The Codfish Apothecary

06/01/2026

Tinctures are one of the easist alternative medicines you can make, and take.

Stinging nettles are one of those plants pretty much everyone knows about...touch it, it stings right? Did you also know it's good for you? You can eat it, you can steep it for tea, you can tincture it. That's what I do and I take it daily for allergy relief.

Harvest your nettles (leaves are the best), wear gloves if you don't like the sting, give them a good wash, chop/tear them, put them in a jar and cover with 80% alcohol. Let it sit for 6 weeks, shaking the jar on occasion, strain and enjoy! Have you ever tried tinctures??

As a disclaimer, the content on this platform is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

05/31/2026

The beginning of today's experiment! I'm going to make/test tallow sunscreen! If you know me at all, you know I'm pretty fair skinned. Its gonna be sunny here this week so its a good time to try it out! Fingers crossed 🤞

05/31/2026

Check this one out regarding the use of mullein from Grow, Gather, Heal!

I think I'll try using my mullein tincture at bedtime to see if it helps me sleep and calms down my brain!

🌿 Deep Dive: Mullein’s Quiet Power for Calm and Rest ✨

Most people know Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) as a trusted herb for the lungs, but as we keep digging deeper into the research, this soft, familiar plant continues to surprise us. Beyond its long history as a respiratory ally, Mullein also has a fascinating traditional reputation for gently calming the nervous system.

In our newest infographic, we take a closer look at the research exploring Mullein’s potential as a natural support for rest, relaxation, and emotional ease.

💤 A Traditional Herb with Sedative Potential
For generations, Mullein leaves have been used in traditional herbal practice for their mild calming and sedative qualities. Modern research is now beginning to explore that old wisdom more closely, and the results are incredibly interesting. In one study, Mullein extract was even compared directly to Diazepam, a well-known pharmaceutical used for anxiety and sedation.

🧘 Promising Support for Stress and Tension
What makes this research especially fascinating is that Mullein showed notable calming effects in the study model, suggesting real potential for easing nervous tension and promoting relaxation. In measures of anxious behavior, the extract appeared to help create a greater sense of calm and ease, pointing to a side of Mullein that many people never think about.

🧬 How It May Work
Researchers suggest that some of these calming effects may be linked to Mullein’s flavonoids and their interaction with the body’s GABA-related pathways—the same broad system involved in rest, relaxation, and nervous system balance. In simple terms, this means Mullein may help support a calmer state by gently influencing the body’s own natural relaxation chemistry.

🌱 More Than a Lung Herb
This is exactly why we love doing these deep dives at Grow, Gather, Heal. A plant we think we already know suddenly reveals another layer of usefulness. Mullein may always be famous for respiratory support, but this research reminds us that herbs often carry far more wisdom than their most popular use suggests.

Have you ever noticed Mullein feeling calming or relaxing in tea or tincture form? Tell us in the comments! 👇

05/29/2026

Sharing this from Grow, Gather, Heal -mullein is such an amazing plant 🌿

🌿 Deep Dive: Why Mullein Has Been a Trusted Herb for the Lungs for Generations

As we continue digging into the research one thing becomes clearer and clearer: Mullein (Verbascum spp.) is so much more than a common roadside plant. This soft, fuzzy herb has been treasured for centuries in traditional herbal practice for supporting the lungs, calming irritated airways, and helping the body through coughs, colds, and bronchial inflammation.

In our newest infographic, we take a closer look at the science behind Mullein’s long-standing reputation as one of herbalism’s classic respiratory allies.

💧 A Soothing Herb for Dry, Irritated Airways
One of the reasons Mullein has such a strong traditional reputation for coughs and bronchial irritation is its rich mucilage content. That mucilage gives the plant its soothing, demulcent quality, helping calm irritated mucous membranes while supporting both dry, scratchy coughs and stuck, heavy congestion. It is one of those herbs that feels soft in the hand and works gently in the body in much the same way.

🧬 Helping Calm the Inflammatory Response
Modern phytochemical research also helps explain why Mullein has been used so often for asthma, bronchitis, hoarseness, and chest colds. The plant contains important flavonoids like quercetin, luteolin, and apigenin, compounds known for helping modulate inflammation. In simple terms, these constituents may help calm the inflammatory processes that contribute to airway irritation, tightness, and discomfort.

