Late Summer Herbal Reset: Expanding Your Home Apothecary with August’s Hidden Gems
Welcome to August: A Season for Herbal Exploration
August is a time of ripening—sun-warmed gardens, wild meadows, and that gentle nudge to savor what’s left of summer. It’s also the perfect moment to expand your herbal toolkit, try something new, and reconnect with your wellness intentions. This month, let’s step outside the usual basil-and-mint comfort zone and discover a whole new world of herbs: some wild, some cultivated, all brimming with possibility.
Image Prompt: Sun-dappled garden table with an abundant spread of fresh and dried herbs, wildflowers, a hand-thrown mug of tea, and a worn field guide.
Why Go Beyond the Basics?
Sure, we all love rosemary and lavender. But there’s magic (and medicine) in the lesser-known, the overlooked, and the wild. Expanding your herbal repertoire means:
New flavors for your kitchen
More tools for your wellness journey
Supporting pollinators and biodiversity
Fresh inspiration for your apothecary, classes, and community
Ready to meet some new plant allies?
Meet August’s Herbal All-Stars
1. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
The Heart’s Ally
Benefits: Traditionally used for calming frazzled nerves, easing tension, and supporting women’s cycles and heart health.
How to Use: Make a soothing tea or tincture for stressful days or before bed.
Story: My first taste of motherwort was bitter—literally! But its gentle, grounding effect is worth acquiring the taste.
Safety: Not for use in pregnancy. Consult your practitioner if on heart meds.
Image Prompt: Fresh sprigs of motherwort in a mason jar, with a hand-labeled tincture bottle and a cozy reading nook.
2. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Sweet, Soothing, Pollinator Magnet
Benefits: Calms the digestive tract, soothes coughs, and adds sweet licorice notes to teas.
How to Use: Fresh leaves in iced tea, dried in winter blends, or as a garnish for fruit salads.
Community Tip: Kids love “purple fairy tea” made with anise hyssop and a touch of honey.
Image Prompt: Bees swarming purple anise hyssop blooms, with a glass pitcher of pale purple tea.
3. Tulsi (Holy Basil, Ocimum sanctum)
The Adaptogen for Modern Life
Benefits: Supports stress resilience, mood, and immune health.
How to Use: Brew as a daily tea, add to smoothies, or infuse in honey.
Real Life: I reach for tulsi when deadlines loom or life feels a bit much—it’s like a deep breath in a cup.
Image Prompt: Lush green tulsi leaves, a steaming mug, and a handwritten “Take a Pause” note.
4. Shiso/Perilla (Perilla frutescens)
Bold, Beautiful, and Anti-Allergy
Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, supports respiratory health, and brings a unique flavor to salads and sushi.
How to Use: Use fresh leaves in wraps, salads, or infuse in vinegar for a tangy tonic.
Community Story: A neighbor gifted me a handful of shiso seeds—now it’s everywhere, and I love the splash of color and flavor!
Image Prompt: Vibrant green and purple shiso leaves on a rustic cutting board, with pickled veggies and chopsticks.
5. Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Nervous System Reset
Benefits: Traditionally used for tension, sleep support, and gentle mood balance.
How to Use: Tincture or tea in small amounts, especially at bedtime.
Caution: Bitter! Start with a light hand.
Image Prompt: Wild blue vervain flowers along a misty pond at sunrise.
6. Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
The Celery Stand-In
Benefits: Digestive support, culinary versatility (think soups, stews, and broths).
How to Use: Use leaves and stems as you would celery; roots can be dried for teas.
Kitchen Hack: Add lovage to potato salad for a savory twist.
Image Prompt: Fresh lovage stalks, a wooden spoon, and a steaming bowl of veggie soup.
7. Vietnamese Coriander (Persicaria odorata)
Spicy, Cooling, and Unique
Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, cooling, and a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine.
How to Use: Add to summer rolls, salads, or infuse in chilled water.
Image Prompt: Chopped Vietnamese coriander on a bamboo platter with summer rolls and dipping sauce.
8. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
Uplifting and Digestive
Benefits: Eases digestion, uplifts mood, and makes a fragrant, calming tea.
How to Use: Fresh or dried leaves in teas, syrups, or desserts.
Image Prompt: Lemon verbena leaves with a teacup, lemon slices, and a linen napkin.
9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
First Aid in the Field
Benefits: Traditionally used for wound care, cycles, and as a bitter digestive.
How to Use: Infuse in oil for salves, or sip as a tea for immune support.
