I want to build a natural medicine cabinet at home. What are the essential herbal remedies to have?

Absolutely. If your goal is a practical, evidence-aware home herbal cabinet, I’d keep it fairly small rather than buying dozens of tinctures and supplements. “Natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe, and herbs can interact with medications.

A good starter herbal cabinet

• Ginger — One of the most useful basics. Keep dried tea, tea bags, or dried root on hand for nausea and mild digestive upset. It can also be useful as a warming tea when you have a cold.
• Peppermint — Dried leaves or tea are useful for occasional digestive discomfort, bloating, and nausea. Peppermint tea is generally considered safe, although peppermint can aggravate heartburn in some people.
• Chamomile — A gentle tea for relaxation and mild digestive discomfort. Avoid if you have significant allergies to ragweed/daisies, since cross-reactions can occur.
• Turmeric — Useful primarily as a culinary anti-inflammatory spice. I would favor the food/spice form over high-dose extracts unless there's a specific reason to use a supplement.
• Garlic — Excellent to have as a food and for cooking. I wouldn't rely on concentrated garlic supplements as an everyday “natural antibiotic”; evidence for preventing or treating infections isn't strong, and supplements can increase bleeding risk.
• Lavender — Dried flowers or a simple aromatherapy product can be useful for relaxation. I'd treat it as a comfort measure rather than a medicine.
• Echinacea — Optional rather than essential. It's commonly kept for colds, but evidence that it meaningfully prevents or treats colds is inconsistent. Allergic reactions are possible.
• Aloe vera gel — Useful for minor skin irritation/sunburn, but choose a product intended for topical use rather than ingesting homemade aloe preparations.

A few non-herbal items I'd actually prioritize

A “natural medicine cabinet” shouldn't mean excluding basic first aid. I'd keep:

• Honey — particularly for soothing a cough; never give honey to a child under 1 year.
• Saline nasal spray
• Oral rehydration solution
• Thermometer
• Bandages and gauze
• Tweezers
• Instant cold pack
• Basic OTC pain/fever medicine, if appropriate for your household

Herbs I'd not put in a beginner cabinet

I'd skip kava, St. John's wort, goldenseal, yohimbe, comfrey, and concentrated essential oils for internal use unless you've discussed the specific product and purpose with a qualified clinician/pharmacist. Some have significant toxicity or interaction concerns. For example, St. John's wort can interfere with numerous medicines, while kava has been associated with serious liver injury.

One important rule

If anyone in the household takes prescription medications, blood thinners, has a chronic condition, is pregnant/breastfeeding, or is preparing for surgery, check an herb for interactions before using it. Supplements aren't required to demonstrate safety and effectiveness to the FDA before reaching the U.S. market, and products can differ substantially from those studied in research.

If you tell me whether you're building this for adults only or for a family with children, I can give you a specific 10-item shopping list with what form to buy (tea, dried herb, tincture, salve, etc.), what each is for, and what to avoid.

Building a natural medicine cabinet is a fantastic way to handle everyday minor ailments like scrapes, tummy aches, or the sniffles using time-tested herbs.

Here are the essential herbal remedies to stock, categorized by their primary uses:

• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ): A staple for immune support, elderberry syrup or lozenges can help shorten the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms when taken at the very first sign of feeling under the weather.
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita ): A gentle, calming nervine and carminative. Chamomile tea or tincture is excellent for soothing an upset stomach, easing mild anxiety, and promoting restful sleep, making it safe for almost the whole family.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale ): A powerhouse for the digestive tract. Keep ginger root (fresh, dried, or in tincture/capsule form) on hand to combat nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, and the chills from a developing cold.
• Arnica (Arnica montana ): Essential for topical first aid. Arnica salve, gel, or cream applied to unbroken skin helps reduce bruising, swelling, and muscle soreness after bumps, falls, or strains.
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis ): Another top-shelf topical remedy. Calendula-infused oil, salve, or ointment is deeply soothing for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, diaper rash, and dry, irritated skin due to its gentle tissue-healing and antimicrobial properties.
• Peppermint (Mentha × piperita ): Incredibly effective for tension headaches (applied as a diluted essential oil to the temples) or brewed as a tea to relieve gas, bloating, and sluggish digestion.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ): A classic field-edge remedy. Yarrow powder or dried leaf can be used topically to help stop bleeding from minor cuts, or taken as a warm tea at the onset of a fever to encourage a healthy sweat.
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ): A versatile essential oil or dried herb for the cabinet. Lavender calms the nervous system, helps soothe minor burns or bug bites when diluted, and eases stress-induced headaches.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What specific health concerns or goals you want to prioritize first
• If you are preparing this for children, pets, or pregnant individuals (as some herbs require extra caution)

