The Difference Between Knowing Herbs...and Knowing How to Formulate

I've been sharing the stories behind some of our herbal formulas and the philosophy that inspired them.  I started with Lung Blend and Brain Glow.  Two of my original formulations.

That got me thinking about one of my dad's original formulas,
Prostata-100.

My dad was always teaching, although most of the time I don't think he even realized he was doing it. It wasn't formal, and it wasn't usually intentional. It was simply the way he lived his life.

With fourteen kids, there wasn't a lot of sitting down for herbal lessons. Instead, we learned by simply being around him.

Sometimes we'd be driving through the mountains, and he'd suddenly pull the car over because he'd spotted a plant he wanted us to see. Maybe it was in perfect bloom, maybe it was at the ideal stage for harvesting, or maybe it was simply too beautiful to pass by. We'd climb out, gather around, and he'd tell us its common name, often its Latin name, which part of the plant herbalists traditionally used, and what part of the body it nourished, protected, supported and healed.

Other times over the years, we'd gather around the kitchen table helping him package herbs and spices for his business. If you can picture a big kitchen table with eight or ten kids sitting around it, measuring, scooping, sealing, and laughing, you can probably imagine the memories we made.  And the mess!
To this day, some of our funniest family stories come from those afternoons together. Looking back, what seemed like ordinary moments turned out to be some of the best lessons and memories we ever created.

During the last few years of his life, my conversations with my dad became different. We talked less about individual herbs and more about why certain herbs belonged together.

It wasn't until years later that I realized he wasn't just sharing his knowledge of medicinal plants.
He was showing us how an herbalist thinks.
There's a difference.

Anyone can memorize what an herb is traditionally used for.
A formulator asks a different question:
"What other herbs belong beside it?"
That's where great formulas begin.

When I recently went over the notes for Prostata-100, I found myself studying them with a new appreciation. My dad didn't explain why he chose each herb. They simply listed the formula and the percentages of each ingredient.

But after spending decades formulating herbal blends myself, I can't help but imagine the thought process behind it.

If I were building this formula today, I would probably begin with Saw Palmetto. It's one of the classic herbs traditionally used to support healthy prostate function and has earned that reputation over many generations of herbal use.

From there, it would make perfect sense to pair it with Pygeum. Those two herbs complement one another beautifully and have long been considered foundational herbs for men's prostate wellness.

Then comes Nettle Root, and to me, that's one of the details that really reflects my dad's experience as an herbalist. Many people know Nettle as a wonderfully nourishing herb, but they think of the leaf. Herbalists know that the root has its own long history of traditional use for supporting healthy prostate function. Choosing the root instead of the leaf wasn't accidental, it was intentional.
At that point, many people might have considered the formula complete.
My dad didn't.

Whether this was exactly how he thought through the formula or not, the finished blend tells me that he looked beyond the prostate itself.

By including Uva Ursi, Horsetail, and Gravel Root, he broadened the formula to traditionally support the urinary tract as a whole. Uva Ursi has been valued for generations as a urinary herb. Horsetail contributes gentle mineral nourishment, especially its naturally occurring silica,and has long been associated with urinary wellness, while Gravel Root has a rich history in North American herbalism as another traditional remedy for supporting and healing the urinary system.

When I step back and look at the formula today, that's what stands out to me.
It isn't simply a collection of herbs traditionally used for prostate health.
It's a very thoughtfully balanced formula.

Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, and Nettle Root create a strong traditional foundation for supporting healthy prostate function.
Uva Ursi broadens the focus to the urinary tract.
Horsetail contributes mineral-rich nourishment.
Gravel Root rounds out the blend with another classic urinary herb.
Each ingredient has its own purpose.
Each herb complements the others.

Together, they create something broader and more complete than any one herb could accomplish alone.
And that's the beauty of thoughtful herbal formulation.

As I've gone back through his other formulation notes over the years, one thing has become increasingly clear to me: nothing was ever added because it was fashionable or because someone said it was the "latest and greatest" herb.
Every ingredient had a purpose and every plant had earned its place.

Looking at Prostata-100 today, I can still see the care and thought that went into building a formula designed to work as a whole.

That philosophy has stayed with me throughout my own journey as an herbalist.
Whether I'm preserving one of my dad's original formulas or creating one of my own, I still find myself asking the same question:
"What belongs together?"

More often than not, that's where the best formulas begin and it's a thoughful, beautiful place to start.

It's been fun to share these stories, not only about the herbs themselves, but about the philosophy, craftsmanship, and family legacy behind the formulas that continue to be part of Barlow Herbal.

Stay grounded and growing!