Safety: Avoid in pregnancy; may cause allergic reactions in some.
Image Prompt: Fresh yarrow flowers, a small jar of infused oil, and a handwoven basket.
10. Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)
Soothing for Gut & Skin
Benefits: Soothes mucous membranes—think sore throat, dry cough, or irritated skin.
How to Use: Brew as a cold infusion for a gentle, soothing drink; use in homemade skin balms.
Image Prompt: Marshmallow roots, a glass jar of pale infusion, and a vintage apothecary label.
11. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Sunshine in a Flower
Benefits: Skin healing, lymphatic support, and gentle immune boost.
How to Use: Infuse petals in oil for salves, toss in salads, or steep for a sunny tea.
Community Tip: Kids love making “fairy salve” with calendula petals!
Image Prompt: Bright orange calendula blooms, a small tin of golden salve, and a child’s hand.
12. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
Uplifting and Pollinator-Friendly
Benefits: Uplifts mood, attracts hummingbirds, and adds a fruity twist to teas.
How to Use: Use leaves in lemonade, teas, or as a garnish for desserts.
Image Prompt: Pineapple sage flowers, a glass of iced herbal lemonade, and a hummingbird feeder.
13. Borage (Borago officinalis)
Adrenal Support and Edible Flowers
Benefits: Supports adrenal health, mood, and brings edible blue flowers to your plate.
How to Use: Flowers in salads or ice cubes, leaves in teas.
Image Prompt: Blue borage flowers scattered on a summer salad.
14. Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides)
Traditional Mexican Digestive Herb
Benefits: Digestive support, especially with beans; unique earthy flavor.
How to Use: Add to bean dishes, stews, or infuse in vinegar.
Caution: Use in moderation; high doses can be toxic.
Image Prompt: Epazote sprigs next to a bowl of black beans and corn.
15. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
Women’s Wellness Tonic
Benefits: Traditional adaptogen for hormonal balance, vitality, and resilience.
How to Use: Powder in smoothies, teas, or as a gentle tonic.
Image Prompt: Shatavari root powder in a small dish, with a glass of golden milk.
16. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Gentle Calm for the Nervous System
Benefits: Eases tension, supports restful sleep, and calms frazzled nerves.
How to Use: Tincture or tea before bed or during stressful times.
Image Prompt: Skullcap leaves and flowers, a steaming mug, and a cozy blanket.
Bringing It All Together: Real-Life Rituals for August
Morning:
Try a cup of lemon verbena and tulsi tea to greet the day with calm energy.
Midday:
Make a “cooling roll” with Vietnamese coriander, shiso, and borage flowers for lunch. Add a sprig of lovage to your water bottle.
Evening:
Wind down with a blue vervain and skullcap tea, journaling your gratitudes or intentions for the coming season.
Family/Community:
Host a “herb swap” or garden walk—share seeds, stories, and recipes. Invite friends to make fairy salves or herbal lemonade with calendula and pineapple sage.
DIY Herbal Recipes for August
1. Cooling Herbal Lemonade
Pineapple sage leaves
Lemon verbena
Fresh lemon juice
Local honey
Water
Steep herbs, strain, and chill. Sweeten to taste.
2. Digestive Summer Salad
Shiso, borage flowers, lovage, and mint
Sliced cucumber and tomatoes
Olive oil, vinegar, and sea salt
Toss and serve with grilled fish or beans.
3. Wound Care Salve
Yarrow, calendula, and lavender infused in olive oil
Melted beeswax
Optional: a few drops of tea tree oil
Strain, pour into tins, and use for minor scrapes.
Your Turn: Share, Learn, and Grow
Which of these herbs are new to you? Have you tried growing or using any of them? What’s your favorite late-summer ritual or recipe?
Share your stories in the comments or on our Facebook page. Let’s keep learning from each other and building a vibrant, empowered wellness community!
Want more?
Subscribe to our newsletter for a free session and monthly herbal spotlights
Join an upcoming class or workshop (check our events page!)
Use code NEWCLIENT for a discount on your first appointment or product
Image Prompt for Social:
A cheerful, diverse group sharing herbal drinks and stories around a sunlit picnic table, with wildflowers and homemade remedies on display.
Closing Thoughts
August is the perfect time to say yes to new plant allies, fresh inspiration, and the simple joys of herbal living. Here’s to a season of discovery, abundance, and community—one cup of tea, one garden walk, and one heartfelt story at a time.
🌱 With herbal gratitude,
Courtney