I can help you prioritize which ones to buy or forage first and how to store them safely.

Building a home natural medicine cabinet is a wonderful way to handle minor everyday ailments like scrapes, tummy aches, or a sudden cold.

Here are the essential herbal remedies you should stock, categorized by what they do best:

First Aid & Skin Care

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) : A powerhouse for skin healing. Use a salve or cream for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and dry, irritated skin due to its gentle anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing properties.
• Arnica (Arnica montana) : The go-to topical gel or cream for bruises, muscle soreness, sprains, and minor joint pain. (Note: Never apply arnica to broken skin).
• Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) : A potent antimicrobial and antifungal essential oil. Great for spot-treating minor insect bites, blemishes, or small scrapes when diluted properly.

Digestion & Tummy Troubles

• Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) : Excellent as a tea or tincture for relieving occasional indigestion, bloating, nausea, and tension headaches (when applied as a diluted essential oil to the temples).
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) : A warming herb that calms motion sickness, morning sickness, and general upset stomach. Keep it on hand as a dried root for tea, a tincture, or lozenges.
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) : Mild and soothing, chamomile tea helps ease nervous tension, mild anxiety, and digestive discomfort (especially in children).

Immune Support & Colds

• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) : A staple syrup or tincture used at the very onset of a cold or flu to support immune response and reduce the duration of seasonal illness.
• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) : Traditionally used during the initial stages of an immune challenge to support white blood cell activity and upper respiratory health.
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) : Excellent as a chest rub or warm tea for loosening mucus and calming a stubborn, spasmodic cough.

Sleep & Stress Relief

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) : A versatile relaxant. Use the essential oil on a pillowcase for sleep support, or use a diluted roll-on for acute stress and minor burns.
• Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) : A strong nervine and sedative herb for acute bouts of occasional sleeplessness or high nervous tension (best used as a tincture or strong tea).

Safety Tips for Your Cabinet

• Check Quality : Purchase from reputable brands that practice third-party testing and transparent labeling (like those reviewed on ConsumerLab.com).
• Check Expiration : Dried herbs lose potency after about 1 year; tinctures and extracts generally last 2–3 years.
• Consult Professionals : Herbs can interact with medications or have contraindications during pregnancy.

If you want, tell me:

• What specific health goals or symptoms you deal with most often
• If anyone in your home is pregnant, nursing, or taking daily medications

I can help you prioritize which 3 to 5 items to buy first and how to use them safely.

If you want a practical home herbal cabinet, I’d keep it fairly small and focus on herbs with a reasonable safety record and common, relatively mild uses. “Natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe—herbs can interact with medications, and supplement quality can vary.

A good starter cabinet

• Ginger — fresh root, dried slices, or tea. Useful to have for nausea and digestive discomfort; evidence is also reasonably encouraging for menstrual cramps.
• Peppermint — primarily as tea. A good gentle option for occasional digestive upset; peppermint products can cause heartburn in some people.
• Chamomile — tea or dried flowers. Traditionally used for relaxation and digestive complaints. It's generally well tolerated in tea amounts, although people allergic to ragweed/daisies may react.
• Lavender — primarily for aroma/relaxation rather than as an oral supplement. I'd favor the dried herb or a properly labeled aromatherapy product rather than ingesting essential oil.
• Elderberry — optional, particularly if you like having traditional cold-season remedies around. I'd consider it a nice-to-have, not an essential treatment.
• Turmeric — useful as a culinary herb and reasonable to keep around, but I wouldn't rely on concentrated turmeric/curcumin supplements as a cure-all.
• Cinnamon — mostly culinary, but useful for teas and preparations. I'd favor normal food quantities rather than high-dose extracts.
• Aloe vera gel — useful for minor skin irritation/sunburn if you choose a product specifically intended for topical use. Don't assume that topical aloe and oral aloe products have the same safety profile.

