The Wild & Weedy Apothecary

03/13/2026

LEMON BALM - SWEET MELISSA
Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm is very attractive to bees.
It’s botanical name Melissa means “bee” in Latin, and it has been cultivated for over 2,000 years as a bee plant.
We grow a lot of Lemon Balm, both in and out of the garden.

There is a curious concoction dating from around the early seventeenth century called Carmelite Water.
The curious feature of the concoction was that it was used as both a perfume as well as a remedy for headaches.
Lemon Balm (often simply called Balm or sometimes Melissa) is one of the main ingredients; also included are angelica leaves, clove buds, coriander seed, nutmeg and cinnamon, preserved in grain spirits.

Carmelite Water – A curious cordial

This curious concoction from the early seventeenth century called Eau de Melissa Carmes, or Carmelite Water, was supposedly invented by the Carmelite order of nuns (some sources say monks, but whatever) in paris in 1611. It was used as a perfume as well as a cordial, having a nervine effet as well as being useful for headaches – just imagine, drinking your perfume! Here is a recipe similar to one I found by accident on recipezaar.com. I’m surprised I hadn’t come across it sooner since I have studied herbs for many years. I decided to add a touch of sweetener for taste.

4 tablespoons dried lemon balm leaves
3 tablespoons dried angelica leaves
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 tablespoon whole coriander seed
1-2 teaspoons sugar or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups good-quality vodka

Place all the herbs, spices and the sugar in a clean quart jar. Pour the vodka over all, adding more if necessary to cover completely.

Place a small piece of parchment paper between the jar and the lid, and cover tightly; label and date. Shake every day for 3 to 4 weeks. After this time, strain the Carmelite Water into a clean decanter.

This cordial will keep about six months in a cool, dark place. If you can’t find angelica leaves, use 1 tablespoon dried celery leaf instead.

LEMON BALM FOR HEADACHES and other concerns --

As to Lemon Balm being useful for relieving headache, a dropperful of the tincture or even a cup of hot lemon balm tea makes an effective remedy for relieving the tension and irritability associated with this ailment.

It is a mild anti-depressant and nervine that is safe to use for children as well as adults.
It is excellent for children experiencing mild fever, sleeplessness and achiness caused from the flu.
A strong infusion added to the bath is one good way to use lemon balm for kids.

Lemon Balm tea can be drunk for relief from menstrual cramps and tummy-aches (including diarrhea) as it is also anti-spasmodic. There are no known negative side-effects concerning the recommended use of this herb.

Lemon Balm has shown anti-viral activity as well, particularly as an external wash (and also an internal remedy) for shingles (and chicken pox) and herpes simplex (both kinds).
Lemon Balm herb made into an infused oil is a preferred method of external treatment for these painful conditions.

The generally recommended dose of Lemon Balm Tincture for adults is 30-40 drops (approximately 2ml) 3 to 5 times a day, taken in water.
For children, first determine their weight; if they weigh 50 pounds reduce the amount to one-third of the adult dosage (assuming you weigh 150 pounds), or 10-13 drops 3 times a day, and maybe once more at bedtime.
The amount of alcohol is very minute here; if you are still concerned, make a mild tea (tincture added to hot water) for your child and give it to them in 1/3-cup doses. Use Lemon Balm infused oil or salve freely as needed.

In addition to the above-mentioned Carmelite Water, Lemon Balm is an ingredient in other liqueurs such as Benedictine and Chartreuse.

You can make a sweetened tea with the fresh herb (it is very easy to grow) and freeze up some Lemon Balm ice-pops. Try using it to make pesto.

I love growing Lemon Balm in my garden, and I love that it takes off on it’s own so well.
I love how it looks, how it smells, and how it tastes.
I love that it attracts bees (who need all the help they can get these days), and I love making it into concoctions for body care.
She really deserves the name “Sweet Melissa”.

