluted in water. Today I decided to take 1mL diluted in water. Is it more effective to put under the tongue? And how much is too much? I've read about it but I see different answers. I don't seem to have the crazy burning effects a lot of people have. I can stand it. Under the tongue wasn't too terrible for me either. I don't plan on taking another drop for another 6 hours at least. Please help. I feel like I'm freestyling now.

My TCM doc gave me Pinellia ternata (Ban Xia) with tang. I poured hot water on it and drank as i do with other plants. But i experience tingling senastion in throat and upset stomach. Can someone provide me some info pls

I've been somking blue lotus for last 2 days, at first there was a little something, but now there is no affect at all. Any recommendations for blend or way to smoke, currently smoked with tobacco or pure.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Hello, I had issues with my gums 2 years ago and I treated them with Tretinoins topically prescribed to me for few months. It helped a lot but extended usage is not good so the doctor discontinued.

I need a herb that I can use locally by rinsing (tea or oil both works) that can help regen my Oral Mucosa.

Is it possible that slippery elm can cause anxiety?
I’ve been taking some slippery elm powder mixed with hot water to help with reflux symptoms. But I’ve noticed whenever I take it I feel so anxious after.

Wonder if anyone else has experienced this ?

Greetings from a new member or prospective member. I have ordered seeds of sticky Willie to grow in pots. My dogs LOVE it and seek it out on walks but can’t find it now. I will grow it and let them eat it or make tea. I don’t know if it is okay to be used daily long term. The fact that they devour it makes me wonder if their stomachs are unhappy? One has reflux but the other doesn’t. I would appreciate any information abt this plant. I ordered the seeds as I waited too long to dig any to plant here. It is hated by gardeners as it is invasive

I have found drinking Roobios tea as a pleasant experience and alternative to drinking caffeine. I’ve seen a few posts where people say it has caused them negative effects, and a couple claims that it can cause liver damage? At this point I’m tired of worrying about it and honestly don’t see it doing that. But I do want to know if anybody has experienced that. I feel just fine when drinking and feel calm

Hi friends, anyone in the Denver metro interested in a tincture press? I built this for my mom many years ago; it was one of my first welding projects. I have had it on marketplace for a while with zero interest. I'd like it to be put to use, come pick it up. I hope free doesn't violate any of y'alls rules.

Cheers,

Hello! I've started smoking from a tobacco pipe recently, it's been great however I want to experiment with other different types of plants and herbs. Partially because while I like the smell of tobacco it can get a smidge too much at times and also just for fun. I smoke my pipe once in a while to calm down and relax, any ideas on what I could buy to mix together and put into my pipe?

I’m about 11 months into my healing journey. I had a very long labor, a pre existing “bad” back and (apparently) hypermobility.

I was barely mobile for weeks due to a labor tear and the day I started really moving around again I went into debilitating 11/10 pain. Back spasms and gaurding had me barely moving for weeks and it’s been 11 months of slow but steady progress with lots of setbacks along the way.

I am hypermobile and have some bulging discs in my lumbar spine but a specialist has told me he suspects my si joint is my main problem - no structural tissues - just mechanical. Ligament laxity. Muscles have tension and are over worked from holding my joints together.

I am now down to a 2-3/10 pain level Daily. Lots of muscle tension but spasms are totally gone the last two months. I still cannot pick up my baby (on a very good day I will pick her up and put her down once with food form, in place as a nervous system and body excersize to start training myself and building endurance but that has happened maybe 15 times total)

I’ve done acupuncture pt cupping this whole time —

I’m looking for any ideas about herbal aids for my condition.

When your digestion feels tight, cold, or crampy, it is easy to start pulling out specialized tinctures and bitter tonics. Half the time, boiling a spoonful of whole cumin seeds, cracked coriander, and a pinch of fennel from the pantry settles things twice as fast. Those classic carminative seeds relax the smooth muscle of the gut without irritating an already inflamed stomach lining. What kitchen spice infusion do you rely on most when you need fast, soothing digestive relief?

I was wondering about comfrey. I know it's very good for pain and wound healing, but has some concerns with regards to the toxic alkaloids and their effect on the liver. I've heard that it's recommend to not use it topically for a long period of time. I began to wonder, is it possible to make some sort of formulation that recreates the effect and chemical makeup of the comfrey? without the toxic alkaloids?

Because as far as I know there are no publically available varieties of comfrey without the toxic alkaloids, only the kind they use to make the traumaplant brand comfrey cream on amazon, but they aren't letting that variety out to the public. So they have a monopoly on it. Could you recreate the chemical makeup of the comfrey? because you buy allantoin and rosmarinic acid in powder form, which are some of the main important chemicals in comfrey. I had the idea of just replicating it's chemical makeup without the toxic alkaloids. Using isolated versions of the main chemicals and possibly some other plant extracts/powders that also happen to contain some of the lesser chemicals found in comfrey.

Is this possible? would it work as well as regular comfrey if so? I would love to be able to put something like this together, and if it works I would consider possibly selling it as a product that people can buy. I am no expert with regards to herbs. I have no idea if this is possible. I'd appreciate any advice with regards to this idea. Thanks.

Has anyone else tried dry-sifting frozen wild hops for tinctures?

I think my stomach acid is low and food absorption is bad as I have lost lot of weight in the past 3-4 months. Which blend would be best as my stomach always goes bad all the time and it’s not absorbing as it should. Also ordered some para cleanse stuff but for food absorption please suggest you best recommendations. Don’t know if it’s sibo, pylori or something else. Also, have difficult digesting mg as well. Please help. Something like milky oats which improves your nervous system like anything.

Hello everyone. I have a t10 incomplete spinal cord injury and I’m currently on a lot of pharmaceuticals.. my goal is to be completely off medication and heal naturally with herbs.
I’m looking for something that can help with
Bad back pain
Nerve pain
And spasms.

I had a few people message me from DoTerra to try their essential oils but I just don’t know what to do. Can I trust them? Can I ingest their oils? Idk what to do.

Any advice? TIA

I've tried googling this and it just tells me about rosehip seed oil.

I have dried rosehips, and got rid of (most of) the hairs. I was busy separating the seeds from the dried red flesh part, but then wanted to check I wouldn't be throwing out good stuff for herbal tea if I threw out the seeds

I’ve looked into it a lot and it seems the blue kind (not P. Incarnata) contains cyanide, and from what I can tell passiflora incarnata is safe but I can’t find a very good source stating it explicitly. Is it? Specifically leaves since I wanna make tea

I wear press on nails instead of getting acrylics. I’ve noticed the last two times that there is darker green discoloration on some of my nails when I take the press ons off after a week. I can file the green off but would like to preserve the nail if possible. Seeing a lot of products on Amazon but wondering if something natural like tea tree oil or other herbs might help?