Blue Boy Herbs

11/13/2025

One Ayurvedic physician was visiting us from India. She saw our formulas, and she said it looks like we specialize in soft organs. These of course include the liver, lung, heart and kidneys along with the spleen and pancreas.
One organ we have a really good litany of herbs for is Kidney. Each herb is a little different with many commonalties.

Horsetail grass-Equisetum arvense
My son and the blue boy crew were on the Natchez trace, just outside of natchez searching for Groundsel which I had found there before. Unfortunately somehow it had been destroyed and we were feeling somewhat dejected. Janaka, my son had been studying botany in college. He said that the soil there is alluvial soil meaning it was the result of glacier being there many years before. He said it was the type of soil to find Horsetail. He happened to be tall enough to look over the hill which us short people couldn't see and said stop, stop there it is.
When we got out and went over the hill sure enough there was a full array of horsetail in a creek called colds creek. It is a spring fed creek and is extremely pure and cold. I was beyond happy to find this pure source of horsetail. Usually, one does not share their resources for fear others will deplete them but, in this case, there is miles of beautiful pristine horsetail grass.
So, there is plenty for all.
The properties of horsetail is multifaceted but for sure it is extremely useful in kidney issues. It is useful when there is blood in the urine. Much like groundsel which we will discuss later.
It is a great diuretic in suppression of urine. It helps with that issue all old people face of incontinence of urine, especially in children. It is good in irritation of the bladder. Of course, there are many other uses, but these indicate it is worthy in any kidney issue. Gravel or stones are also an indication for horsetail.
The ashes are good for acidity of the stomach also. So, all in all if you have horsetail, it will combine well with other urinary herbs.

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10/28/2025

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10/27/2025

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10/24/2025

Continuing on with he herbs used in what I call the Nervine formula I wanted to elaborate a little on an herb that is not so much recognized for its use in nervous disorders except in Eclectic medicine.
Evening primrose Onethera biennis. The reason it is named biennis is that it is biennial. Meaning it lives for two years and then dies. It is called evening primrose because in the beginning of its blooming cycle it blooms only t night. There are reports in the eclectic literture of seeing it glowing in the dark from a distance. After some time it begins blooming during the daytime.
In Eclectic medicine it is noted for helping to remove the toxins form the nervous system. The specific indication is during the menstrual epoch women often get sick to the stomach due to the toxins being released from the nervous system. Thus, evening primrose is much noted for helping to remove these toxins. Not just during me**es but anytime there is nausea due to anxiety. You harvest it when in bloom about halfway up the stem meaning the flowering tops.
Another wonderful native plant with nervine properties is Bugleweed. Lycopus virginicus. This buglweed is used in different formulas due to its properties being multifaceted. It is for sure sedative and is very indicted in conditions where the hert is indicted due to stress. It hs specific indication in irregular heart beat. It is also restorative to the nervous system and used in lung disorders.
This is not the Bugleweed used in landscaping which is Ajuga. This species is generally not cultivated but is actually esy to grow. It is generally around ponds and swamps. It is called odorless mint as it is in the mint family and the odor is not like other mints but is of a muskier flavor.
In Eclectic one of the specific indications is spitting of blood from the lungs as well as the irregular heartbeat.
We add extra Bugleweed to our heart formula when one is having irregular heartbeat. We will go into more detail in the heart section coming up.

