Until around 200 years ago, herbs were the primary source of medicinal treatment for all types of dis-ease around the world. Many of the pharmaceutical drugs today either contain or were originally based on plants and fungi.

Any plant or part of a plant that is worked with in herbalism, is considered to be a herb. Under this definition, herbs include leaves, flowers, buds, stems, roots, bark, berries, seeds, rhizomes — any plant or part of a plant. Herbs can even include mushrooms, even though they are not part of the plant kingdom.

Herbs come in all types of forms: dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or liquid, and can be worked with in various ways, including:

   •    Brewed as soup, tea and decoctions

   •    Mixed into food

   •    Ingested as tincture extracts, capsules, and powders

   •    Applied to the skin as oils, gels, lotions, or creams

   •    Added to bath water and enemas

   •    And many other ways


These different forms of working with herbs depend on what is needed or sought after.
 It is important to inform ourselves. Especially with access to so much information at our fingertips, at times it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

Safety is most important to consider. What kind of herbs are we choosing to work with? What are the herbs' actions? Herbs perform more than one action simultaneously in our bodies and while some may be sought after, others may not be wanted.


Herbal supplements can interact with pharmaceutical medicines or potentially have strong effects. Do not self-diagnose. Talk to your doctor before taking herbs and supplements, especially if regularly taking pharmaceutical drugs.


   •    Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the herbs you are interested in by consulting your
         doctor, your auntie, your local library, reliable internet resources, going to the places these plants are
         native to and learning with the people from there, and of course, contacting the herbal growers and
         providers for information. No one will know everything, but each can share something. 


   •   When working with herbs, follow label instructions carefully and observe the prescribed dosage or
        serving amounts. Never exceed the recommended amounts, and seek out information about who
        should avoid having it.


   •    Work with a professional. Seek out the services of a trained and licensed herbalist or naturopathic
         doctor who has many years of experience and extensive training in this area.


   •    Watch for side effects. If symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, or upset stomach, occur,
         reduce the amounts or stop.
 Observing what kind of reaction one experiences
         can provide meaningful perspective into what ones body is potentially going through

   •    Be alert for allergic reactions. A severe allergic reaction can cause trouble breathing. If such a problem
         occurs, call the emergency number in your area for help.


   •    Research the company whose herbs you are working with. All herbs are not grown the same, and it is
         best to choose a reputable source.


Ask yourself:

   ◦    Is the manufacturer involved in researching their own herbal products or simply relying on the research
         efforts of others?


   ◦    Does the product make outlandish or hard-to-prove claims?


   ◦    Does the label give information about the standardized formula, side effects, ingredients, directions,
         and precautions?


   ◦    Is label information clear and easy to read?


   ◦    Is there a telephone number, an address, or a website address listed so one can find out more
         information?



These are a few of the considerations that can be made in order to be more informed when starting to work with and source herbs.