Mint & Mullein Herbals

01/03/2026

Turmeric is the 2026 Herb of the Year!

This recipe harnesses the anti-inflammatory power of Turmeric in a convenient and tasty from of medicine. I like the ones with honey and think of Mary Poppins when I "pop" one in my mouth - "just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down..."

Ingredients
1/3 cup organic ground turmeric
1 Tbs quercetin powder (about 10 capsules, emptied)
Big pinch of finely ground black pepper
3 Tbs binding agent - choose ONE of the following
Raw honey
Coconut oil
Grassfed ghee
Unbleached parchment paper

Instructions
Line a baking sheet with the unbleached parchment paper. Make room in your freezer to put the cookie sheet for a few hours when the Turmeric Bombs need to set.

Wear an apron! Turmeric powder stains clothing, and the powder can get on your clothes if you stir the mixture too vigorously.

Select one of the binding agents. You will need approximately 3 tablespoons. If you choose raw honey and it is thick, melt it in a saucepan over very low heat until it is pourable. Do the same with the coconut oil or ghee so it is liquid, but not hot.

In a bowl, stir together the turmeric, quercetin, pepper, and binding agent. If using honey, you should have a thick and pliable mixture. If using oil, you should have a thick mixture with which you can form pills.

For the honey variation, pinch of small amounts of the "dough," roll between your palms, and place on the baking sheet. For the oil variation, use a spoon to scoop small pill shapes onto the baking sheet.

Freeze until firm, then transfer to a storage container and keep in the freezer.Take the turmeric bombs as needed. You can't overdose on them. However, if you take a lot of the oil-based ones, the fat content may upset your stomach. If you're using the honey version, keep in mind that it does contain sugar (albeit unrefined and enzyme-rich sugar).

Photo and recipe from Lauren at Empowered Sustenance

12/28/2025

Eye Health
"Eye floaters" are a sign of aging. They can happen at about age 50 because the gel of the eye starts to thicken. It eventually pulls away from the back of the eye and little pieces break off to float around. People who are nearsighted are especially likely to get them because their eyeball is elongated. They're quite common, but many people don't notice or do anything about them. There is actually a risk period of three weeks after seeing "floaters" in which retinal detachment could occur. The "floaters" are relatively harmless, but if you see flashes of light or a "curtain" over your eye, get immediate medical attention.

Natural ways to keep your eyes healthy include adding foods that increase your Vitamin A levels. It's also important to increase the circulation and hydration to the eyes. Carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and kale are the top four Vitamin A foods. Bilberry and Gingko are well-known eye herbs. Goji berries (also called Wolfberries) are noted In TCM as a treatment for all sorts of eye problems due to their ability to nourish the liver and kidneys, which in turn, aids in blood circulation to the optic nerve.

Here are a few other herbs that have Vitamin A
Ginger
Garlic
Dandelion
Lemon grass
Peppermint
Cayenne
Burdock root
Chickweed
Comfrey
Calendula

This Butternut Squash and Sage Soup is a tasty way to get Vitamin A
Ingredients:
5 lbs butternut squash – 2 large or 3 small butternut squash – approximately 5 pounds
2 medium Granny Smith apples, diced
1 large yellow or white onion, diced
10-12 leaves fresh sage
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1.5 cups water
1 cup coconut cream, OR 1/2 cup heavy cream
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pinch nutmeg and/or clove
olive oil, butter, or coconut oil – for sautéing
pumpkin seeds and/or parmesan cheese, to garnish (optional)

Instructions:
Cut the butternut squash in half, and scoop out the seedy guts with a spoon. Poke the fleshy parts of each squash with a fork in several places.
On a baking sheet or roasting pan, roast the butternut squash in the oven on 425F until it is tender to the fork – about an hour.
In a large pot over medium-high heat, add a dollop of your preferred cooking fat such as butter, coconut oil, or extra virgin olive oil. Dice the onion, apples, and fresh sage leaves and add them to the pot, along with a little dash of salt and pepper. Do this after the butternut squash has finished roasting.
Sauté and stir frequently until tender, about 7 to 10 mins.
Allow the roasted butternut squash to cool slightly for safe handling. Scoop out the middle flesh to remove it from the thin skin portion.
Add the roasted butternut squash to the pot of apples, onions, and sage. Add vegetable broth, water, 1.5 teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg and/or clove.
If you are going to use coconut cream for this recipe, go ahead and add a cup now. Alternately, wait to add dairy heavy cream until after the soup is blended and removed from heat.
Stir to combine, bring the contents of the pot to boil, and then reduce the heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
Blend soup using an immersion blender, OR carefully transfer the soup into a standard blender to blend – in batches if needed. Blend until smooth, and remove from the heat.
Add heavy cream now, if desired.
Serve and enjoy! Use within one week in the refrigerator. Or, preserve and freeze the soup in freezer-safe containers. Use frozen soup within one year.

From Homestead and Chill

07/05/2025

2025 Prairie Herbalists Conference Vendors:

Wildflour Grocer
Prairie Star Botanicals
Karen's Comfort Crystals
Curious Roots Herb Farm
Dustin Clayton
Red Road Herbs
Lancaster Leather
Rayz Haven

Red Road Herbs will have our entire line of The Best Herbal Salve Ever available, including the first batch for 2025 of our Pain Relief made with fresh St. John's Wort! We'll also have "Prairie Herbalists Conference" garden aprons and tote bags featuring our beautiful logo that was designed by Molly Moody.

06/29/2025

06/21/2025

Attending the Prairie Herbalists Conference is an investment in your health and wellbeing. It is an opportunity to learn about herbs from experts who are knowledgeable, inspiring and empowering. It's also an opportunity to meet the plants in person and to meet people who are also interested in herbs. Come join us for this year's Prairie Herbalists Conference on July 12 &13!

Here are a few of the comments from the Prairie Herbalists Conference last year...

🌿That was the best-looking salad and snack table I have ever seen!
🌿The food was delicious and so nourishing!
🌿I have been looking for a way to go into the world of herbs. Rachel put together many topics that will help me begin my journey. It is an honor for me to have this wisdom of the speakers.
🌿So much information - I've filled my notebook!
🌿This has been a fantastic experience! The quality of presentations and amount of knowledge shared were amazing. Thanks to you all!!
🌿I took different classes than what I had planned, but they were what I needed.
🌿It was fabulous!
🌿Everything was awesome!
🌿Amazing! I loved all of it ❤

Special Pricing:
$245 - Saturday and Sunday - 9 hours of herbal knowledge + delicious food
$195 - Saturday Only - includes special guest Jerome Kills Small
$85 - Sunday Only - herbal intensive

View the full schedule, class descriptions and presenter bios here:
https://www.redroadherbs.com/new-page-5

05/20/2025

July 12 & 13, 2025

11/03/2024

Did you remember to set your clock back an hour last night for the end of daylight savings time?

If you've had enough of clock setting memes, here's a clock for people who love plants. This is the famous Linnaeus Floral Clock he designed in 1748 to show what time each flower opened.

Amazing!

07/18/2024

In preparation for my talk, “Blending Tasty Herbal Teas,” this weekend at the Prairie Herbalist Conference at Red Road Herbs Retreat & Learning Center LLC, I have a bit of an experiment going. I hope to share it with all of you!
Shown is different water extractions using oatstraw, a good nervine and nutritive herb. Left to right, we have an infusion, a decoction, and a long infusion (which won’t be ready to strain until tomorrow).
Did you know you can use water in different ways to make your own herbal extracts? 😍