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  • The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine)
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The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine)


Grab an inside look at The Beekeepers Apothecary. When most people think of honey, they picture a drizzle over homemade biscuits or a spoonful stirred into herbal tea. But here on the homestead, and in traditional medicine across the world, honey, propolis, and beeswax have been used for far more than sweetening recipes. When combined with medicinal herbs, these gifts from the hive become a powerhouse of healing.





An herbal infusion being made.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Today, I’m joined by Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead. She’s a beekeeper, herbalist, and author of The Beekeeper’s Apothecary.





She’s here to share her journey from childhood wonder to creating potent, approachable remedies that weave together the work of plants and pollinators.





Whether you keep bees or not, you can start using their products with herbs to make your home apothecary more effective, more delicious, and more accessible.























About Kaylee





A woman holding up a bottle of honey with more bottles on the counter.




Kaylee grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, a self-described “feral child” who roamed the woods, foraged pawpaws and ginseng, and learned the rhythms of the natural world.





But one golden evening, riding her rescued mare Trigger down a dusty trail, she noticed a cloud of honeybees flying home. The setting sun caught their wings and made them glisten. That simple moment stayed with her, a seed that would one day grow into a passion for beekeeping.





Years later, after a career in the medical field as a surgical first assistant, Kaylee and her husband returned to Virginia to raise their children closer to the land.





The bees came home with them. The more she observed them, the more she realized: honeybees are the original herbalists. They forage for resins, nectars, and pollens not just for food but also for medicine. Propolis to seal and disinfect their hives, beeswax to protect and preserve, and honey that carries the medicinal imprint of the plants they visit.







Why Combine Herbs & Bee Products?





An herbal infusion being made.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




If you’ve ever taken a bitter tincture and wrinkled your nose, you know taste can be a barrier in herbal medicine.






  • Honey solves that problem beautifully. It not only improves flavor but also brings its own antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties to the table.




  • Propolis, often called “bee glue,” contains compounds from hundreds of plant species and is naturally antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial.




  • Beeswax extends the contact time of salves and skin applications, holding healing herbs against the skin longer.





Kaylee’s approach in The Beekeeper’s Apothecary focuses on two key ideas:






  1. Herbs work best when used in synergy. Many herbs can address the same ailment in different ways, and when blended together, their combined actions can be more effective than using one alone.




  2. Your carrier should be medicine, too. Instead of using a neutral base like alcohol or oil alone, choose carriers like honey, beeswax, or propolis that add their own healing qualities to your remedy.







Simple Herbal Honey Remedies to Try






Dried mushrooms and honey.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Dried rose petals crushed into a powder, mixed into honey.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead





You don’t have to be a beekeeper to start using these methods. Quality raw honey and propolis are widely available from local beekeepers and trusted suppliers.





Here are a few of Kaylee’s favorite ways to combine herbs and bee products:






  • Electuaries: Blend powdered dried herbs with raw honey to make a thick, spoonable paste. Kaylee’s daily go-to is a mushroom electuary for immune and nervous system support.




  • Herbal Honeys: Infuse fresh or dried herbs, like calming catnip or throat-soothing thyme, directly into honey. Use in tea, by the spoonful, or even in cooking.




  • Propolis Tincture Spray: A blend of propolis tincture with herbs like calendula can be used internally as a throat spray or externally for wounds and skin irritation.




  • Beeswax Salves: Combine herb-infused oils with beeswax to create protective, antimicrobial salves that keep medicine on the skin longer.







Nature’s Pharmacy at Your Fingertips





'A
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Kaylee’s passion is helping people realize that medicine often grows right outside their door (or sits in their spice cabinet). You don’t need to start big.





One jar of herbal honey, one small salve, or one throat spray can be a first step toward replacing (or supplementing) conventional over-the-counter options with remedies you make yourself.





The beauty of combining herbs with bee products is that the medicine becomes multi-layered.





The plants bring their targeted actions, the honey carries its own antibacterial and soothing powers, the propolis boosts immune defenses, and the beeswax locks it all in place.





Together, they create remedies that are flavorful, approachable, and deeply healing.







Learn More from The Beekeeper’s Apothecary





The Beekeepers Apothecary book cover.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Kaylee’s new book, The Beekeeper’s Apothecary, is a down-to-earth, step-by-step guide to using bee products in herbal medicine.





With over 100 herbs and countless practical recipes, ranging from infused honeys and salves to oximels and sprays, it’s an incredible resource whether you’re an experienced herbalist, a beekeeper, or just getting started with natural remedies.





You can connect with Kaylee and learn more about her work at The Honeystead and pre-order The Beekeeper’s Apothecary now for exclusive bonuses.





Just as bees tend their hive with care and intention, we can tend our homes and families with the same mindset. We can layer nature’s gifts into our daily lives so that wellness isn’t just a reaction but a way of life.











A peek through a plant to a garden.






The post The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine) appeared first on Homesteading Family.