What I'd leave out of a beginner cabinet

I'd be cautious about stocking St. John's wort, goldenseal, ginseng, kava, yohimbe, and concentrated herbal extracts without a specific reason. Some have substantial medication interactions or other safety concerns. For example, St. John's wort interacts with many medications, including some antidepressants and oral contraceptives, while goldenseal can alter how medications are metabolized.

I also wouldn't make essential oils for internal use part of a basic medicine cabinet. They're highly concentrated and aren't interchangeable with the corresponding herb or tea.

How I'd organize it

Everyday basics: ginger, peppermint, chamomile, lavender, cinnamon.

Cold/flu season: ginger + chamomile + possibly elderberry.

Digestive comfort: ginger + peppermint + chamomile.

Skin: aloe gel + a simple calendula preparation if desired.

And keep a conventional first-aid kit alongside it—herbs shouldn't be a substitute for treatment of serious symptoms.

One particularly important point: if you take prescription or OTC medicines, check each herb individually with a pharmacist or clinician rather than assuming a tea is harmless. Herb-drug interactions can be clinically important.

If you tell me whether your goal is primarily colds/flu, digestion, sleep/stress, pain/inflammation, first aid/skin, or general family use, I can narrow this to a 10-item herbal cabinet with exactly what form to buy and what each item is actually good for.

Absolutely. If by “natural medicine cabinet” you mean a small, practical collection for everyday minor problems, I’d favor herbs with relatively good evidence and straightforward safety profiles rather than buying dozens of exotic supplements.

A good starter cabinet

Ginger is probably my #1 pick. Research supports a role in some forms of nausea, and it may also help menstrual cramps. It can nevertheless cause heartburn, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea.

Peppermint is another useful one, particularly as tea for a soothing beverage. Peppermint-oil capsules have some evidence for IBS symptoms, but they can cause heartburn and aren't appropriate for everyone.

Chamomile tea is a reasonable low-key addition, particularly as an evening beverage, but don't assume that “calming” automatically means it treats insomnia or anxiety—clinical evidence is still limited. People allergic to ragweed-family plants should be particularly cautious.

What I would not stock casually

I'd avoid making your cabinet a collection of potent extracts. In particular, I'd be cautious with St. John's wort, kava, goldenseal, concentrated turmeric/curcumin products, and essential oils intended for internal use. Herbal products can interact substantially with medications; for example, St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of several medications, while some highly bioavailable curcumin products have been associated with liver injury.

And “natural” doesn't mean risk-free. Dietary supplements aren't FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness before they're marketed in the way prescription drugs are, so product quality and dosing matter.

I'd also keep these non-herbal basics

A genuinely useful home cabinet should include oral rehydration solution, electrolyte packets, saline nasal spray, petroleum jelly, bandages/gauze, antiseptic, a thermometer, and conventional OTC medicines appropriate for your household. Herbs are better viewed as additions rather than replacements for proven treatments.

If you tell me whether you're aiming for (1) a very minimalist 5-herb cabinet, (2) a comprehensive natural first-aid cabinet, or (3) an herbal cabinet specifically for colds, digestion, sleep, pain, and skin, I can tailor the recommendations and give you specific forms/doses and what to avoid combining.

Building a natural medicine cabinet is a fantastic way to handle everyday minor ailments like cuts, scrapes, stomach aches, and colds.

