Top 5 Herbs Every Mom Should Have On Hand

Top 5 Herbs Every Mom Should Have On Hand

New to herbal medicine and wondering where to start? In this post, I’m sharing the top five herbs every mom should have on hand!

If you’re new to medicinal herbs, be sure to check out our herbal resources. We’ve covered how to grow medicinal herbs, how to use herbs for healing, my top three herbal remedies and even how to make herbal tinctures and how to steep tea for medicinal purposes.

I was recently asked, “If you could only have five herbs, which ones would you keep?” That question really stopped me in my tracks! Over the years, herbs have become such a daily part of caring for my family that narrowing it down felt impossible.

But after some thought (and a little time spent out in the cottage garden), I realized there are five herbs I reach for again and again, herbs I honestly wouldn’t want to live without, especially with kids in the house.

If you’re a mom who’s just beginning your journey with herbal medicine, this list will give you a solid and safe place to start.

1. Plantain (Plantago major)

This humble “weed” is my number one herb for families. Chances are, you already have it growing in your yard! Plantain is incredible for bug bites, bee stings, and even small scrapes. Its antihistamine and wound-healing properties bring almost instant relief.

The best part? It’s so simple to use. My kids learned early on that they can pick a leaf, chew it up, and place it right on a bite or sting. That little spit poultice works like magic!

If you’d rather keep things cleaner, you can soften the leaves with boiling water and mash them into a paste. You can also dry the leaves and infuse them into oil to make herbal soothing burn salves for year-round use. (Learn how to make an herbal oil or herbal vinegar here.)

2. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula is one of the gentlest herbs I know, but don’t mistake gentle for weak; it’s a powerful healer! I use calendula almost daily for anything skin-related: diaper rash, sunburns, scrapes, and minor wounds.

The flower petals are packed with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making them perfect for salves, oils, and soothing sprays.

I love that calendula is safe for little ones (just stick to topical use for babies under six months). If you’re a mom, you’ll want this one in your garden or medicine cabinet. It’s truly a skin saver.

Learn how to grow calendula and use it in this homemade soothing burn salve.

3. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

If there’s one herb that calms the chaos of motherhood, it’s chamomile. Known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties, chamomile is a go-to for both moms and children.

A simple chamomile tea can calm upset tummies, ease muscle spasms, and even help little ones (or you!) wind down at night. It’s also wonderful as an eye wash for irritation or conjunctivitis, just be sure to strain it very well through a coffee filter first. I also like adding chamomile to homemade salves for an extra calming boost.

Learn how to grow chamomile here. Then, learn how to make a homemade antibiotic ointment.

4. Mint (Mentha species)

Mint is the hero of the digestive system. Whether it’s tummy aches, gas, or indigestion, a few mint leaves can work wonders. Kids usually love the taste, which makes it an easy remedy to get them to take.

Fresh leaves can be chewed straight from the plant, or you can brew a quick cup of peppermint tea. Mint is also cooling and pain-relieving, so a cool mint compress feels wonderful on sore muscles or tension headaches. Plus, a pitcher of iced mint tea with a drizzle of honey makes a refreshing summer drink the whole family will love.

5. Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Sage might surprise you as part of my top five, but it has been such a faithful ally for throat and mouth issues. We love adding sage to this homemade chevre cheese recipe, to tea blends for the great flavor, or to this herbal cold and flu tea!

Sage is astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory, which makes it excellent for gargles and mouth rinses.

If your child is old enough to gargle, sage tea with a pinch of salt can work wonders on a sore throat. For younger kids, or for mouth sores, swishing and spitting with sage tea is safe and effective.

Just keep in mind that sage should not be swallowed by pregnant or nursing moms, small children, or anyone with epilepsy, but gargling or rinsing is perfectly safe.

Getting Started with Herbs

If you’re new to herbs, this list may feel like a lot, but here’s the good news: all five of these plants are easy to grow, widely available, and safe for family use (with a few simple guidelines).

You can start with one or two, then build your way up to all five. Even if you can’t grow them right now, you can purchase high-quality, cut-and-sifted herbs from a trusted bulk supplier and keep them on hand.

• Buy dried plantain leaf here.





• Buy dried calendula flowers here.





• Buy dried chamomile here.





• Buy dried peppermint here.





• Buy sage seeds in this herbal seed pack from Farmhouse Teas.

As moms, we reach for remedies daily, whether it’s a bug bite, a restless night, or a skinned knee. Herbs are such a gift because they’re effective, affordable, and right outside our back door.

If you haven’t started yet, these five herbs are the perfect place to begin your herbal medicine journey.

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• Homemade Allergy Remedy





• Home Remedies for Cough (Baby and Toddlers & Adults)





• Homemade Antibiotic Ointment (Better Than Neosporin)





• Homemade Elderberry Syrup: Immune Boosting Remedy 





• Hop Tea + Medicinal Benefits Of Hops 

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