So you want to build a home apothecary but you’re staring at a blank counter wondering where the heck to start? I’ve been there. I once dropped $300 on random herbs and equipment only to realize I was missing the actual essentials and had bought a bunch of stuff I’d never use. Oops.
The problem is that you can set up a successful home apothecary without the supplies of a pharmacy. When someone has a sore throat at 10 PM or you need to make a remedy for a headache, all you need are the appropriate supplies and ingredients that you will truly reach for. Let’s discuss the 16 essentials that will help you succeed without breaking the bank or taking up too much room.
1. Quality Dried Chamomile
Let’s start with the most versatile herb in your arsenal—chamomile.
I keep a massive jar of this stuff on hand because it solves about 80% of common complaints. Can’t sleep? Chamomile tea. Stomach upset? Chamomile. Anxious? You guessed it. This humble flower is anti-inflammatory, calming, and gentle enough for kids and adults alike.
Why it’s essential: Chamomile works for digestive issues, sleep problems, anxiety, skin irritations, and even teething babies. That’s some serious multitasking for one plant.
Purchase it in large quantities from a reliable herb supplier. Bulk is much less expensive than those little jars at the grocery store, and you’ll use a lot more than you anticipate. It will remain effective for approximately a year if kept out of direct sunlight in an airtight container.
2. Raw Local Honey
Honey isn’t just a sweetener—it’s medicine in a jar.
Local, raw honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic qualities. I use it in everything from wound care to syrups that soothe the throat. By exposing you to trace amounts of local pollen, the “local” component is also important because it can help with seasonal allergies.
Key uses:
- Natural cough suppressant (works better than many OTC meds)
- Wound healing and burn treatment
- Immune system support
- Base for herbal infused honeys
Keep it at room temperature in the original jar or transfer to glass. Pro tip: If it crystallizes, just warm it gently in a water bath. Don’t microwave it—you’ll kill all those beneficial enzymes.
3. Peppermint Leaves
Peppermint is your go-to for digestive complaints and headaches.
I probably make peppermint tea at least three times a week. In addition to being cooling and revitalizing, it works wonders for tension headaches, indigestion, and nausea. Additionally, people actually drink it without complaining because it tastes far better than the majority of medicinal herbs.
Fresh peppermint is great, but dried is more practical for year-round use. The menthol content actually concentrates when you dry it, making dried peppermint surprisingly potent. Store it like you would chamomile—airtight, dark, cool.
4. A Reliable Mortar and Pestle
You can’t have an apothecary without this classic tool.
I resisted buying one for months because I thought my coffee grinder would work fine. It doesn’t. A mortar and pestle gives you control over texture, works for both small and large quantities, and won’t obliterate delicate herbs into powder when you just need them lightly crushed.
Material matters: Granite or marble for serious grinding power, ceramic for everyday use, wood for gentle crushing of aromatic herbs. I use a 2-cup granite one as my daily workhorse—it’s handled everything from tough roots to delicate flower petals without complaint.
5. Ginger Root (Fresh and Dried)
Ginger is absolutely non-negotiable in a home apothecary.
This hot root helps with circulation issues, nausea, inflammation, and immune system support. Because they function slightly differently, I keep dried ginger in my herb cabinet and fresh ginger in my refrigerator. Dried is better for inflammation and body warming, while fresh is better for nausea and upset stomach.
Quick ginger remedies:
- Fresh ginger tea for nausea and upset stomach
- Ginger honey for coughs and sore throats
- Ginger compress for muscle pain
- Crystallized ginger for motion sickness
Seriously, ginger pulls its weight and then some. Worth every penny.
6. High-Quality Carrier Oil
Whether you’re making salves, infused oils, or diluting essential oils, you need a good carrier oil.
I keep three types on hand: sweet almond oil for general use, coconut oil for antimicrobial properties, and jojoba oil for facial products. Sweet almond is my workhorse—it’s affordable, absorbs well, doesn’t go rancid quickly, and works for nearly everything.
Store oils in a cool, dark place. Buy them in sizes you’ll actually use within 6-12 months to avoid rancidity. Nothing ruins a carefully crafted remedy faster than funky-smelling oil. :/
7. Lavender Flowers
Lavender is the Swiss Army knife of herbs—it does everything and does it well.
I use lavender for sleep issues, anxiety, headaches, burns, skin irritations, and as a general mood-lifter. It’s one of those herbs that’s gentle enough for daily use but effective enough that you actually notice results.
Lavender applications:
- Tea for anxiety and sleep
- Infused oil for massage and skin care
- Dried in sachets for drawers and pillows
- Added to baths for relaxation
Buy culinary-grade lavender if you’re making teas and edibles. Craft-grade is fine for sachets and external use but often tastes soapy in tea. Trust me on this one—I learned the hard way at a dinner party. Not my finest moment.
8. Mason Jars in Multiple Sizes
You’ll need jars. Lots of jars.
I’m talking half-pint, pint, and quart sizes at minimum. Mason jars are perfect for storing dried herbs, making infusions, mixing remedies, and literally everything else you’ll do in your apothecary.
| Jar Size | Primary Use | Quantity Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 4 oz | Small batch tinctures, salves | 6-12 |
| 8 oz | Daily-use dried herbs | 12-20 |
| 16 oz | Bulk herbs, large infusions | 6-10 |
Buy them in bulk when they go on sale. You can never have too many clean jars. I probably have 50+ in various sizes, and I use them all regularly. They’re also way cheaper than fancy apothecary containers and work just as well.
9. Echinacea (Dried Root or Tincture)
When cold and flu season hits, echinacea is your best friend.