© DDoreen Shababy

https://doreenshababy.com/lemon-balm-sweet-melissa/

03/04/2026

03/01/2026

Just one month left to apply! Academic Scholarships up to $1,000 are available to Montana undergrad and graduate students with a focus on native plants - find all the details at mtnativeplants.org/board/grants-scholarships/scholarships

02/27/2026

Now is the time to get your presale orders in for the Freshwater Partners Native Plant Sale! This annual fundraiser supports "Give Back to the Yellowstone," a Park County-based program that carries out on-the-ground restoration, hazard mitigation, and education and outreach. Presale orders are open through April 15th; plant pickup is May 9th at the Park County Fairgrounds. Pickup will be followed by a "day of" sale, where orgs including MSU Extension, Sacajawea Audubon, Park County Environmental Council and more will be on hand to share conservation + educational materials.
Visit freshwaterpartners.org to find details and place your order!

02/20/2026

FRAGRANT RED ROOT - CEANOTHUS

Red Root – Ceanothus americanus, C. spp.

This plant has sometimes been called New Jersey Tea, and it’s also called Buckbrush.

In my region, Buckbrush leaves are shiny and very fragrant and the flowers are like frothy foam.
It is a member of the Buckthorn family which also includes Cascara and the Chinese Jujube tree, and is native to the Americas with a range spanning from Guatemala to Canada.

Indigenous people’s use includes treating arthritis and influenza and as an astringent.
Early American herbalists used the herb to treat enlarged spleen, and as an expectorant, anti-spasmodic and anti-syphilitic.

Buhner says Red Root is “first and foremost a lymph-system stimulant and tonic”.
It clears dead cellular tissue from lymph fluid.
It is specific to swollen, infected or inflamed lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, appendix and liver, possibly enhancing the production of lymphocytes.

Red Root is anti-inflammatory to the liver and spleen, and a tonic to the mucous membranes.
It helps tone, modulate and protect the spleen from microbial damage.
Some clinical observations of AIDS patients showed an increase in T-cell counts, and Red Root may stimulate lymph drainage in the intestinal walls.

Red Root is indicated in Lyme disease as its co-infections, mycoplasma and bartonella, congest the spleen.

Tilgner says Red Root is specific for reducing cysts, and considers the herb to be most useful in subacute and chronic conditions.
Two specific components in the root – Betulin and Betulinic acid – are active as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor agents as well as modulating the immune system.

Another component, Ceanothane, is anti-staphylococcal. Buhner notes that the flowers are active against Staphylococcus aureus, which is particularly resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics.
A strong tea or diluted tincture can be used as a gargle for tonsillitis.
The herb has also shown anti-fungal activity in vitro.

Although Red Root is a blood coagulant and should not be used while taking prescription coagulants or anti-coagulants, the tincture has been used for treating heavy menstruation at the rate of 10-15ml (2-3 teaspoons) per dose of 3x/day.
There have not been any other negative side effects observed, however, as with most herbs, do not take during pregnancy unless recommended by a health care professional.

© Doreen Shababy

1 teaspoon = 5ml. (milliliters). There are approximately 40 drops per 1ml. of tincture.

https://doreenshababy.com/fragrant-red-root-ceanothus/

02/01/2026

Registration is now open for our 2026 AGM & Conference, taking place March 21–22 at the Atlas Hotel in Regina, SK! This year’s theme is “Celebrating the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.”

🌾Register by March 13 here: https://tinyurl.com/NPSS-2026AGM

Full Program details:
Day 1 - Saturday will begin with the business portion of our meeting, followed by presentations. Short films and a silent auction will also be featured.
Meet our Speakers:
🌾 Dr Edward Bork from the University of Alberta will present recent research from the Roy Berg Kinsella Research Ranch.
🌾John Skinner from Skinner Native Seeds will speak about the Sioux Valley Restoration Project.
🌾Jenna Sarich will share observations about her ongoing Nuffield Scholarship research on the environmental sustainability of grazing systems.
🌾Beth Dolmage from the Ministry of Environment will discuss the work of the Botanical Assessment Working Group.
🌾We will also have a panel discussion on holistic range management featuring Laura Hoimyr (Box H Farms), Laughlin and Hannah Mckinnon (Old 3 Grazing Corp), and others.

Day 2 - Sunday afternoon, we will host the Prairie Ecosystems module of the Saskatchewan Master Naturalist Program, where participants will learn in detail how prairies function, what different species and communities make up grasslands, threats to grasslands in Saskatchewan, and innovative conservation projects that are helping to conserve and restore these precious places.

12/07/2025

Might not fit into a Christmas stocking, but you can try 😁