April Rain Herbs and Tinctures

08/20/2026

I love using Pine Sap. 100s of uses.

That sticky resin bleeding from a wounded pine isn't random. It's a decision — and it happens in seconds.

The moment a bark beetle bores through the outer layer, the tree doesn't wait. Pressure-driven channels inside the wood surge resin toward the breach like a burst pipe opening on command. The resin doesn't just cover the wound. It floods the tunnel the beetle carved, coating the insect's body, jamming its legs, clogging its breathing tubes. Some insects drown in it before they can retreat. Fungal spores riding in on the beetle's back get hit too — the chemical compounds in the resin are toxic enough to stop the fungus from taking root before it ever gets started. And as the resin meets open air, it begins to harden into a shell that seals the breach more completely than any bandage.

But the resin is only half the story.

As it weeps from the wound, it releases a cloud of invisible chemical particles into the surrounding air. These aren't just byproducts — they're messengers. Neighboring trees detect the compounds and begin ramping up their own resin production before anything has touched them. The forest shares threat intelligence through the air itself, running a chemical early-warning system that has no central control, no signal tower, no single tree in charge.

Then those same airborne particles drift higher. They're incredibly small — thousands of them could fit across a single human hair — but they do something enormous at altitude. Water molecules in the atmosphere need a surface to cling to before they can form droplets. These terpene particles provide exactly that. Clouds form around them. And clouds built on a denser foundation of tiny particles have more surface area than normal clouds. More surface area means more sunlight gets reflected back before it ever reaches the ground. A single forest, releasing terpenes across a season, can measurably increase how much solar energy bounces off the sky above it.

The pine isn't just defending itself. It's running a feedback loop between the soil, the canopy, and the atmosphere — all triggered by one beetle making one bad decision on one quiet morning.

The forest doesn't just respond to the world. It quietly shapes it. [WGRUC]

08/20/2026

Sturgeon Moon

The Sturgeon Moon is coming on August 27 🌕

This full moon, named for the giant sturgeon once commonly caught in late summer, has long been a sign of the season’s slow turn toward fall. It’s a beautiful reminder to look up, slow down, and take in the night sky.

Will you be watching?
Tell us where you’ll be viewing the Sturgeon Moon from in the comments! ✨

08/20/2026

Yes, forgotten!

✨ Free Herbal Recipes! ✨

What if a plant we spend so much time pulling off our trees and walls is actually a forgotten medicinal ally? 🌿

In this episode, I sit down with medical herbalist Luke Ó hErodáin () to explore the forgotten medicinal traditions surrounding common ivy (Hedera helix) and why he believes this abundant plant deserves a second look.

Together, we discuss how ivy became one of Luke's most trusted lung herbs, the traditional preparations that caught his attention, and his fascinating research into the forgotten work of French eclectic herbalists.

By the end of this episode, you'll learn:

🌿 What makes ivy such a powerful herbal ally for people with deep congestion in the lungs

✨ How Luke works with ivy for burns, scars, cellulite, and other skin concerns

🍃 Important cautions to consider before using ivy internally

📚 Surprising ways French herbalists used phytochemistry to inform their herbal practice in the early 1900s

💚 How the rise of modern industrial medicine changed the herbalism landscape practically overnight

Luke also shares four recipes for working with common ivy, including the Common Ivy Purge, Fresh Ivy Simmered Infusion, Fresh Ivy Tincture, and Cellulite Ivy Balm.

👉 Type 236 to watch the full episode and get all four beautifully illustrated common ivy recipes.

08/20/2026

I love this recipe

Summer days bring so much to love: fresh blooms, buzzing pollinators, and plenty of time spent outdoors. ☀️🌸🐝

Of course, all that time outside can also mean bug bites, stings, scrapes, sunburns, and too much heat. Luckily, herbs have your back. 🌿

That's why I put together my Summer Herbal First Aid Kit ebook, filled with some of my favorite go-to recipes for warm-weather healing.

Inside you'll find:

🐛 A soothing salve for bug bites and bumps

🔆 A calming herbal spray for sunburns

💧 Refreshing herbal drinks to beat the heat

🌿 And more!

These are remedies I turn to again and again during the summer, and they're all gathered together in one beautifully illustrated ebook for you. 📚💚

👉 Type SUMMER22 to get the free Summer Herbal First Aid Kit ebook.

Botanical illustrations by

08/20/2026

Take care of your fur babies paws!

Herbal Paw Balm for Happy, Healthy Paws

This DIY paw balm by Amanda Furbee of The Herb Shoppe helps moisturize and support the active paws of our four-legged companions. Crafted with gentle herbs, oils, and beeswax, this recipe is as natural as it is effective.

Find the full recipe here: https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-paw-balm-for-happy-healthy-paws

08/20/2026

Yum

Apple season is officially here! 🍎🍏 From crisp snacking favorites to the best picks for pies, sauces, and baking, we’re sharing 8 standout apple varieties—and exactly how to use them.
Link In Comments :
Which apple is your go-to this time of year?
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08/20/2026

Yes.

08/20/2026

One of my very favorites

Tulsi, also known as holy basil, has so many gifts, and one of its more surprising benefits is how well it supports oral health! 🌿

Research has explored holy basil for everything from periodontal pathogens to cavity-causing bacteria, plaque, and gingivitis.

Here are three fascinating studies:

🌿 An in vitro study showed holy basil extract was effective against periodontal pathogens

🦷 Another study found a holy basil mouthwash reduced cavity-causing bacteria even better than a sodium fluoride mouthwash

✨ A clinical study found holy basil mouthwash was just as effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis as chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), but without the unwanted side effects

Inspired by these findings, I created a simple Tulsi Mouthwash recipe you can make at home. Gentle, effective, and easy to make! 🌱

👉 Type MOUTHWASH22 to get the full Tulsi Mouthwash recipe card.

Botanical illustrations by

12/14/2025

Your most FAVORITE herb to work with...Mine in comments

12/14/2025

I needed this! 🌲

Before you craft with pine cones, you have to prep them first. Here's exactly what you need to do and some genius craft ideas with pine cones (in comments)