Live apothecary log

Hand-built from my own herb shelves & kitchen.

Gator Peebs Apothecary

A cozy corner to track what’s actually in my jars, the blends I love, and how I brew them. This page grows over time as I tweak recipes, add new herbs, and level up my home potion game.

Themes

6 focus areas

Cold support • stress & cortisol • focus • blood pressure vibes • liver & lymph • ED support.

Herb types

🌿 base • 🌸 aroma • 🍊 kitchen

Root + leaf + flower + fruit blends. Many recipes can flex based on what I actually have on the shelf that week.

Important
This is my personal experiment log, not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medications, blood pressure, pregnancy, surgery, etc. I treat this as “notes for me” and always talk to a healthcare provider before using herbs in a therapeutic way.

How I Use This Page

• Check what I intended to put in each blend.
• Adjust based on what’s actually in the cupboard.
• Write down tweaks so Future Me remembers.

• Inventory-friendly: recipes are written so they still work if I need to swap in/out herbs from my actual jars.
• Gentle by default: doses are “home kitchen” level (teas & infusions), not clinical protocols.
• Documented: if I change a ratio, I try to update it here so the next batch isn’t a mystery.

Brew basics

Simple ratios for everyday tea

These are “default kitchen settings” for most of my blends. I still adjust water, steep time, or sweetness based on taste and how my body responds.

Standard cup (single mug)

Use a 250 ml / 8 oz mug as a baseline.
Leaf / flower: ~1–2 tsp loose herb per cup.
Root / bark: ~1–2 tsp per cup, but usually simmered.
Steep: 10–15 minutes covered for most blends.
Strain well, then taste before adding honey or lemon.

Tip: cover the cup while steeping so oils don’t escape.

Small pot (2–3 cups)

Water: 500–750 ml (2–3 cups) in a small saucepan or teapot.
Typical mix: 2–4 tbsp total dried herb blend.
Roots/bark (e.g. ashwagandha): start these first and simmer 10–15 min.
Leaf/flower (e.g. lemon balm, lavender): add after heat is off and steep 10–15 min covered.
Drink warm; if saving, refrigerate and use within 24 hours.

Note: stronger isn’t always better; I start mild, then adjust.

Signature blends

Recipes built around my actual herbs

These are “living” recipes. If I don’t have every herb on hand, I keep the base the same and treat the rest as optional upgrades.

Cold-Time Comfort Steam & Tea

Warm, aromatic support when everything feels stuffy and blah.

Cold season

A flexible blend meant for those “I feel something coming on” evenings. Works as both a steam (for the face) or a gentle tea.

Ingredients (tea or steam)

1 part mint or lemon balm (comforting, aromatic).
1 part lavender (soothing aroma).
1 part gentle base like chamomile if on hand.
Optional: pinch of ginger or cinnamon from the kitchen.
Optional: small piece of citrus peel (fresh or dried).

How I use it

Steam: 2–3 tbsp total herbs in a bowl, cover with hot water, towel over head, breathe gently for 5–10 minutes. Keep eyes closed.
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, steep 10–15 min covered, sweeten if desired.
I only use kitchen-level amounts and stop if anything feels irritating.

Note: Steams are not for everyone (e.g. very sensitive skin, rosacea, certain lung issues). I skip steams entirely if something feels off and stick to tea instead.

Cortisol Calm – Night Blend

Ashwagandha + soft nervines to help me wind down.

Evening / Wind-down

This is my gentle “evening chill” tea built around ashwagandha root bark, plus relaxing leaf/flower allies. I treat it like a cozy ritual, not a sleeping pill.

Ingredients (per 2–3 cups)

1 tbsp ashwagandha root bark.
1 tbsp lemon balm.
1 tsp lavender flowers.
Optional: 1 tsp chamomile or other relaxing herb I own.
Optional: tiny pinch of cinnamon or vanilla for flavor.