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10/23/2025

The Nervine herbs have wide variety of plants. Some work more on the psyche and others are more physiological. Then there are some that work on both fields.
One of the most famous herbs that are used for the nervous system is Passion flower. Its Latin name is Passiflora incarnata. The literature says that it gets it Latin name from the flower looking like twelve loaves or something in that connection to Passion of Christ. It does make sense because many times the Latin indicates some relation to the shape or nature of the plant. If a plant grows in water for instance, it is often called aquatica. If it was official in the pharmacopeia it is called officinalis. If it is small, it is called abbreviafolia etc. So, like this many times the Latin nomenclature of the species will give you some hint of its appearance.
Passion flower is what is termed a hypnotic. There are different levels of sedation and the lightest is called hypnotic. This means it basically puts the mind in a state of calmness without making one sleepy per say although it does help one to relax and thus go to sleep easier.
The next level is sedative and it for sure helps one to go to sleep. This would be like Valerian etc.
The next level is called narcotic and would be like o***m etc.
So Passiflora is noted for helping one sleep more soundly and at the same time wake up refreshed. It is indicated when someone is so tired they cannot go to sleep. It is also indicated in any stress related issue such as the heart.
One of the most useful nervine type herbs is Green Milky Oats. This requires one to basically grow you own or find someone you really trust. The key to its being very effective is to harvest it before the seed is hardened and when you smush it milk exudes form the seed. This is of course the reason it is called Milky green oats.
It is a restorative to the nerves and can actually regenerate nerve tissue. This is proven even in clinical trials. I have had some really gratifying results in helping to overcome the damage to the nerves due to stroke.
Avena Sativa , Green milky oats is also very good to help build the heart muscle. Thus, it is good in any heart regimen.
Next we will discuss an amazing herb that removes toxins form the nervous system called evening primrose. The flowering tops are the part used.

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10/20/2025

Sometimes people have asked me "What is your favorite herb? Of course, that would be difficult to answer honestly because at some point each herb is the favorite depending on what the condition is and thus which herb is most needed for that condition would be the favorite.
But as far as which herb is the most dramatically effective, I would lean towards one called Tag Alder. Alnus serrulata. It is the most amazing herb that I have had the pleasure of using.
In Kings it said to cause what is called retrograde metamorphosis. This means that it breaks down food and helps the body to get rid of waste while at the same time helping the body to assimilate the nutrients. So, it has this dual ability to break down and assimilate at the same time. Very unique in that it does two subtle things simultaneously.
When combined with other herbs for digestion it can be a life saver. Especially in a condition where there is fermentation taking place and thus the food then puts off gas and incomplete digestion results in the condition called acid reflux.
The herbs I found desirable to augment it digestion potency is first the Iris root tincture. Iris is what is called a cholagogue which means it causes the liver to secrete more bile. This bile is the fire of digestion and if you are cooking and the fire is too low then of course the food does not cook properly and remains oily. So, the iris increases the fire of digestion, and this really is useful in dyspepsia.
The third herb I add is wild cherry. Prunus virginiana. It contains acids that cause the glands to secrete their juices. It has the bitter almond effect and digestion starts in the mouth with the salivary glands. The glands in the stomach such as the peyers patches are similarly stimulated and thus this aids so much in breaking down the food. I always say it is like will wonkas chocolate factory with so many little glands all secreting at once. if one has had a high fever as a child this peyers patches can be damaged and thus cause indigestion also.
I have used the formula with great success to help one have better assimilation and removal of waste.

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10/03/2025

Dear friends,

Many of you know Darrell through his work as an herbalist - Blue Boy Herbs is his most beloved creation, and we all know how much Darrell put into helping people through making herbal medicine and sharing his knowledge with others. What some may not know is how deeply he is connected to New Talavan Farm. This was the source of Darrell’s original inspiration to become a herbalist, and over the years he has devoted both his time and resources to helping it grow and thrive.

One of the current projects he cares very much about is the transformation of the old temple pond into a beautiful community place. The project will make the pond cleaner, deeper, and more accessible for festivals for the many people who come to enjoy New Talavana’s natural beauty. Darrell has already invested significantly to make this vision a reality.

This community means a great deal to him, and he would love to invite friends, customers, and fellow herbal enthusiasts to participate in this fundraiser if they are able.

Even if you aren’t able to donate, you are always welcome to visit New Talavan and see the project finished.

Blue Boy Herb Company is the fruition of an inspirational search to validate that God created herbs and plants to aid all living beings in returning to our original eternal spiritual position.

We hope that God may be pleased with our endeavors, because all beings come from the same original Father and are actually brothers and sisters.