Here are the essential, versatile herbal remedies to stock in your home, organized by what they treat:

• Arnica (Arnica montana): A top-tier topical remedy for bruising, muscle soreness, sprains, and joint pain. Keep it in a cream, gel, or salve form for quick application on bumps and bruises (do not apply to broken skin).
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis): An incredible vulnerary (wound-healing herb) with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Use a calendula salve or ointment for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, chapped skin, and insect bites.
• Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): A gentle nervine and digestive aid. Dried chamomile flowers make a soothing tea to calm nervous tension, ease mild anxiety, promote sleep, and relieve an upset stomach or colic in children.
• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): A potent antiviral and immune-boosting berry, usually kept as a syrup or tincture. It is a go-to at the very first sign of a cold, flu, or seasonal bug to help shorten the duration of illness.
• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): A classic immune stimulant. Taking echinacea tincture or tea at the onset of a sore throat or immune challenge helps activate white blood cells to fight off incoming infections.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): A warming carminative that works wonders for the digestive tract. Keep dried root for tea or a tincture on hand to combat nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, and early-stage chills.
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Essential oil or dried buds that serve multiple purposes. Lavender oil can be applied diluted for minor burns or bug bites, or inhaled/diffused for stress, headaches, and sleep support.
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Excellent for tension headaches (applied as a diluted essential oil to the temples) and digestive upset, gas, or nausea (consumed as a warm tea).
• Plantain (Plantago major): A common yard weed that is a first-aid superstar. Fresh chewed leaves or a infused plantain salve ("drawing salve") helps pull out splinters, soothe bee stings, and stop the itch of mosquito bites.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): A powerful herb for stopping minor bleeding (as a styptic powder or fresh leaf poultice) and helping to break a fever through gentle sweating when taken as a warm tea.

To help tailor this to your household, let me know:

• Do you have children or pets at home?
• Are you looking for teas, tinctures, or salves as your preferred format?

A well-stocked natural medicine cabinet centers on a few versatile, multi-purpose herbal remedies. To safely treat common ailments like cuts, burns, sleep issues, and digestive upset, start with these essential remedies.

🌿 Topical First Aid & Skin Care

• Calendula Salve : Heals minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
• Aloe Vera Gel : Cools sunburns, skin irritations, and mild inflammation.
• Tea Tree Essential Oil : Acts as a powerful topical antiseptic for blemishes.
• Witch Hazel : Relieves itching, insect bites, and minor skin irritations.

🫖 Digestive Support

• Peppermint : Calms nausea, bloating, and gas quickly.
• Ginger : Settens motion sickness, morning sickness, and heavy indigestion.
• Chamomile : Relaxes the stomach muscles and eases stress-induced digestive tension.

😴 Immune & Nervous System Support

• Echinacea : Boosts immune response at the very first sign of a cold.
• Elderberry Syrup : Shortens the duration of seasonal flu and upper respiratory infections.
• Valerian Root : Acts as a strong, sedative herb to combat acute insomnia.
• Lavender : Reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep through aromatherapy or teas.

⚠️ Essential Safety Guidelines

Before using any herbal remedies, keep these crucial safety standards in mind:

1. Check for Drug Interactions : Herbs contain active compounds that can dangerously interact with prescription medications (e.g., Valerian with sedatives, or Ginger with blood thinners).
2. Consult a Professional : Always speak with a healthcare provider or a certified clinical herbalist before starting a new regimen, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing chronic conditions.
3. Source Quality Products : Buy from reputable brands that utilize third-party testing to ensure their products are free of heavy metals, pesticides, and fillers.

To help you test your knowledge on herbal properties and preparation methods, I have put together a quick practice test.

Essential Herbal Remedies for the Home Medicine Cabinet

Echinacea is a popular herb often kept in home medicine cabinets to help support immune health. Which of the following individuals should exercise the most caution or consult a doctor before using Echinacea?

Think about how this herb interacts with the body's defense system and who might be negatively affected by an overstimulated immune response.

Peppermint is highly valued in a natural medicine cabinet for its soothing properties. When identifying true peppermint, which set of distinct physical characteristics and traditional uses should you look for?

