Frequently Asked Questions About Herbal Remedies

Do herbal remedies work?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions about herbal remedies. Many people have asked me this question, both in person, especially when I used to teach classes about herbal remedies, and through this website.

It is a complicated question to answer, because it depends on a lot of factors.

First, what are you hoping to accomplish with herbal remedies? Herbal remedies have many different effects on any individual using the herbs. It is important to know what you want from the herb, and also to know that while herbs can be very powerful, they have limitations.

Secondly, are you using the appropriate herbal remedy for the effect you want? Certain herbs are effective for certain conditions, but if you select the wrong remedy, it may not help, and may even worsen the problem.

Next, are you willing to take the herbal remedy long enough to see the result? If you are using a herbal remedy to treat a minor complaint, such as minor indigestion, you will see rapid results, if you are using the right herbs; if you are trying to chane a long term, chronic problem, it will take much longer. Many people try herbal remedies, but give up if they do not obtain instant relief, even for problems developed over many years.

Are you using herbs which are still potent? Dried herbs, especially roots and seeds, will last in storage for a long time, but,eventually, the older they get, the less effective they become. I generally try to use dried herbs within a year of purchase, and I purchase them from herb shops which have a frequent turnover of products. (Generally, if you are purchasing commercial preparations, capsules, extracts, and such, try to buy from manufacturers who place an expiration date on the packaging. The shelf life of these products can be much longer than raw herbs.

Are herbal remedies safe?

It's another hard one to give a definitive answer.

One herbal remedy may be safe for one person, but deadly to another, depending on the individual's condition.

There are many herbal remedies which are very dangerous, if used incorrectly. (I will not discuss these herbs here, they should be used only with experienced supervision.)

There are also many, many herbs which are very safe, with few, if any, side effects. The majority of the herbs I include on this website will fall into this category.

The best way to be sure you are using herbs safely is to learn about any herb you are considering using, and to obtain your herbs from a reliable source.

Whenever I have tried a remedy for the first time, I start with a much lower dose than whatever dosage is recommended, whether it is on the label of a packaged herbal product, or I am cooking raw herbs. I find this to help identify any sensitivities I may have to a particular herb; I recommend all my clients start using a new herbal remedy this way.

WHile there has not been a lot of research which meets Western "scientific" research standards, (double blind studies, and the like), many herbs have been used over centuries, and there is much available information in the different herbal traditions, which is often dismissed as "unscientific" by the medical establishment. (I used quotes around the words "scientific" and "unscientific" because I do not believe there is only one "science". The word itself comes from the Latin verb, to know, Western science is not the only valid way to know the world.) The traditional knowledge about herbs is a good way to learn about using herbs safely.

What I am sharing on this website is a combination of traditional knowledge, and what I have learned in more than thirty-five years of using herbs.