Healing knowledge, carried forward.
Herbal traditions rooted in African American history, and three tincture blends they inspire.
A grandmother who knew which leaf to steep for a cough. A neighbor who grew elderberries by the fence. A kitchen shelf lined with jars that had no labels, because everyone already knew what was inside.
For many African American families, herbal care was never a trend. It was inherited knowledge, passed hand to hand and generation to generation, often at a time when other care was out of reach.
This piece honors that legacy. It looks at where these traditions come from, one remarkable healer whose knowledge changed his life, and three tincture blends inspired by Lucretia VanDyke’s African American Herbalism.1
Knowledge that crossed an ocean.
African American herbalism grows from deep roots. Its origins reach back to Ancient Egypt and the African tropics, and it took new shape in the Caribbean and the United States.1 Under the transatlantic slave trade, plant knowledge from Africa met the plants of a new land, and the knowledge of Indigenous and European neighbors, and evolved into a practice all its own.1
It lived in the healing kitchens of grandmothers, in the hands of midwives and root workers, and in remedies shared quietly between neighbors. VanDyke’s book recovers the stories of healers like Emma Dupree and Henrietta Jeffries, whose work helped shape modern American herbalism.1
Black History Month is one meaningful time to honor this legacy. But these traditions are lived every day, in every season, by the families who keep them.
Doctor Caesar of South Carolina.
In 1749, an enslaved man named Caesar had become known in colonial South Carolina for his herbal remedies, including treatments for poisoning and rattlesnake bite. Prominent witnesses, including physicians, testified to his skill before the colony’s legislature.2
In 1750, the legislature granted Caesar his freedom and a lifetime annual payment in exchange for making his remedies public.2,3 His formulas were printed on the front page of the South-Carolina Gazette, and he is widely considered the first African American to have his medical findings appear in print.2 In his will, he called himself Doctor Caesar.3
His story holds both brilliance and pain: deep plant knowledge, recognized only when it could be traded for the freedom that should have been his all along. It is a reminder of how much healing wisdom African Americans carried, and how often it went uncredited.
The knowledge was never lost.
A note on heritage
It was carried.
Plants, preserved in a bottle.
A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract, made by steeping herbs in a drinkable alcohol such as vodka. The alcohol draws out the plant’s compounds and preserves them, so a small bottle can last a long time. Tinctures are typically taken by the drop, often in a little water or tea.
They are also one of the most accessible forms of herbal care: inexpensive, easy to make at home, and a natural fit for a family apothecary shelf. For those who avoid alcohol, a glycerite, made with vegetable glycerin instead, is a gentler alternative.
Inspired by tradition.
These three blends draw on herbs with long histories in African American, Indigenous, and global herbal practice. Each is a starting point for your own apothecary.
Seasonal Support Blend
Elderberry · Plantain leaf · Echinacea · Nettle
Elderberry has been a cold-season favorite in many traditions for generations, and dark elderberry syrups and tinctures remain a staple in family medicine cabinets.
Plantain leaf, the humble backyard plant, not the fruit, has been called nature’s bandage for its long use in soothing skin, bites, and scrapes, and it is a gentle, soothing addition to blends.
Echinacea, root and flower, was used by Native peoples of the Great Plains and became one of the best-known herbs for supporting the body through cold season.
Nettle may sting in the field, but it is one of the most nourishing herbs there is, rich in minerals and traditionally reached for during allergy season.
Women’s Balance Blend
Vitex · Black cohosh · Motherwort
Vitex, also called chaste tree, has been used for centuries to support a balanced menstrual cycle, and many women reach for it for monthly mood shifts and discomfort.
Black cohosh was used by Native Americans for menstrual cramps and other concerns.4 Today it is best known for menopause, and a 2023 review found products containing it were potentially beneficial for overall menopause symptoms, including hot flashes.4
Motherwort, whose botanical name means “lion’s heart,” has long been used to calm the nerves and comfort the heart through stressful seasons of life.
Calm Your Nerves Blend
Milky oats · Tulsi · Passionflower
Milky oats, the fresh green tops of the oat plant gathered at their milky stage, are a traditional nourishing tonic for frazzled, overextended nerves.
Tulsi, or holy basil, is sacred in India and has been cherished for centuries in Ayurveda for easing stress and supporting overall well-being.
Passionflower is a time-honored evening herb, traditionally used to quiet a busy mind and settle in for rest.
A simple folk method.
The traditional way to make a tincture at home.
Gather your herbs. Use high-quality dried herbs from a trusted source. With elderberries, use dried, ripe berries only; raw or unripe berries, leaves, and stems are traditionally avoided.
Fill your jar. Fill a clean glass jar about halfway with dried herbs, or about three-quarters with fresh, chopped herbs.
Cover completely. Pour in 80 to 100 proof vodka until the herbs are fully submerged with about an inch to spare. For an alcohol-free version, use food-grade vegetable glycerin diluted with a little water.
Label and wait. Seal the jar and label it with the herbs and the date. Store it in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks, shaking it every few days.
Strain and store. Strain through cheesecloth, squeezing out every drop, and pour into dropper bottles. Keep them away from heat and light.
Carry it forward.
Every jar on an apothecary shelf holds more than herbs. It holds the knowledge of the people who came before us, who learned the plants by living with them and passed that wisdom on, often against the odds.
Making a tincture is one small way to keep that knowledge alive, and to make it part of your own family’s story.
Honor the roots.
Share what you learn.
Using herbs safely. This article is for general education and cultural appreciation, not medical advice. Herbs taken by mouth are more concentrated than teas and can interact with medications, so talk with your healthcare provider or a qualified herbalist before using them, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition. Vitex, black cohosh, and motherwort affect the reproductive system and are traditionally avoided during pregnancy. Black cohosh has rarely been linked to liver problems, so stop and check in with your provider if you notice dark urine or unusual fatigue; it may also not be safe for people with a history of hormone-sensitive conditions.4 Echinacea can cause reactions in people allergic to ragweed and related plants, and passionflower may cause drowsiness. Alcohol-based tinctures are not suitable for children or for anyone avoiding alcohol.
Sources & further reading
History, tradition, and guidance informing this article:
- VanDyke, L. (2022). African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions.
- South Carolina Encyclopedia. Caesar.
- Charleston County Public Library. Doctor Caesar and His Antidote for Poison in 1750.
- NCCIH. Black Cohosh: Usefulness and Safety.