It is best to take this immune-boosting herb as soon as you feel sick. For convenience, I have a ready-made tincture on hand as well as dried root for tea. The tincture acts more quickly, but tea soothes sore throats and is kinder to the stomach.
Important note: Don’t take echinacea long-term or preventatively. It works best as acute support when you feel something coming on. Use it for 7-10 days max, then give your immune system a break.
Some people are allergic to echinacea (especially those allergic to ragweed), so test it when you’re healthy first, not when you’re already miserable.
10. Cheesecloth or Muslin Bags
You need something to strain your preparations through.
Coffee filters work in a pinch, but cheesecloth is reusable and way more versatile. I use it for straining teas, infused oils, tinctures—basically anything that needs solid plant material removed. Muslin bags are great for making bath sachets or large quantities of tea.
Buy a yard or two of cheesecloth and cut it as needed. It’s incredibly cheap and lasts forever if you rinse it after use. I’ve been using the same piece of cheesecloth for two years. Best $5 I ever spent.
11. Elderberries (Dried)
Elderberry syrup is the MVP of cold and flu remedies, and you need dried elderberries to make it.
Every fall, I prepare a batch of elderberry syrup, which I store in the refrigerator throughout the winter. It supports the immune system, has antiviral properties, and tastes good enough for children to voluntarily take it. This is, in my opinion, the most practical cure to have on hand in the winter.
Basic elderberry syrup recipe:
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup honey
- Optional: cinnamon, ginger, cloves
Simmer berries in water for 30-40 minutes, strain, add honey when cool. Lasts 2-3 months in the fridge. Take a tablespoon daily during cold season or every few hours when you’re sick.
12. Beeswax for Salve-Making
If you want to make salves, balms, or solid perfumes, you need beeswax.
Liquid infused oils are turned into solid, spreadable products by beeswax. I purchase it in pastilles, which are tiny beads, as they are much simpler to measure and melt than a large block. If you’re vegan, you can also use candelilla wax, but the ratios are a little different.
Store beeswax at room temperature in a sealed container. It literally lasts forever—I’m still working through a pound I bought three years ago. A little goes a long way, so don’t overbuy unless you’re making salves for an army.
13. Calendula Flowers
Calendula is the ultimate skin-healing herb, and every apothecary needs it.
I add calendula to oil to make skin serums, balms, and salves. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Excellent for cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, dry skin, and pretty much any other type of skin irritation.
Why calendula rocks:
- Safe for all ages, including babies
- No known contraindications or interactions
- Gentle but genuinely effective
- Works for both acute injuries and chronic skin issues
You can grow calendula easily in most climates, which makes it super affordable. I dry my own every summer and have enough for the whole year. Otherwise, buy it dried from an herb supplier.
14. Vodka or Grain Alcohol for Tinctures
If you want to preserve herbs long-term, you need alcohol.
When prepared correctly, tinctures—concentrated herbal extracts—last for years. For the majority of my tinctures, I use 80-proof vodka and 190-proof Everclear is used to remove sticky plant materials and resins. About 90% of herbs can be used with vodka, which has a neutral taste.
Tincture basics:
- Fill jar 1/3 to 1/2 with dried herbs
- Cover completely with alcohol
- Shake daily for 4-6 weeks
- Strain and bottle
Label everything with the herb name, alcohol percentage, and date. Future you will thank present you for this obsessive labeling. FYI, I learned this after mixing up my echinacea and valerian tinctures. That was an interesting evening.
15. Nettle Leaf
Nettle is a nutritional powerhouse that deserves a permanent spot in your apothecary.
Iron, calcium, and magnesium are among the many vitamins and minerals that are abundant in this herb. I frequently consume nettle infusions for general nutritional support, energy, and allergy relief. An added bonus is that it’s excellent for the health of your hair and nails.
How to use nettle:
- Long infusion for maximum nutrition (4+ hours)
- Regular tea for allergies and inflammation
- Added to soups and broths
- Hair rinse for shine and growth
Buy dried nettle leaf (not root—different uses). The leaf is what you want for most apothecary purposes. Store it like other dried herbs, away from light and moisture.
16. A Good Herbal Reference Book
Last but absolutely not least—you need reliable information.
When it comes to creating remedies, nothing compares to a good herbal reference book, regardless of how much research you do online. In my apothecary area, I have three books: a wildcrafting identification book, a basic remedies guide, and an extensive herbal encyclopedia.
My top recommendations:
- Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann (comprehensive)
- The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook by James Green (practical)
- A regional wildcrafting guide for your area
Digital resources are great, but when your hands are covered in oil and honey, you want a physical book you can flip through without touching your phone. Plus, there’s something satisfying about having your own notes and bookmarks in a well-loved reference book.
Building Your Apothecary Thoughtfully
Here’s the honest truth: you don’t need to buy all 16 of these things at once.
Start with four or five necessities that deal with your most frequent health issues. For me, that included mason jars, peppermint, honey, ginger, and chamomile. As I discovered what I really used versus what just sounded cool, I added everything else gradually.
Your apothecary should grow organically based on your family’s actual needs, not some idealized Pinterest board. That said, everything on this list earns its keep. I use each of these items regularly, and they form the foundation of pretty much every remedy I make.
The beauty of building a home apothecary is that it empowers you to take charge of your health in simple, natural ways. You’re not replacing modern medicine—you’re creating a first line of defense for minor complaints and supporting overall wellness. And honestly? There’s something deeply satisfying about reaching for a homemade remedy instead of automatically grabbing over-the-counter meds for every little thing.
Now go stock your apothecary and start experimenting. Your future self with a cabinet full of remedies will be so glad you did. 🙂