Choose and Use Simply Herbs

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.


Photo: dustpanalley

To prevent problems when selling or using herbs:

• Be certain you have the correct plant.
• Use simple.
• Understand that different preparations of the same herb can work differently.
• Use nourishing, tonifying, stimulating, and potentially poisonous herbs wisely.

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:

1. Buy herbs only from reputable suppliers.
2. Only buy herbs that are labeled with their botanical name. Botanical names are specific, but the same common names can refer to several different plants. "Marigold" can be Calendula officinalis, a medicinal herb, or Tagetes, an annual used as a bedding plant.
3. If you grow the herbs you sell, be meticulous about keeping different plants separate when you harvest and dry them, and obsessive about labeling.