Herbs, Healing, and Homeschool: Gentle Remedies We Use as a Family
One of the beautiful benefits of homeschooling is the space to live life holistically—where learning, healing, and living flow together naturally. In our homeschool, we don’t separate wellness from education. Instead, we treat health as a foundational part of our lifestyle, and herbs are one of the most gentle, powerful ways we stay connected to both the earth and our well-being.
Let’s take a walk through some of the herbal remedies and rhythms that have supported our family through seasons of growth, sniffles, and everyday balance.
🌼 Why Herbs?
Herbs have been used for centuries to support the body’s natural healing processes. In our home, herbs are more than remedies—they're teachers.
Through using herbs in everyday life, our children are learning:
How to listen to their bodies,
The rhythms of the seasons,
Patience, intention, and intuition,
How to work with the earth, not against it.
🍵 Simple Herbal Remedies We Use in Our Home
1. Chamomile Tea for Calm Days
When the day feels overstimulating or someone is feeling cranky, we brew a simple cup of chamomile tea. It’s calming, kid-safe, and can turn a moody afternoon into a moment of connection.
Bonus: It makes a perfect “tea time” homeschool activity.
2. Elderberry Syrup for Immune Support
During the colder months, we make our own elderberry syrup. It's a hands-on learning opportunity (math + science + herbal wisdom!) and supports our immune systems naturally.
3. Calendula Salve for Skin Scrapes
After a day of outdoor play, bumps and scratches are inevitable. We keep a homemade calendula salve in our herbal cabinet for minor cuts, bug bites, and dry skin.
4. Lavender Oil for Sleep & Focus
Lavender is our go-to for winding down. A little oil on the pillow or in a diffuser calms bedtime routines and supports focus during lessons.
5. Ginger & Lemon Honey Spoons for Tummy Troubles
These are fun for kids to help make and are soothing for upset stomachs or sore throats. A spoonful of ginger, lemon, and honey is both healing and sweet.
🌿 Learning Through Herbal Living
Incorporating herbs into our homeschool has opened the door to:
Botany lessons: identifying and learning about plant parts
Hands-on science: infusing oils, drying herbs, making tinctures
History & culture: exploring how different cultures use plant medicine
Mindfulness: slowing down and working with plants intentionally
Our little herb garden isn’t just for medicine—it’s a living classroom.
💫 Tips for Starting with Herbs in Your Homeschool
Start small – Begin with one or two herbs you feel drawn to (like chamomile or calendula).
Make it fun – Involve your children in tea making, salve mixing, or labeling jars.
Read together – Books like Herbal Adventures by Rachel Jepson Wolf are great for kids.
Trust your intuition – You don’t need to know everything. Learning alongside your children is powerful.
Keep it gentle – Stick with safe, child-friendly herbs unless you’ve done deeper study or consulted with a professional.
🌱 Final Thoughts
Bringing herbs into our homeschool isn’t about being perfect or knowing it all—it’s about reconnecting with the rhythms of nature, our bodies, and each other. It’s about giving our children tools for self-care and reverence for the earth. It’s about learning that healing can be simple, slow, and sacred.
From a cup of tea to a garden full of magic, herbs have become a part of our homeschool harmony. 🌿
Do you use herbs in your home?
What are your favorite plant allies? Share your herbal traditions or questions below or on Instagram @HomeschoolHarmony_