To Build An Apothecary

Jun 11

“Apothecary” has always been one of my favorite words. Nothing does better to conjure images of shelves lined with dusty blown glass bottles, tall, lidded jars full of colorful dried flowers, stacks of worn leather-bound books, and curious tools and objects strewn haphazardly around what is surely a cottage perched serenely in the middle of the woods. This may be a place that exists only in my imagination, but the apothecary is a very real and accessible place that can exist anywhere — including in our own homes!

By definition, an “apothecary” is simply a person who dispenses medication, or a place where medication is dispensed — yes, in today’s terms that means that a trip to the Walgreens is the modern equivalent of visiting the village apothecary! However, the apothecary as we commonly recognize it is simply a place that houses a collection of healing products — usually dried herbs, infused oils, salves, washes, creams, and other remedies that have a focus on being composed of natural materials. These items are frequently homemade, though there is an increasing availability of ready made natural products in the market today… but I have to say, nothing beats cracking open a wooden cabinet and seeing stacks of jars with your own handiwork! (Most of which are properly labeled.)

So how would you create this space in your home? Maybe you live in an apartment, share a residence with friends and family, or aren’t quite sure what it is “supposed” to look like or contain. The good news is that there are no rules — the moment you put your first jar of tea on a shelf, you’ve started your very own apothecary! The space your apothecary occupies and what it is composed of depend upon your needs and which items you intend to store. For the types of products common to an apothecary, there are a few general guidelines:

Choose a space that is out of direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Dried plant materials, essential oils, and extracts contain many volatile products which will degrade with exposure to direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. This means that a windowsill, the bathroom shelves or cabinet, or right above the stove are not ideal places to start your apothecary. The best environments will be temperate to cool, dark, dry, enclosed spaces. If you don’t have access to empty cabinets, a shelf that is covered with a curtain, or even a storage box in a closet or under a bed are perfect places to house your healing collection. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
Collect only what you need. While it may be appealing to buy a hundred different herbs to have at your fingertips at all times, most people will not get around to using them before they begin to lose their freshness. I recommend collecting items as you need them or use them for recipes, and building upon that collection when new needs arise. Does this mean that you’ll always have everything for a particular recipe? No. But you will slowly build a collection and story not only of what you have been through, but of what you have learned over time!
Label everything and abide by the dates! Products that come from our local stores are usually adorned with a “use by” date — and while we might just let that date slide for a few days (or months, or coughyearscough) there is a reason it is printed there. The same rules apply to any medicinal products we make for ourselves. As a general rule, all items should be labeled with the date you acquired them and/or the date they were made. If possible, label your homemade creations with the date you should throw them out as well according to their recipe. Even if you only used that precious pot of antibacterial salve once before its date, you’ll want to know that your products are still safe and usable the next time you need them.
Store and process items properly. Some of the items you will want to keep neatly on your apothecary shelves in matching containers will need to be stored in the fridge — namely syrups, creams, lotions, and any water-based preparations. Some will need to be stored in paper bags. Some will need dark glass. Herbs that are drying will need to be hung up or laid out where there is sufficient airflow until they are completely dry. Not all of this will be aesthetic, and not all of it will be where your designated apothecary is — and that is okay! Be sure to follow proper instructions and procedures for storing and processing your items, and your apothecary will last for a long time to come.

Ultimately, the home apothecary is a personal collection of healing items that are relevant to what you need and want to create, and is as unique as the person building it. Want to show off your own home apothecary? Have questions or concerns for me? Take some photos of your apothecary and post them on social media, being sure to tag us on our different platforms. We love to see what the community is building and creating, and would be happy to help!

Blessings,
C. <3