The plant belongs to a botanical family known for having four-sided stems and a very aromatic, cooling fragrance.

Ginger root is a staple for natural home remedies. Which of the following is considered one of its primary, traditional medicinal uses?

Many pregnant women or people traveling on boats use this herb as a natural remedy for a queasy stomach.

St. John's Wort is often used for mood support, but it comes with significant safety warnings. What is a major safety concern associated with this herb?

Consider how this herb might affect the way your body processes other drugs or pharmaceutical treatments.

Chamomile is widely used to promote relaxation and sleep. When identifying true German Chamomile, which visual feature should you look for to distinguish it from look-alikes?

The flower head of this herb has a very specific dome shape that is hollow inside when you cut it in half.

If you want to expand your home setup, let me know:

• What specific health goals or frequent ailments you want to target (e.g., allergies, stress, joint pain)?
• Your preferred method of delivery (e.g., loose leaf teas, pre-made tinctures, topical salves)?
• If anyone in your household is pregnant or under the age of two?

Absolutely. I’d build a small, versatile herbal cabinet rather than stocking dozens of supplements. Herbs can be useful for minor, short-term problems, but “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe—herbs can interact with medications and some have significant risks.

A good starter herbal cabinet

If I were starting from scratch, my first five would be ginger, peppermint, chamomile, lavender, and turmeric. They’re relatively versatile and don't require building a complicated supplement regimen.

A few things I'd not automatically stock

I'd be cautious about making St. John's wort, kava, comfrey, goldenseal, or concentrated herbal extracts part of a general-purpose medicine cabinet. St. John's wort in particular interacts with many medications—including some antidepressants, birth control, warfarin, transplant drugs, and cancer medications.

Likewise, turmeric supplements deserve more caution than culinary turmeric: certain highly bioavailable formulations have been associated with liver injury.

The important distinction: food/tea vs. concentrated supplements

For a household cabinet, I'd generally favor culinary herbs and simple teas over high-dose extracts. For example, ginger tea is a much simpler starting point than a concentrated ginger supplement. Ginger can still cause heartburn or stomach irritation and can interact with medications, so even familiar herbs aren't risk-free.

And chamomile tea is generally well tolerated, but it can cause allergic reactions—particularly in people allergic to ragweed-family plants—and may interact with some medications.

One more practical tip: keep ordinary first-aid supplies and evidence-based OTC medicines alongside the herbs. Herbal remedies shouldn't be the only treatment available for significant symptoms, injuries, infection, breathing problems, or other emergencies.

If you tell me whether you're aiming for everyday wellness, colds/flu, digestion, sleep/stress, first aid/skin, or a self-sufficient homestead-style cabinet, I can narrow this down to a much more useful starter collection.

Building a natural home medicine cabinet is a great way to handle everyday minor ailments like scrapes, coughs, stomachaches, and minor burns.

Here are the essential herbal remedies to stock, organized by what they treat best:

• Arnica (Arnica montana ): A top-tier topical remedy for bruises, muscle soreness, sprains, and joint pain. Use it as a cream, gel, or salve (never apply to broken skin).
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis ): A gentle, soothing vulnerary herb that promotes skin healing. Keep it as a salve or oil for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, diaper rash, and insect bites.
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita ): A wonderful nervine and digestive aid. Chamomile tea or tincture helps calm nervous tension, soothe an upset stomach, and ease mild insomnia or teething discomfort in children.
• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea/angustifolia ): A classic immune-supportive herb. Taken as a tincture or tea at the very first sign of a scratchy throat or cold, it helps support the body's acute immune response.
• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ): A potent antiviral and immune-modulating berry, usually kept as a syrup. It is widely used to shorten the duration and lessen the severity of colds and the flu.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale ): A warming carminative root essential for digestive distress. Keep it as dried root for tea, a tincture, or lozenges to combat nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, and chilly early cold symptoms.
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ): Essential oil or dried flowers that act as a first-aid multi-tasker. Lavender essential oil can be applied cautiously to minor burns or insect bites, and its aroma helps reduce acute stress and promote sleep.
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita ): A cooling carminative and antispasmodic. Peppermint tea helps relieve gas, bloating, and tension headaches (when applied diluted to the temples).
• Plantain (Plantago major ): A common "weed" that is a powerhouse drawing agent. A fresh crushed leaf poultice or a prepared salve draws out splinters, bee stings, mosquito bites, and minor irritations.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ): A fantastic styptic and diaphoretic. Keep a tincture or dried herb on hand to help stop bleeding from minor cuts and to support the body in breaking a mild fever.