🦠 More Than a Folk Remedy
What is especially fascinating is that newer research is beginning to explore Mullein’s broader respiratory potential on a much deeper level. Computational and phytochemical studies suggest that some of its key compounds may interact with viral and inflammatory pathways in ways that support respiratory resilience. While that kind of research is still developing, it is exciting to see a traditional lung herb being examined through such a modern scientific lens.

🌱 A Plant Whose Tradition Still Holds Up
This is exactly why we love doing these deep dives. Mullein has been used for generations in teas, syrups, infusions, and other preparations for coughs, colds, bronchial irritation, and hoarseness, and the more we study its chemistry, the more that traditional wisdom makes sense. Sometimes the old herbalists really did know what they were doing.

05/27/2026

Hey everyone!!! Going to start working on new things here for you all BUT what is it you'd like to have me make...or teach you how to make?? And sorry Melissa Wilson, no weight loss stuff happening just yet 😉

Is there something specific in your medicine cabinet you'd like to replace?? If so, comment or send me a message!!

To add, I've been asked about headaches and I am currently working on that one!

05/25/2026

To every man and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice, today we honor and remember all of you 🇺🇲

05/24/2026

From Grow, Gather, Heal

Marvelous mullein, I love this plant 💕

🌿 Week 1 – Meet Mullein: The Soft-Spoken Guardian of the Lungs
Series Tag: Mullein Series · Week 1 of 4

Some plants make themselves known with bright colors or bold fragrance.
Mullein introduces itself in a quieter way — through its soft, velvety leaves, tall candle-like flower stalk, and steady presence in field edges, roadsides, and disturbed soil.

It is one of the most beloved lung herbs in traditional Western herbalism, and once you’ve touched one of those fuzzy leaves, it’s easy to remember why this plant has earned such affection. Mullein feels gentle from the very start.

Herbalists have long turned to Mullein for support with:

🌿 Dry, irritated coughs
🌿 Stuck mucus and chest congestion
🌿 Tender, inflamed respiratory tissues
🌿 General lung and throat comfort
🌿 Ear oil preparations using the flowers

Mullein is often thought of as an herb that both soothes and helps move things along. It offers softness where tissues feel dry and irritated, yet it also supports the body when mucus feels thick or hard to clear.

There’s a quiet steadiness to Mullein. It doesn’t feel flashy. It feels dependable — like the kind of plant you want close by when the air turns cold and the lungs need extra care.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll spend more time with Mullein — its history, simple preparations, and how to grow and harvest it yourself.

💬 I’d love to hear: Have you worked with Mullein before, or is this soft, silver-green herb new to your apothecary?

👉 Watch for Week 2 of this Mullein series, where we’ll explore its historical uses and cultural significance.

05/23/2026

One of my daily spring to fall tinctures is stinging nettle 🌿

Its easy to make too! Clip the leaves (usually the tops are the best), give them a good rinse, chop them up and put them in a jar about 2/3 full. I use vodka for my tinctures, for this one 80 proof will work. Let it sit it a cool, datk place for about 6 weeks, shaking every so often, strain and enjoy!

05/20/2026

Happy Bee Day 2026!

Fun fact...if you get stung by a bee, it's from a female as male bees don't sting.

We've been seeing them buzzing around the plants and flowers have you?

05/18/2026

Cleavers (Galium aparine), what is it? Cleavers, aka nature's velcro, is a plant that grows mainly in moist, shaded areas - fence lines, ditches, woodland edges. It's the plant that literally sticks to you like a piece of velcro, which can be pretty freaking annoying!

BUT it's very good for you! It's best known for lymphatic support. One of the easiest ways to use it is by drinking a cleavers water. Easy, peasy! Grab a handful, give them a good wash, rough chop them and put into a glass jar. Let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, strain and drink it throughout the day. I add a little lemon juice to mine for some additional flavor.

Have any of you ever tried this??? If not, try it...its actually pretty damn good!