Make these Autumn Herbal Remedies from Roots & Fruits

Every season gives the herbalist unique gifts. Autumn herbal remedies are very different than those of summer and spring. The fall season gives us deep roots and thick fruits from which to make our medicines.

Hardy Herbs

This isn’t the time for delicate floral medicines as much as it for digging roots deep from the earth. The plants are putting their energy into the roots instead of their leaves and flowers the closer we get to winter. This makes fall ideal time to dig up those roots and use that energy for our own herbal healing.

Fall is also the season of picking fruits like rose hips and hawthorn.

Finally, this is the time to gather the remaining, good quality leafy herbs from the garden. Harvest that sage, mint, etc. before they wilt or get covered in snow.

Made in Fall – Useful for a Year

These remedies are best made in the fall season because of the availability of ingredients but remember that they can serve a household for the entire year. Boost the immune system, soothe upset stomachs, and more not just this Autumn but through the upcoming seasons with these fall herbal remedies.

Along those same lines, only make enough to last your household a year supply. It can be so tempting to make huge batches of medicine when gathering plants but there’s no need to take more than necessary. Keep it easy on yourself, your wallet, and the earth. Make enough to last the year and make new next fall.

Medicinal Roots

Pick a day when the ground is perhaps a bit soft and wet to get those roots up easier. It won’t be easy many of these have long tap roots, just do the best you can. Gather any bits of root possible for medicinal making, don’t worry about breakage so much.

Dandelion

Dandelion roots have long helped flush the liver of toxins and aided digestion. It’s always easy to gather these roots from a soft garden bed than it is the lawn but gather where ever you can.

Dandelion Root Infused Honey is a tasty way to get the benefit of the roots and honey in one spoonful. Use it to sweeten drinks or take by itself occasionally to aid digestion.

Echinacea

The roots of the purple coneflower have been studied extensively for their ability to boost the immune system. Harvest these roots in the fall and make a tincture to help your body fight the common cold and more.

Horseradish

That same punget root used to make sauce for roast beef can also be quite healing to the body. Use it help flush inflammation and clear the sinuses.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow roots are great for treating digestive issues internally. Externally marshmallow root is great for clearing up acne and making a soothing lip balm.

Valerian

Be forewarned, valerian has a very unique odor. It’s quite stinky, honestly. Still it’s my favorite remedy for insomnia. Make it into a tincture (either with alcohol or glycerine) for quick and easy dosage

Fall Medicinal Fruits

Those flowers we didn’t harvest in the spring and summer can often lead to amazing, healing fruits in the fall. Roses become rose hips, hawthorn flowers become hawthorn berries. These fruits are medicinal and edible wonders.

Hawthorn

These red and black berries are good for the heart and circulatory system. Make a tincture or a tasty syrup for easy ingestion and healing.

Rose Hips

These tart and nourishing fruits fill rose bushes in the fall. Gather lots and dehydrate them for easy use later.

The dried rose hips make a delicious and immune-system boosting tea. The rose hips are packed with vitamin C making them a great way to fight off cold and flu season.

Remember, you don’t have to make all the things. Just make the autumn herbal remedies you might need – don’t have heart trouble skip the hawthorn but dry the rose hips for a Vitamin C boost during cold season. Harvest and make what you need and know that your home apothecary is ready for the year ahead.

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