There’s something deeply comforting about having your own home apothecary—a collection of herbal allies ready to support you and your loved ones through the seasons. As the cooler months approach and winter’s challenges come knocking, now is the perfect time to prepare your shelves with remedies that nurture, protect, and restore.

Why Create a Home Apothecary?

Building your own apothecary is about more than stocking herbs. It’s about creating a sense of security and empowerment, knowing you have safe, effective tools at your fingertips. Whether you’re soothing a sore throat, calming a cough, or supporting your immune system, your apothecary becomes a trusted companion through the darker half of the year.

As Worts & Cunning reminds us, creating a winter apothecary isn’t just about “fixing what ails you.” It’s about preparing for seasonal shifts in a way that is both practical and soulful—making sure you have plant allies ready for digestion, immunity, rest, and respiratory health (source).

Where to Begin

If you’re new to creating a home apothecary, start small. Choose herbs that are versatile, reliable, and easy to work with. Keep them in forms that you enjoy using—whether teas, tinctures, syrups, honeys, or infused oils. Over time, your apothecary will grow and shift as you learn what resonates with your body and your family’s needs.

Ginger Tonic Botanicals suggests beginning with just 5–10 herbs in your collection—enough to feel supported, but not so many that you feel overwhelmed. Label them clearly, store them in glass jars away from light, and keep a notebook of your favorite recipes or observations as you learn (source).

The beauty of an apothecary is that it is uniquely yours. What you keep on your shelves becomes a reflection of your rhythms, your traditions, and the way you care for yourself and your loved ones.

Our Top 5 Herbs for Winter

If you’re ready to begin (or refresh) your collection, here are five herbs we recommend adding to your winter home apothecary this season:

• Elderberry – Rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids, elderberry helps strengthen immunity and may reduce the duration of colds and flus. It shines in syrups or teas, offering both sweetness and strength. (Read more in our Materia Medica here) Recipes for elderberry syrup abound, but The House & Homestead notes that you can also make oxymels—herbal syrups preserved with honey and vinegar—for a shelf-stable remedy (source).

• Echinacea – A powerful immune stimulant best taken at the first signs of illness. Often used as a tincture for quick absorption, echinacea is a steadfast ally when you need it most. (Read more in our Materia Medica here) Milk & Honey Herbs recommends combining echinacea with warming herbs like ginger or cinnamon for added potency in teas and tinctures (source).

• Mullein – A gentle yet effective respiratory supporter, mullein helps clear mucus and ease chest discomfort. It’s lovely as a soothing tea or in an aromatic steam. (Read more in our Materia Medica here) According to Mayernik Kitchen, mullein leaves can also be infused in oil for ear drops to support ear health during cold season (source).

• Ginger – Warming and circulatory, ginger supports digestion, eases nausea, and helps chase away the chill of damp, cold days. Fresh or dried, it’s a delicious addition to tea blends and winter broths. (Read more in our Materia Medica here) Prevention also highlights ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, which may ease sore muscles and joints that feel achy in colder weather (source).

• Sage – Known for its antimicrobial and astringent properties, sage shines for sore throats and mouth rinses. It’s also a cozy and grounding tea ingredient during the cold season. The Druids’ Garden suggests pairing sage with honey and lemon to make a simple gargle that soothes sore throats while keeping your herbal practices rooted in seasonal rituals (source).

Stocking Your Shelves

At Golden Poppy, our bulk herb wall is filled with fresh, high-quality herbs to help you build your apothecary with confidence. You can buy as much or as little as you need, and our staff herbalists are always happy to guide you in choosing the right allies for your seasonal needs.

For those who prefer ready-to-use remedies, you’ll also find an array of immune-boosting teas, tinctures, soothing honeys, and syrups—perfect for stocking your shelves with ease and intention.

And if you’re a grower or forager, Milk & Honey Herbs offers a wonderful guide to harvesting and drying herbs properly so they retain their potency through the winter months (source).

Ready to Build Yours?

Whether you’re just beginning or adding to a well-loved collection, creating your own winter apothecary is a beautiful way to reconnect with the wisdom of plants and prepare for the season ahead.

Stop by the shop to explore our bulk herb section and chat with our herbalists, or order online for convenient pick-up or shipping. With a few thoughtful additions, your home can become a sanctuary of herbal support through the winter months.

Products to start your Winter Home Apothecary

• Chest Congestion Syrup
• Cold & Flu Tea
• Cold & Sinus Blaster
• Daily Immune Defense Tincture
• Digestive Bitters
• Echinacea Herb Tops (Purpurea) – Dried echinacea tops for teas or tinctures.
• Echinacea Root (Angustifolia) – Dried root for herbal preparations.
• Echinacea Root Glycerin – Alcohol-free glycerite made from echinacea roots.
• Echinacea Tincture – Immune-stimulating tincture.
• Elder Berries in Bulk
• Fire Up Your System Tonic
• Garlic & Mullein Ear Oil – Soothing ear oil for discomfort.
• Ginger Root – Organic dried ginger root.
• Ginger Root Powder – Powdered ginger for herbal use.
• Immune Boost Tea
• Immune Boost Tincture
• Immune Chai Tea
• Immune Support Elixir – Traditional remedy for immune support.
• Kid’s Daily Immune Glycerite
• Lung Tonic Tea – Tea blend supporting lung health.
• Mullein Leaf – Dried leaves for teas or infusions.
• Sage Bulk Herb – Organic dried sage leaves.
• Sore Throat Spray
• Viral Shield Tincture

Further Reading & Resources

For those who’d like to dive deeper, here are some wonderful resources from other herbalists and homesteaders:

• The Winter Herbal Medicine Cabinet — Milk & Honey Herbs
• Winter Home Apothecary — Mayernik Kitchen
• The Plant Allies of Winter: Creating a Winter Wellness Apothecary — Worts & Cunning
• Creating an Herbal Apothecary at Home — Ginger Tonic Botanicals
• Setting Up and Using Your Home Herbal Apothecary — The Druids’ Garden
• Harvesting & Drying Herbs for the Home Apothecary — Milk & Honey Herbs
• How to Create Your Own Herbal Apothecary At Home — The House + Homestead
• 30 Herbs That Fight Cold and Flu — Prevention