Live beautifully. Be ready for anything.
Picture this: It’s 8:30 PM. I’ve finally gotten my 4-year-old and twin 2-year-olds into bed after what felt like an Olympic event involving three to five different bedtime stories, two diaper changes, and at least four requests for water (then ice as I’m leaving the room). My husband and I collapse onto the couch, and instead of immediately reaching for our phones to mindlessly scroll through everyone else’s seemingly perfect lives, we do something different.
We make tea.
Not just any tea—a beautiful herbal blend called “Lights Out” that a good friend gifted me when my twin girls were born. As I hold that warm mug, feeling the hibiscus, chamomile, lavender, and valerian work their gentle magic, something shifts in my nervous system. The day’s chaos melts away. This is instant relaxation in a cup.
That moment showed me how my medical background and love of herbal medicine complement each other perfectly: I can trust the science behind both approaches while choosing the gentlest effective option for my family’s everyday needs. sometimes the most powerful healing happens not in dramatic medical interventions, but in these quiet, intentional rituals that honor both our bodies and our souls.
As someone trained in evidence-based medicine, I’ve always believed there’s absolutely a place for modern healthcare. But when things can be healed naturally—when there’s solid research or strong anecdotal evidence backing gentle remedies—I’m completely on board. Especially when it comes to caring for my family in ways that feel aligned with our values of beautiful, clean, simple, and intentional living.
That’s why these five medicinal herbs have earned permanent spots in my soft prepping home apothecary. Each one embodies what I love most about herbal medicine: they’re gentle enough for my little ones, effective enough to trust as a healthcare provider, and beautiful enough to integrate seamlessly into our daily rituals.
1. Chamomile
The gentle reset button
After discovering the magic of that “Lights Out” blend (I also love TeaLeaves Chamomile), I became fascinated with chamomile—one of its key ingredients. There’s something so beautifully feminine about those tiny golden flowers steeping into liquid calm. As a mom managing three small children, I’ve learned that chamomile isn’t just for bedtime; it’s my gentle reset button throughout the day.
How I use it: • Evening tea ritual (I’m planning to grow my own chamomile next year for homemade blends!) • Warm baths when the kids are overstimulated or I need to decompress • Gentle compresses for little bumps and scrapes • Steeped and cooled for pink eye—something that unfortunately visits our house with three kids in daycare and whatever lives on the trees in our yard • Steeped and cooled for my infants to relieve their colic and gas pains (when my babies were little).
Why it works for busy mamas: Chamomile contains compounds that genuinely calm the nervous system. As someone who’s touched out by 7 PM most days, having a scientifically-backed way to shift from chaos to calm feels like a gift.
2. Elderberry
The immune system’s best friend
With three little germ magnets in the house, elderberry has become my gentle warrior during cold season. The research on elderberry’s immune-supporting properties is solid, and I love that I can make syrup in small batches as a beautiful autumn ritual rather than panic-buying supplements when someone starts sniffling. Sadly, please
How I use it: • DIY elderberry syrup with local honey (the twins think it’s candy – I will also use the Genexa version for coughs) • Added to morning smoothies during seasonal transitions • Frozen into ice cube trays for easy dosing when illness strikes • Stirred into tea when I feel that familiar scratch in my throat. Sadly, we have said goodbye to one of our bushes this spring. I’m not sure why it didn’t come back this year.
The soft prepping advantage: Making elderberry syrup fills my kitchen with warming spices and creates a sense of proactive care rather than reactive panic when everyone inevitably gets sick.
3. Peppermint
The multitasking miracle
Peppermint is pure everyday usefulness—a core principle of soft prepping. Whether it’s soothing my post-dinner stomach after eating too fast (mom life!), clearing congestion, or giving me a mental reset during the 3 PM slump, peppermint delivers.
How I use it: • Fresh tea when my stomach rebels against another meal eaten standing up • Steam inhalation for stuffy noses (mine and the kids’) • Essential oil (properly diluted) on my temples when tension headaches strike • Fresh leaves in summer water for a cooling, refreshing drink
Professional insight: Peppermint’s menthol content has genuine antispasmodic and decongestant properties. It’s not just “woo-woo”—it’s plant medicine with real mechanisms of action.
4. Calendula
The skin soother
With three active little ones, minor cuts, scrapes, and skin irritation are daily occurrences. Calendula has become my go-to for all things skin-related because it’s gentle enough for the most sensitive skin while being remarkably effective.
How I use it: • Solar-infused oil made on the table in our sunroom (the process is as meditative as the result is useful) • Blended into homemade healing balm for everything from diaper rash to scraped knees • Added to baths for dry winter skin or post-tantrum soothing • Fresh petals from my future medicinal garden scattered in salads
The beauty factor: Those golden petals are sunshine in flower form. Having beautiful medicine feels so much more aligned than harsh chemical alternatives.
5. Lemon Balm
The stress-buster
Some days, managing three kids under five while maintaining any semblance of calm feels impossible. Lemon balm has become my gentle companion for those overwhelming moments—its bright, citrusy scent alone can shift my entire energy.
How I use it: • Afternoon tea when the day feels too heavy • Fresh leaves in iced tea for summer refreshment • Infused into honey for a calming spoonful when anxiety peaks • Dried in sachets for my car and diaper bag—portable calm
Evidence-based comfort: Lemon balm has legitimate research supporting its use for anxiety and sleep issues. As someone who needs to feel confident in what I’m using for my family, this matters.
From Overwhelm to Intention
That evening tea ritual my husband and I now share represents something bigger than just switching from screen time to herbal time. It’s about choosing intention over autopilot, gentle care over harsh quick fixes, beauty over utility.
When my friend handed me that first package of “Lights Out” tea during those bleary newborn days, she wasn’t just giving me a sleep aid. She was introducing me to the radical idea that caring for myself and my family could feel good, look beautiful, and work effectively—all at the same time.
This is soft prepping at its heart: gentle, evidence-based preparedness that serves you every single day while quietly ensuring you’re ready for whatever comes. Whether it’s a sleepless night with sick toddlers, a stressful week at work, or just the beautiful chaos of everyday motherhood, these herbs are there—not hidden away in some emergency kit, but woven into the fabric of daily life.
Starting Your Own Herbal Journey
You don’t need a full apothecary or a medical degree to begin. Start with one herb that calls to you. Buy it in its most beautiful form. Create a simple ritual around using it. Notice how it feels to choose gentle care over harsh intervention.
Next year, I’m planning to start my own medicinal garden so I can create custom blends like my beloved “Lights Out” tea. But for now, these five herbs in their simple mason jars on my kitchen shelf remind me daily that healing can be beautiful, preparation can be peaceful, and caring for my family can feel like a sacred act rather than a stressful obligation.
If this gentle approach to preparedness resonates with you, I’d love to support your journey. The free Soft Prepping Philosophy guide is a beautiful place to begin—it outlines the five principles that make readiness feel peaceful rather than overwhelming. When you’re ready to go deeper, the Slow Living Emergency Starter Kit provides the complete framework for beautiful preparedness in every season. You’ll also find all my favorite tools and supplies in my curated Amazon collection.
Live beautifully. Be ready for anything.
With warmth and intention,
Carri of Ready Pretty Living
P.S. That “Lights Out” tea from Lillie’s Weeds is still a nightly ritual in our home. Sometimes the most profound shifts come from the simplest gifts.
