🌿 The 7 Best Herbs to Have on Hand for Summer Health

Dear friend,

I’ll be honest with you — I’ve never been much of a summer girl.

The heat, the overstimulation, the heat, the buzzing energy of the world speeding up… it’s not where I feel my best. I just happen to be a cozy gal. But over the years, I’ve learned to look for what’s true and good, even in the seasons that stretch me. And one thing I’ve come to treasure is this: summer is when the medicine grows. 🌿

While I often long for cooler days and quiet skies, I hold onto the truth that God, in His goodness, designed this season to ripen what will nourish and sustain us for the rest of the year. The herbs, fruits, and healing plants mature under the summer sun—not to overwhelm us, but to bless us.

I gather. I tuck things away. I sip the teas and infuse the oils and let my body remember that the earth is still a generous place, even in a greedy world. I feel best when I slow down enough to receive with gratitude.

I hope this list of seven summer herbs helps you re-center. These are the ones I trust and turn to again and again for calm, cooling, and gentle healing. Our bodies require different support within the different season of the year and of life. The following herbs, are known to be very helpful in the summer season for a variety of reasons.

Here’s how I use them, and why I keep them close.

1. Peppermint

🌿 Cooling, calming, digestive support

Peppermint is one of summer’s best friends. It cools the body from the inside out, soothes digestion after heavy or greasy meals, and can relieve headaches from heat or dehydration.

Use it for:– Iced peppermint tea on hot afternoons– Peppermint oil (diluted) on the back of the neck for cooling relief– Fresh leaves muddled into water or fruit-infused drinks

2. Lemon Balm

🌿 Gentle nervous system support, anxiety and mood booster

Lemon balm feels like sunshine for the nervous system. It lifts the mood, calms anxious energy, and pairs beautifully with peppermint or chamomile in tea.

Use it for:– A warm mug of lemon balm tea in the evenings to wind down– Infuse in honey for a sweet, calming drizzle over berries– Add to homemade popsicles for kids or postpartum mamas

3. Nettle

🌿 Mineral-rich, allergy support, strengthens the body

Nettle is full of minerals (especially iron and magnesium) and can be a summer lifesaver for allergies, fatigue, or inflammation. It gently strengthens and nourishes without overstimulating.

Use it for:– Daily iced nettle tea with lemon and honey– Added to bone broth for a mineral boost– Freeze into herbal ice cubes to pop into water on hot days

4. Chamomile

🌿 Calming, anti-inflammatory, supports digestion and sleep

Chamomile is soft, sweet, and powerful. It’s wonderful for kids and adults alike when sleep feels disrupted or digestion is sluggish from summer food and travel.

Use it for:– Bedtime tea (can mix with lavender or lemon balm)– A gentle rinse for sunburned skin or irritated eyes– Add to bathwater with Epsom salt for a calming soak

5. Calendula

🌿 Skin healing, lymphatic support, anti-inflammatory

Calendula is sunshine in flower form — excellent for summer skin issues like bug bites, rashes, or scrapes. It also supports the lymphatic system and detox pathways.

Use it for:– Infused oil for soothing skin (combine with tallow or olive oil)– Add dried flowers to DIY salves or healing balms– Drink as tea to support gentle internal detox

6. Holy Basil (Tulsi)

🌿 Adaptogenic, stress-regulating, anti-inflammatory

Holy basil is a sacred herb in many cultures, and for good reason. It helps the body handle stress more gracefully, supports blood sugar balance, and uplifts the mood during high-heat or high-demand seasons.

Use it for:– Holy basil iced tea with lemon and raw honey– Add to smoothies for hormone support– Sip before long car rides or busy outings to stay grounded

7. Red Raspberry Leaf

🌿 Tones the uterus, supports women’s health, mineral-rich

Though known for pregnancy support, raspberry leaf is a quiet powerhouse for all women. It strengthens the reproductive system, reduces cramps, and gently nourishes with iron and magnesium.

Use it for:– Combine with nettle and peppermint for a mineral-rich iced tea– Brew a strong cup to sip daily during your cycle– Add to a mason jar with lemon slices and steep overnight for a refreshing mineral mocktail

💛 Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be an herbalist to bring these plants into your life — just a woman who’s paying attention to what her body and spirit are asking for. NOTE: This is not medical advice. This post is for educational purposes only. Please make sure you aren't sensitive to anything before consuming.

Most of these herbs can be found dried and organic from reputable sources, or even grown in a backyard pot. Keep them on hand this summer, not just as remedies, but as reminders: God has already placed so much healing in the earth. Sometimes we just have to slow down enough to receive it.

Here’s to feeling well, living soft, and savoring the season.

With you in the journey,Lea 🌿

P.S. Inside the 30-Day Glow-Up Reset Challenge, I walk you through gentle, nourishing steps just like these — the kind that don’t just fix symptoms, but build a life of true healing from the inside out. You’ll also find tea recipes, food swaps, nervous system tools, and faith-rooted encouragement for your wellness journey.