Allopathic or traditional medicine looks at the body as parts and organs, and they treat the symptoms. Herbalists take what we call a holistic approach. We look at the body as one entire system and look for the root cause of the issue. When addressing issues, we rarely look at just the symptoms or the particular organ affected. We look at the body as a whole and use natural products to address the issues and bring the body back into a state of homeostasis or balance.

This is more complex than it sounds. There are many variables when it comes to herbs and how we use them in the body. The reasons people look for substitutions are valid: allergies, symptoms like migraines, unavailability in their area, or perhaps they just don’t like the particular herb. Herbal actions fall into several categories and there are many herbs that have similar actions. Finding a substitute depends on personal constitution, symptoms, energetics of the plant, the exact purpose of the herb etc. It is rare to find a 1 for 1 substitution that will have all the same qualities, but a qualified herbalist can help in this area.

This depends on many factors. Physicians have NO experience or knowledge of plant medicine as a rule. They do not spend any time at medical school in the study of natural medicine, so will usually advise against combining herbs and pharmaceuticals. Herbalists, however, have included in their curriculum, studies of pharmaceuticals and their chemicals. I personally don’t like to combine pharmaceuticals with herbs because one tears down while the other builds up. But it can be done if done safely and with the advice and counsel of a qualified herbalist. One note here. NEVER stop taking your medications without consulting with your doctor or a natural care practitioner. It can be very dangerous.

The best way to store your herbs to retain their effectiveness is to store them in a cool, dark place. I use glass jars to store my herbs. Plastic jars can leach chemicals into the herbs over time. Just remember heat and light are enemies of dried herbs.

Holistic medicine looks at the body as one system with interdependent parts. Many times, symptoms will seem to be related to one thing, when in fact, disfunction in another organ may be the issue. Fatigue for example, can be related to hormones, liver disfunction, heart issues, anemia etc. Holistic practitioners are going to ask questions, check blood tests and try to get to the root of the issue and then provide suggestions or recommendations.

YES! Great question! Actually, there is a difference between the effectiveness of herbs when taken as a tincture or a tea and what the purpose is. Teas and decoctions provide the minerals and vitamins from the herbs. Tinctures, or alcohol extractions only provide the properties that address different issues. For example, if you are taking a tonic herb to build up the heart, you would want to take that in tincture form. Having a nice cup of tea with the same herbs will add the vitamins and minerals.

The Simpler’s method is related to what they call “Folk Medicine” and is a simple way to measure the herbs we are putting into our formulas. This is done by “parts” and the only rule is that the part must remain consistent throughout the recipe. For example, if I give you a recipe of 2 parts chamomile, 1 part passionflower and ½ part valerian, you can use any unit of measurement you want to make the formula as long as you are consistent. A “part” can be a teaspoon, a cup, or a gallon. Just be sure to use the same measuring item for all ingredients.

Many times I have clients who will come to me who have been taking a specific herb for literally years. I can’t think of one instance where that would be appropriate. (Unless it’s to provide a never ending source of income for the seller!) Herbs work slowly, with the body to bring it back to a state of balance. Once this is accomplished, there’s no need to keep taking them. That’s not to say if you enjoy your cup of chamomile at night, you can’t continue to do that if you like, but I’m referring more here to herbs you are taking for medicinal purposes. If anyone gives you an herbal preparation and tells you that you’ll be on it for the foreseeable future, RUN in the other direction!

Tonic herbs are herbs that have actions related to a particular organ or system and are taken to strengthen that organ or system. For example, hawthorn is a very good herb for the heart. So if you were taking it as a tonic, my recommendation would be to take it in low doses for 2 weeks, then stop. I do this regularly with herbs for my lungs, heart, liver and digestive system on a quarterly basis.

The best way to learn about herbs is hands on! Start with 1 or 2 herbs in pots and “get to know them”. Taste them, use them in your food, in teas etc. If you want to become a qualified herbalist, there are many wonderful schools out there, but book knowledge is not enough. You need to really experience them first hand to understand them and use them well.