Source: The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine)
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Booed Off Stage
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Sep 17, 2025, 03:53 PM
The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine)


Grab an inside look at The Beekeepers Apothecary. When most people think of honey, they picture a drizzle over homemade biscuits or a spoonful stirred into herbal tea. But here on the homestead, and in traditional medicine across the world, honey, propolis, and beeswax have been used for far more than sweetening recipes. When combined with medicinal herbs, these gifts from the hive become a powerhouse of healing.





An herbal infusion being made.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Today, I’m joined by Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead. She’s a beekeeper, herbalist, and author of The Beekeeper’s Apothecary.





She’s here to share her journey from childhood wonder to creating potent, approachable remedies that weave together the work of plants and pollinators.





Whether you keep bees or not, you can start using their products with herbs to make your home apothecary more effective, more delicious, and more accessible.























About Kaylee





A woman holding up a bottle of honey with more bottles on the counter.




Kaylee grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, a self-described “feral child” who roamed the woods, foraged pawpaws and ginseng, and learned the rhythms of the natural world.





But one golden evening, riding her rescued mare Trigger down a dusty trail, she noticed a cloud of honeybees flying home. The setting sun caught their wings and made them glisten. That simple moment stayed with her, a seed that would one day grow into a passion for beekeeping.





Years later, after a career in the medical field as a surgical first assistant, Kaylee and her husband returned to Virginia to raise their children closer to the land.





The bees came home with them. The more she observed them, the more she realized: honeybees are the original herbalists. They forage for resins, nectars, and pollens not just for food but also for medicine. Propolis to seal and disinfect their hives, beeswax to protect and preserve, and honey that carries the medicinal imprint of the plants they visit.







Why Combine Herbs & Bee Products?





An herbal infusion being made.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




If you’ve ever taken a bitter tincture and wrinkled your nose, you know taste can be a barrier in herbal medicine.






  • Honey solves that problem beautifully. It not only improves flavor but also brings its own antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties to the table.




  • Propolis, often called “bee glue,” contains compounds from hundreds of plant species and is naturally antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial.




  • Beeswax extends the contact time of salves and skin applications, holding healing herbs against the skin longer.





Kaylee’s approach in The Beekeeper’s Apothecary focuses on two key ideas:






  1. Herbs work best when used in synergy. Many herbs can address the same ailment in different ways, and when blended together, their combined actions can be more effective than using one alone.




  2. Your carrier should be medicine, too. Instead of using a neutral base like alcohol or oil alone, choose carriers like honey, beeswax, or propolis that add their own healing qualities to your remedy.







Simple Herbal Honey Remedies to Try






Dried mushrooms and honey.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Dried rose petals crushed into a powder, mixed into honey.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead





You don’t have to be a beekeeper to start using these methods. Quality raw honey and propolis are widely available from local beekeepers and trusted suppliers.





Here are a few of Kaylee’s favorite ways to combine herbs and bee products:






  • Electuaries: Blend powdered dried herbs with raw honey to make a thick, spoonable paste. Kaylee’s daily go-to is a mushroom electuary for immune and nervous system support.




  • Herbal Honeys: Infuse fresh or dried herbs, like calming catnip or throat-soothing thyme, directly into honey. Use in tea, by the spoonful, or even in cooking.




  • Propolis Tincture Spray: A blend of propolis tincture with herbs like calendula can be used internally as a throat spray or externally for wounds and skin irritation.




  • Beeswax Salves: Combine herb-infused oils with beeswax to create protective, antimicrobial salves that keep medicine on the skin longer.







Nature’s Pharmacy at Your Fingertips





'A
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Kaylee’s passion is helping people realize that medicine often grows right outside their door (or sits in their spice cabinet). You don’t need to start big.





One jar of herbal honey, one small salve, or one throat spray can be a first step toward replacing (or supplementing) conventional over-the-counter options with remedies you make yourself.





The beauty of combining herbs with bee products is that the medicine becomes multi-layered.





The plants bring their targeted actions, the honey carries its own antibacterial and soothing powers, the propolis boosts immune defenses, and the beeswax locks it all in place.





Together, they create remedies that are flavorful, approachable, and deeply healing.







Learn More from The Beekeeper’s Apothecary





The Beekeepers Apothecary book cover.
Image courtesy of The Honeystead




Kaylee’s new book, The Beekeeper’s Apothecary, is a down-to-earth, step-by-step guide to using bee products in herbal medicine.





With over 100 herbs and countless practical recipes, ranging from infused honeys and salves to oximels and sprays, it’s an incredible resource whether you’re an experienced herbalist, a beekeeper, or just getting started with natural remedies.





You can connect with Kaylee and learn more about her work at The Honeystead and pre-order The Beekeeper’s Apothecary now for exclusive bonuses.





Just as bees tend their hive with care and intention, we can tend our homes and families with the same mindset. We can layer nature’s gifts into our daily lives so that wellness isn’t just a reaction but a way of life.











A peek through a plant to a garden.






The post The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine) appeared first on Homesteading Family.


Source: The Beekeepers Apothecary (Honeybees + Plant Medicine)
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