If you'd like to narrow this down or tailor it further, let me know:

• Do you have children or pets in the home?
• Are you looking for specific formats (like teas vs. tinctures vs. salves)?

I can help you prioritize a starter shopping list or advise on proper storage and shelf life.

A good home “natural medicine cabinet” is less about collecting dozens of herbs and more about having a few versatile, generally well-tolerated options for common minor issues (digestive upset, occasional stress, sleep support, minor skin care, colds). Herbal products can still cause side effects and interact with medications, so “natural” doesn’t automatically mean risk-free.

Here are some practical staples:

Everyday digestive support

• Ginger (root, tea, capsules, or dried powder)

  • Useful for: nausea, motion sickness, occasional indigestion
  • Keep: dried slices or tea bags; fresh ginger is also excellent in the kitchen
  • Note: higher doses may not be appropriate for everyone, especially people taking blood thinners.

• Peppermint (tea or leaves)

  • Useful for: bloating, gas, digestive discomfort
  • Note: peppermint oil and concentrated products require more caution; peppermint can worsen reflux for some people.

Relaxation and sleep

• Chamomile (tea or dried flowers)

  • Useful for: winding down, mild stress, bedtime tea
  • Avoid if you have known allergies to ragweed/daisy-family plants.

• Lemon balm (tea or tincture)

  • Traditional use: calming, mild nervous tension, occasional restlessness
  • Often combined with chamomile or lavender.

• Lavender (tea, sachets, or topical preparations)

  • Useful for: calming rituals, relaxation, aromatherapy.

Cold-season support

• Elderberry (syrup or extract)

  • Commonly used during cold season; choose reputable products and follow label directions.

• Thyme (tea or culinary herb)

  • Traditional use: soothing throat and respiratory comfort.

• Honey (not an herb, but a great cabinet staple)

  • Useful for soothing a scratchy throat and as a base for herbal preparations. (Do not give honey to infants under 1 year.)

Skin and minor first aid

• Calendula (salve or infused oil)

  • Traditional use: minor skin irritation and dry skin.

• Aloe vera gel (preferably simple ingredient list)

  • Useful for minor sun irritation and skin soothing.

• Plantain leaf salve (optional)

  • Traditional herbal first-aid remedy for minor skin annoyances.

Culinary “medicine cabinet” herbs

These are easy to use regularly:

• Turmeric + black pepper — commonly used in cooking; turmeric supplements can have interactions and aren’t necessary for most people.
• Garlic — food-based immune and cardiovascular staple; concentrated supplements can increase bleeding risk in some situations.
• Cinnamon — useful as a warming spice and tea ingredient.

Items I would not make beginner staples

• St. John’s wort — can interact with many medications, including some antidepressants and hormonal contraceptives.
• Kava — has safety concerns, including rare serious liver problems.
• Comfrey internally — associated with serious liver toxicity risk.

A simple starter cabinet

If you want a compact setup, I’d start with:

1. Ginger tea or dried ginger
2. Peppermint tea
3. Chamomile tea
4. Lemon balm
5. Elderberry (seasonal)
6. Calendula salve
7. Aloe vera gel
8. Turmeric and garlic as kitchen staples
9. Good-quality honey
10. A basic herbal reference book

Also keep a regular first-aid kit alongside it—herbs are best viewed as complementary tools for minor issues, not replacements for urgent or serious medical care.

If you want, I can also suggest a more traditional Western herbalism cabinet, an Ayurvedic cabinet, or a minimalist $50 starter version.