Thank you for supporting Darrell in his lifelong passion of helping people heal their bodies, minds and souls.

https://gofund.me/494019271

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09/29/2025

One of the most significant herbs used for all disorders related to the reproductive system of women is called viburnum prunifolium or Black Haw. Viburnum is a landscape plant but mostly the varieties are not related to the Black Haw. I believe it is not in cultivation that I know of.
The history is one that makes it unforgettable but is also painful to hear. It was first used in Eclectic or western herbalism during the 1800's. At this time slavery was common all over and especially in the south.
Many times, the slave so called owners would want their workers to expand so they forced them to get pregnant. However since the slaves were not stupid they knew that the cotton root (Gossypium) would cause abortion. Therefore, in order to prevent bringing a child into slavery they would make a tea of cotton root and thus cause an abortion. It is an effective but dangerous practice.
The slave controllers picked up on this practice and also had some plant knowledge obviously and they forced them to drink of another tea and it prevented abortion in any case.
The local doctors picked up on this through observation and realized that black haw would prevent miscarriage even from a strong abortifacient as cotton root.
Therefore, they began to use it to prevent miscarriage with great success. It is stated in kings that even if the baby died still, the womb would retain the fetus without any harm.
This is one herb that has done so much to prevent miscarriage. The other herbs that are also noted but with a different history are squawvine (Mitchella repens) and star grass or false unicorn (Aletris farinosa). Together this formula is for sure to prevent miscarriage epecially if taken regularly and in the early stages or the first trimester is the most important.
Squaw vine comes from the native American history where many times tribes were somewhat migratory and when traveling if a mother was pregnant she would have to give birth and recover quickly to keep up with the tribe. It became noted that many times the child was born and the mother would take a bath and be ready to move due to drinking what is called squaw vine tea form this origin. The word squaw is not as bad a term as some may think as it came from a native American word sasquatchawa or something like that that actually translated to "princess of the forest".
So, the early settlers observed this and thus it became incorporated in early medicine to make the childbirth much easier. It also prevents miscarriage and is a great kidney herb also. It is hard to quantify how much it helps except from testimony of women who have taken it during pre-childbirth. I promise many of them swear by how easy the birth was compared to others. My wife is a great example as we were wanting to have a natural birth and were promised that but when we went to the hospital the doctor ignored the promise and started to do this thing with leads etc and even before he could put the things into the womb the little boy popped out. It was so funny to hear the surprise he had when the child just popped out unlike anything he had ever experience. Squawvine is the real deal.

The aletris farinosa is sometimes confused with true unicorn root. True unicorn root is chamelerium lutea. It is not so common as the false unicorn and people get them confused because the flower is similar and both have the name unicorn because of the shape of the flower. However, all the literature I have found indeed says they have the same use though if I could find the true unicorn I would use it also. It is more rare.
This formula is called Birthrite and is a blessing for midwifery. I feel very fortunate that we have been using it forever with good results.
You can see them at Blueboyherbs.com and the spelling might be more accurate with the latin there.

