What do you do when you have most of the herbs in a recipe, but not all of them? Does that mean you can’t make it? Can you use everything else and leave the one you don’t have out, or will that mess it up? Can you substitute an herb you have into the recipe to take the place of the one you don’t have?
Have you ever found yourself in this situation and asked yourself these same questions? If so, today I have some answers for you!
This recently happened to me as I was working on a new project for you. What! A new project? Yes… you heard (or read) me right! I’ve been secretly working on something new for you. I think you’re gonna love itso stay tuned. I’ll be sharing more about ita few weeks.
Anyway, as I was working on a specific remedy for this project, I found myself lacking a certainherb. Now, in most remedies I’ve come across, it’s not that big of a deal when I’mmissing one ingredient. I simply replace the herb I’m missing with another fitting herb (more on that later), but for this recipe, the herb I was missing was one that was difficult to substitute as it’s a very specific ingredient in the formula. Thankfully, though, I did find an herb that could be substituted without compromising the effectiveness of the remedy!
So, as I was dealing with this issue, I thought I’d share how I substitute herbs in remedies with you in case you ever come across this problem yourself.
How To Substitute Herbs In Remedies
When you’re looking to substitute one herb for another in a remedy, there are two things you need to do first.
- First,ask yourself, “What is the purpose of the missing herb in this formula?” This will tell you the herb’s action in the formula.
- Second, you need to find out what the herb’s energetics are. The energetics of an herb are the way it brings about balance in the body. Most times, energetics center around whether an herb is warming or cooling, moistening or drying.
Once you have answers to those questions, the next thing you need to do is find a list of other herbs with that same action and then narrow those choices down to those with similar energetics.
It’s pretty simple, but just in case you’re confused because you’re new to all of this (I can totally relate to that), let me give you an example.
Substitution In Action: An Example
Below is a recipe frommy studies at the Herbal Academy. It’s for a headache remedy that I’m wanting to make, and I’m lacking one of the herbs.
Headache-ease Tincture
Ingredients:
- 4 parts skullcap
- 2 parts valerian
- 2 parts crampbark
- 1 part blue vervain
- 1/2 part ginger
Dosage:
Take 1 teaspoon at first sign of a headache. Continue with 1/2 teaspoon every hour until symptoms subside.
Substitutions:
In the above recipe, I’m lacking crampbark and blue vervain. Both of these herbs help with muscle tension and are antispasmodics.
Now right off the top of my head, I remembered that crampbark is very similar to valerian in its action (antispasmodic), its energetics (drying and warming), and its smell (STINKY!) so I knew that I could simply double the valerian and that would be fine until I get more crampbark.
As for the blue vervain… I needed to do more research because I’ve never used that herb before. First, I went to my Taste of Herbs: Flavor Wheel to check out herbs with similar energetics to blue vervain. First I found the bitter herbs, then found the herbs that were dry and cooling. These herbs happened to be relaxing nervines, most of which were alsoantispasmodicsand included vervain, motherwort, skullcap, and California poppy. Out of those 4 herbs… I only had California poppy so I looked that herb up. It’s cooling and bitter so it would work well energetically, it’s an antispasmodic and analgesic herb so that would match up action-wise, and it’s to be avoided in those with cooler constitutions and pregnancy. Seeing as how I’m not pregnant, and I’m a pitta constitution (hot and fiery baby), it looks like this would be a great herb to substitute in here.
Substituting Herbs In Herbal Remedies Is Possible
So there you go. If you’re missing an herb, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the remedy you’re looking at making. It simply means you need to find another herb that will take the place of the missing herb.
When you start looking into herbal actions and energetics, it becomes much easier to substitute one herb for another and still come out with an effective remedy that will give you the results you’re looking for. And if you have trouble with this part, don’t beat yourself up over it. Herbalism takes a lifetime to learn. Just start. practice, try new things outand see how it works for you… you’ll be glad you did! Eventually, it won’t be so overwhelming. Just be sure to have fun dabbling and playing with plants!
