Herbal Facts – “Using Herbs Simply and Safely,” by
Susan Weed
Are herbs “dilute forms of drugs” – and therefore dangerous?
Or are they “natural” – and therefore safe?
If you sell herbs, you probably hear these questions often. What is the “right” answer? It depends
on the herb!
These thoughts on herbs will help you explain to your customers (and yourself) how safe – or dangerous – any
herb might be.
To prevent problems when selling or using herbs:
Be certain you have the correct plant.
Use simples.
Understand that different preparations of the same herb can work differently.
Use nourishing, tonifying, stimulating, and potentially poisonous herbs wisely.
Be certain you have the correct plant
One of the easiest ways to get into trouble with an herb is to use the “wrong” one. How could that
happen? Common names for herbs overlap, causing confusion as to the proper identity. Herbs that are labeled
correctly may contain extraneous material from another, more dangerous, herb. Herbs may be picked at the
wrong stage of growth or handled incorrectly after harvesting, causing them to develop detrimental qualities.
Protect yourself and your customers with these simple steps:
Buy herbs only from reputable suppliers: Only buy herbs that are labeled with their botanical name. Botanical
names are specific, but the same common name can refer to several different plants. “Marigold” can
be Calendula officinalis, a medicinal herb, or Tagetes, an annual used as a bedding plant.
If you grow the herbs you sell, be meticulous about keeping different plants separate when you harvest and
dry them, and obsessive about labeling.
Use simples: A simple is one herb. For optimum safety, I prepare, buy, sell, teach about and use herbal simples,
that is: preparations containing only one herb. (Occasionally I use will add some mint to flavor a remedy.)
The more herbs there are in a formula, the more likelihood there is of unwanted side-effects. Understandably,
the public seeks combinations, hoping to get more for less. And many mistakenly believe that herbs must be
used together to be effective (probably because potentially poisonous herbs are often combined with protective
herbs to mitigate the damage they cause). But combining herbs with the same properties, such as goldenseal
and echinacea, is counter-productive and more likely to cause trouble than a simple. A simple tincture of
echinacea is more effective than any combination and much safer.)
Different people have different reactions to substances, whether drugs, foods, or herbs. When herbs are mixed
together in a formula and someone taking it has distressing side effects, there is no way to determine which
herb is the cause. With simples, it’s easy to tell which herb is doing what. If there’s an adverse reaction,
other herbs with similar properties can be tried. Limiting the number of herbs used in any one day (to no
more than four) offers added protection.
Side effects from herbs are less common than side effects from drugs and usually less severe. If an herb disturbs
the digestion, it may be that the body is learning to process it. Give it a few more tries before giving
up. Stop taking any herb that causes nausea, dizziness, sharp stomach pains, diarrhea, headache, or blurred
vision. (These effects will generally occur quite quickly.) Slippery elm is an excellent antidote to any
type of poison. If you are allergic to any foods or medicines, it is especially important to consult resources
that list the side effects of herbs before you use them.
Understand that different preparations of the same herb can work differently: The safety of any herbal remedy
is dependent on the way it is prepared and used.
Tinctures and extracts contain the alkaloids, or poisonous, parts of plants and need to be used with care
and wisdom. Tinctures are as safe as the herb involved (see cautions below for tonifying, stimulating, sedating,
or potentially poisonous herbs). Best used/sold as simples, not combinations, especially when strong herbs
are being used.
Dried herbs made into teas or infusions contain the nourishing aspects of the plants and are usually quite
safe, especially when nourishing or tonifying herbs are used.
Dried herbs in capsules are generally the least effective way to use herbs. They are poorly digested, poorly
utilized, often stale or ineffective, and quite expensive.
Infused herbal oils are available as is, or thickened into ointments. They are much safer than essential oils,
which are highly concentrated and can be lethal if taken internally.
Herbal vinegars are not only decorative but mineral-rich as well. A good medium for nourishing and tonifying
herbs; not as strong as tinctures for stimulants/sedatives.
Herbal glycerins are available for those who prefer to avoid alcohol but are usually weaker in action than
tinctures.
Use nourishing, tonifying, stimulating, and potentially poisonous herbs wisely: Herbs comprise a group of
several thousand plants with widely varying actions. Some are nourishers, some tonifiers, some stimulants
and sedatives, and some are potential poisons. To use them wisely and well, we need to understand each category,
its uses, best manner of preparation, and usual dosage range.