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09/25/2025

There is one formula that is unique to Blue boy herbs and I would be shocked if anyone had this formula in their repertoire. We call the formula Tranquility, but others use that name of course but I have to say I think we were the first. :)
The reason it is unique is that we harvest one herb that I would be very surprised if anyone other than someone who came to our classes harvested. It is Willow Blossoms. The male catkins (Flowers) of Salix Nigra. The black willow. Not the weeping willow or Salix alba that is common in yards but this is a wild plant and it only produces the catkins in the early spring. The cannot be dried and must be put in tincture immediately.
The female is not used as they go to seed, and the male contains the medicinal part which is the pollen. It is Divine in all aspects. It smells heavenly and the pollen itself when harvesting can make one feel extremely peaceful.
To be honest I got the first idea for using it because I work with a lot of monastic type people who are practicing celibacy as a way of life. The most famous property of will blossoms is that it helps to subdue excessive passion. It also is noted for prostatitis but is not just for males because it works to help scratch that subtle itch called passion. Passion can be quite subtle and sometimes people do all sorts of drugs to make them feel better but ultimately there is still that deeper agitation related to the hormones.
So, willow blossoms are what is called an anaphrodisiac. I always joke we should made a 900 number and say "Want to get free from s*x life. Call us for a free sample; LOL I dent think I would get rich but for people who are suffering excessive agitation it is well noted. In Kings american disp and other Eclectic literature. it was noted for things like satyarism,spermatorrea, nocturnal emissions etc.
I like it because when combined with passion flower and one other herb called lemon balm we can address many of the puberty related mental anxieties. I always say we could put it in the drinking water at the schools and solve so many behavioral problems.
The passionflower is called a hypnotic. There are three levels of herbs for helping to sedate. The lightest is a hypnotic and it does not make one sleepy but helps one to relax internally. The other is the sedative then the narcotic.
The lemon balm is noted for gladdening the heart. It is an amazing herb that really does help with depression and anxiety. So, these three together are perfect for anxiety and depression. Adhd is so well benefitted that I have had psychiatrist prescribing it for children. I sometimes add the ayurvedic tablet mentat but we have a very high success rate for adhd and depression and anxiety in general. Everyone loves the feeling because it reaches the deeper areas of the emotional disturbance without causing any side effects.
It is so safe you can basically drink it when having a panic attack. I have been in a situation where I was feeling some deep anxiety and not having any idea why. I think it must be some past life stuff but at any rate I would take the tranquility and at first felt a little better but after the third does I was good to go. The nice thing is there are no aftereffects. It also helps one to rest and wake up refreshed which is the specific indication for passionflower.
I pray this helps Blueboyherbs.com

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09/24/2025

For years I have tried to finish a book and always sort of fade out. So, I decided to just start writing short essays on herbs that I find particularly interesting. I hope yall enjoy it.

I wanted to write about one native species that is quite unique and is little known to western herbalist. It is called Brahmi in Ayurvedic medicine, and it is called Bacopa in the west more so. Most herbalist don't realize that our native bacopa Carolina is the famous Brahmi. In India even they get it confused with Gota Kola. Centellla erecta. We do use both but the bacopa is the actual Brahmi made famous due to yogis using it to increase their meditative power. The latin name in the species used in india is bacopa monnineri.
In our experience these native speicies mny times are proven to be even more effective. In the case of the centella erecta or gota kola the univ of miss did research on it and found that this native species is 5 times more effective for memory that the centella asiatica of the east and Hawaii. So there is no doubt that the native species are many times equal or better.
In the case of Brahmi the oil is incredible. It grows in water and has these pretty little Lavendar flowers. When crushed the fragrance is very very nice. We do make an oil from it.
The uses are very well documented for helping to increase circulation and nutrition to the brain. That is why it is so confused with gota kola because they have basically the same properties. I have been in India and they try to sell Gota kola as brahmi but very few will know the difference. Fortunately, we have both in our environment. Which bring me to the next point. I use them both of course because the accentuate each other's ability to offset mental deterioration. We also grow our own turmeric which has the same use and we have ginkgo trees.
This formula is one of the best we have been blessed to create. I have so much faith and confidence in it for conditions such as Alzheimer's, dementia and simply short memory function. It in actuality creates more brain function and is a nutritive for the brain.
The Brain tonic is very similar except we add wormwood to it. It is very nice, but the wormwood is bitter, and some people can't take the bitter taste. So, both serve the same purposes, and the wormwood is more difficult for us to grow and thus the Brahmi is all home grown and wild crafted by us.
In short, this formula is good for children also in adhd type stuff. We often add the tranquility with it which I will discuss tomorrow to help with the nervous issue associated with adhd. I pray this helps folks to better appreciate the Brahmi which is one of our most exotic native Medicinals. The formula is simply called Brahmi formula. As always you can see it at blueboyherbs.com.

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09/19/2025

Registration is now open for Fall herb fest! Space is limited, so please text or call to reserve your seat!
We are so excited to gather with everyone again!🪷🌿 11/08/25
Event location is Blue Boy Herbs, in carriere MS.

07/04/2025

Save the date herbal friends!! We are gathering again on Nov. 8th for our fall herb fest! Stay tuned for more info about the fest, and how to register!