How I brew it

Add ashwagandha + 2–3 cups water to a pot; simmer gently 10–15 minutes.
Turn off heat, add lemon balm + lavender (+ extras), cover and steep 10–15 minutes.
Strain, taste, and sip slowly in the evening – not right before driving or doing tasks.

Safety: Ashwagandha and calming herbs can affect sleep, thyroid, mood meds, etc. I treat this as occasional self-care and would check with a professional if using regularly or if I had health conditions.

Daytime Focus & Uplift

Gentle pick-me-up without going full espresso.

Daytime

A lighter, daytime-appropriate combo I can sip while studying or working. Built to feel clear and bright rather than sedating.

Ingredients (per 1 large mug)

1–2 tsp moringa leaf (if available) or another nutritive green.
1 tsp lemon balm for calm focus.
Optional: pinch of peppermint or citrus peel.
Optional: 1 tsp maca powder stirred in after brewing for extra body support.

How I brew it

Steep herbs 10–12 minutes in hot water, covered.
Strain, then stir in maca if using (it tends to be powdery).
Good as a mid-day “study” tea, not too heavy or sedating.

Note: Because moringa and maca are also used in supplements, I stay within food-like amounts and pay attention to how my energy and digestion feel.

Heart & Blood Pressure Theme Blend

Calm, circulation-friendly vibe (supportive, not a medication).

Caution – BP theme

This is a theme rather than a treatment: relaxing, gently circulation-supportive herbs that I might use alongside lifestyle changes my doctor recommends.

Possible herb combo

1 part lemon balm or other relaxing leaf.
1 part mild floral like hibiscus or rose if I own them.
Optional: small pinch ginger or garlic in food instead of heavy in tea.
Optional: other heart-friendly herbs only if I’ve researched them and cleared with a professional.

How I treat it

Use kitchen-strength teas only, not high-dose extracts.
Check blood pressure numbers with a monitor, not just “vibes”.
Never stop or change BP medication just because of herbs.

Important: Anything touching blood pressure is serious. Herbs here are “nice to have” comfort support. Real treatment decisions belong to me + my healthcare team, not this page.

Liver & Lymph Gentle Drain

Slow, steady, “spring cleaning” style support.

Liver & lymph

Inspired by classic liver/lymph recipes: mild bitters + gentle movers. I keep doses small and drink plenty of water alongside.

Possible herb combo

1 part gentle bitter (like dandelion or similar, if I own it).
1 part lymph “mover” herb from my inventory (only those I’ve researched).
1 part soothing herb (lemon balm, etc.) to balance the taste.
Optional: squeeze of lemon in the cup.

How I brew it

1–2 tsp total blend per cup, steep 10–15 minutes.
Start with 1 cup/day for a few days, not huge jugs.
Pause if digestion, skin, or energy feels “off”.

Note: “Detox” language gets over-hyped. I think of this as “encouraging normal flow” rather than forcing my body to do anything extreme.

Circulation & ED Support Theme

Epimedium, muira puama, maca – used carefully & respectfully.

ED theme

A note-style recipe built around herbs like epimedium (horny goat weed), muira puama, and maca, which are often discussed for sexual health and circulation. Research is still evolving, and quality matters, so I keep doses modest and pay attention to how the body responds.

Base ideas (non-medical)

Small amount of epimedium as a tea or tincture if I’ve vetted the product.
Muira puama prepared according to reliable sources (often tincture style).
Maca used more like a food: 1–2 tsp powder in smoothies or warm drinks.
Focus on whole-body care: movement, stress reduction, sleep, and medical check-ups.

How I think about it

Treats this as gentle, long-term “support”, not a fast-acting drug.
Watch for blood pressure, heart, or interaction issues.
Use herbs from trustworthy sources and avoid mystery “enhancement” pills.

Big safety flag: ED and circulation issues can be early signs of heart or blood vessel problems. Herbs go with proper medical care, not instead of it.