Nourishing herbs are the safest of all herbs; side effects are rare. Nourishing herbs are taken in any quantity
for any length of time. They are used as foods, just like spinach and kale. Nourishing herbs provide high
levels of proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenes, and essential fatty acids. Examples of nourishing
herbs are: alfalfa, amaranth, astragalus, calendula flowers, chickweed, comfrey leaves, dandelion, fenugreek,
flax seeds, honeysuckle flowers, lamb’s quarter, marshmallow, nettles, oatstraw, plantain (leaves/seeds),
purslane, red clover blossoms, seaweed, Siberian ginseng, slippery elm, violet leaves, and wild mushrooms.
Tonifying herbs act slowly in the body and have a cumulative, rather than immediate, effect. They build the
functional ability of an organ (like the liver) or a system (like the immune system). Tonifying herbs are
most beneficial when they are used in small quantities for extended periods of time. The more bitter the
tonic tastes, the less you need to take. Bland tonics may be used in quantity, like nourishing herbs. Side
effects occasionally occur with tonics, but are usually quite short-term. Many older herbals mistakenly equated
stimulating herbs with tonifying herbs, leading to widespread misuse of many herbs, and severe side effects.
Examples of tonifying herbs are: barberry bark, burdock root/seeds, chaste tree, crone(mug)wort, dandelion
root, echinacea, elecampane, fennel, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, ground ivy, hawthorn berries, horsetail, lady’s
mantle, lemon balm, milk thistle seeds, motherwort, mullein, pau d’arco, raspberry leaves, schisandra berries,
St. Joan’s wort, turmeric root, usnea, wild yam, and Yellow Dock.
Sedating and stimulating herbs cause a variety of rapid reactions, some of which may be unwanted. Some parts
of the person may be stressed in order to help other parts. Strong sedatives and stimulants, whether herbs
or drugs, push us outside our normal ranges of activity and may cause strong side effects. If we rely on
them and then try to function without them, we wind up more agitated (or depressed) than before we began.
Habitual use of strong sedatives and stimulants-whether opium, rhubarb root, cayenne, or coffee-leads to
loss of tone, impairment of functioning, and even physical dependency. The stronger the herb, the more moderate
the dose needs to be, and the shorter the duration of its use.
Herbs that tonify and nourish while sedating/stimulating are some of my favorite herbs. I use them freely,
as they do not cause dependency. Sedating/stimulating herbs that also tonify or nourish: boneset, catnip,
citrus peel, cleavers, ginger, hops, lavender, marjoram, motherwort, oatstraw, passion flower, peppermint,
rosemary, sage, skullcap.
Strongly sedating/stimulating herbs include: angelica, black pepper, blessed thistle root, cayenne, cinnamon,
cloves, coffee, licorice, opium poppy, osha root, shepherd’s purse, sweet woodruff, turkey rhubarb root,
uva ursu leaves, valerian root, wild lettuce sap, willow bark, and wintergreen leaves.
Potentially poisonous herbs are intense, potent medicines that are taken in tiny amounts and only for as long
as needed. Side effects are common. Examples of potentially poisonous herbs are: belladonna, blood-root,
celandine, chaparral, foxglove, goldenseal, henbane, iris root, Jimson weed, lobelia, May apple (American
mandrake), mistletoe, poke root, poison hemlock, stillingia root, turkey corn root, wild cucumber root.
In addition, consider these thoughts on using herbs safely:
Respect the power of plants to change the body and spirit in dramatic ways.
Increase trust in the healing effectiveness of plants by trying remedies for minor or external problems before,
or while, working with major and internal problems.
Develop ongoing relationships with knowledgeable healers-in person or in books-who are interested in herbal
medicine.
Honor the uniqueness of every plant, every person, every situation.
Remember that each person becomes whole and healed in their own unique way, at their own speed. People, plants,
and animals can help in this process. But it is the body/spirit that does the healing. Don’t expect plants
to be cure-alls.
This article, copyright, Susun Weed, all rights reserved
Susan Weed Books:
- Healing
Wise - Menopausal
Years, The Wise Woman Way - Breast Cancer,
Breast Health: The Wise Woman Way - Wise
Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
The author, Susun Weed, has been living the simple life for more than 30 years as an herbalist, goatkeeper,
homesteader, and feminist.
In addition to being the author of four highly-acclaimed books on herbs and women’s health, Susun lectures
world-wide as the voice of the Wise Woman tradition, personally supervises 400 correspondence students, is
editor-in-chief of Ash Tree Publishing, and directs the activities of the Wise Woman Center. This is where
she trains apprentices (240 to date) in the shamanic arts, and plays with the fairies.
