How to Dose and Use Medicinal Herbs Safely for Children and Adults
Are herbs safe to use? Is an herb a drug? Are herbs better for you than medicine? How much and how often do you take them? How much should you use of a tincture or tea for children? Isn’t it hard to figure out which herbs to use? And the big question: How can I start using herbs and not make a mistake and accidentally poison myself?
These are all common questions and thoughts that swirl through the mind of the person new to herbalism and plant medicine. Most of us have grown up with the mentality of “just go to the doctor and get a pill (or three or four).” But maybe there is another way to health? A more natural one? But then for many, the questions and doubts kick in.
Am I right?
In fact, those were some of my own thoughts and questions as I began down this herbal and natural path to health.
And that’s why I created the FREE 5-Day Herbal Foundations course, How to Start Using Herbs at Home, which you can find a link to below.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Herbs: Are They REALLY Safe?
The first thing to understand is that people have had a relationship with plants for tens of thousands of years. It’s only been during this century that people in our western culture have lost touch with their relationship with plants and even their own health.
Using herbs has been proven over and over again to be safe, and negative side effects are rare.
The choice for “modern” people to abandon using herbs and natural remedies as the first step to health and healing has been a decades-long transition that began in the late 1800’s.
The norm for most people 100 years ago used to be hands-on visits from neighborhood healers (think Doc on Gunsmoke or Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman or for indigenous people it may have been the village shaman or medicine person). Even the town pharmacist would personally mix plant solutions and formulas for people (my great-grandfather was an old time pharmacist at the turn of the century).
The community doctor and natural remedies were sought out if there was a real problem. Grandma was often the very first person the family turned to for healing remedies and health. Pioneers learned how to use native plants from Native Americans, and they also brought their own knowledge about using plants for health and healing from the Old Worlds.
And here we are now:
The allopathic system we are familiar with is sterile, impersonal, often dehumanizing and embarrassing, and cold. Busy doctors tend to look at lab results and computer data over taking the time to do a real holistic review of a person’s needs, lifestyle choices, emotional wellness, stress levels, and other history.
In fact, I can’t remember the last time a doctor actually “knew” me as a person. **Although, I haven’t taken any over-the-counter or prescriptions drugs in over ten years now….. I make all of our own medicines here at home.
The Difference Between Herbalism + Natural Health Practices and Modern Medicine
There is a saying in the herbal world: “Herbs treat people; pharmaceuticals treat disease.”
Think back on your own experiences with modern medicines.
If you reflect on the medicines you’ve taken in your life, it becomes apparent that these medicines were prescribed to get rid of symptoms and not actually heal the body.
On the other hand, herbalists and natural healers like naturopathic doctors try to see the person in a holistic (whole) way in order to bring balance and help the body build strength depending on each person’s unique needs.
I want to state right now that I am not anti-science or completely against modern systems of medicine. I believe there is a time and place to reach out to modern health care, have surgery, for diagnostics, and emergency medicine instead of depending on the herbal apothecary. However, there is a dark side to modern medicine that can’t be denied.
The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to find out how to combine the old ways with the new. To not forget the valuable health practices of the old ways or turn completely away from modern medical advances that can help people.
One of the problems is that modern medical systems have been “propagandized” into our culture to be the ONLY way to feel better and be healthy. We have been taught via media, education systems, and parents having been taught by their parents and grandparents that the modern ways are best, and by being told by the medical community and Big Pharma that their way is the ONLY and best way. Even (and dare I say, especially) the government has had a hand in this “re-education” of the public.
I’d like to share some statistics with you. These come from The Herbal Academy of New England’s Intermediate course (see sources below):
“Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S., ahead of pulmonary disease, diabetes, AIDS, pneumonia, accidents, and automobile deaths. This statistic does not take into account the number of ADRs in ambulatory settings or those deaths caused by physician or pharmacy error. (fda.gov)”
Pretty scary, right? How about these facts:
“Hospitals produce 1/5 of the U.S. waste stream’s mercury, a neurotoxin that is released into the air during medical waste incineration or dumped into waterways (Buhner, 2002).”
“Antibiotic misuse and overuse in both people and in factory-farmed animals is responsible for the emergence of untreatable “superbugs.’”
“Pharmaceuticals most often act to mask or relieve symptoms and do not address the underlying cause of the disease, which may continue to persist.” (I know this from very personal experiences.)
“Pharmaceutical estradiol causes fish to start changing sex, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories have killed all but 3% of all the vultures in Asia (Health Care Without Harm)”
And there a many more quotes I could mention. But that’s not really what this article is about.
In order to establish the safety of using herbs, I do think we need to take a good look at the opposite question, “Are pharmaceuticals really safe to use?” The FDA currently gives the “ok” to many Rx and OTC drugs that have been proven to be UN-safe due to serious and debilitating side effects.
On the other hand…..
Using plants to heal the body, mind, and spirit has been the form of medicine for people for thousands of years. In fact, our modern system of medicine is largely based on how plant compounds have effected the human body for health.
Aspirin is a great example. The chemical contained in modern day aspirin is found in many plants, like Willow Bark. The thing is, the modern medical industry has found ways to extract that one constituent and/or to recreate it using waste products and now we have modern day aspirin.
But by using a willow bark tea or tincture from the plant, ALL the chemicals are being used together. This synergy of plant constituents is more well-suited for health and healing than just the one chemical all by itself.
This is a very simplistic example because the chemical reactions from using the actual plant versus the lab-based pill are very different in the body. Willow bark has a much broader range of actions on the body and few or no side effects; while aspirin, although a powerful pain reliever, has a greater and more dangerous number of potential negative side effects.
In general:
Whole herb use is safer as well as often times being more effective than using isolated chemicals extracted or recreated in a lab from the plant. Isolation of a specific chemical can actually cause toxic reactions in the body, while use of an herbal tincture or tea quickly delivers the plant constituents to the cells of the body in a safer way.
However:
Using herbs for health is not a standardized process. Due to the nature of using herbs to support health, there is really no way to be sure that using plant medicine will yield the same result every time, for every person.
This is due to the many variables involved: the freshness of the plant, where and how it was grown, potential adulteration by commercial herbal supplements, and how different people respond differently to the plants.
Ready to begin your herbal journey? Click here to take the FREE 5-Day Herbal Foundations email course!
Herbs are Not Drugs—But They Can Have Drug-Like Effects
This is a really important statement. Herbs are not drugs.
Because of this, you can’t expect herbs to act like a pharmaceutical. Herbs heal. They don’t just mask symptoms.
Herbs are foods. Herbs are supplements. Herbs can have drug-like actions on the body, but still. They are not drugs. Herbs can support our health and healing. However, an herb is not a drug.
In our country, an herb is currently classified as a dietary supplement. Because of this, herbalists can not make medical claims. This is why you’ll notice all the “vague” language in articles and courses. This makes it a tricky thing for herbalists to try to help others because the language seems a little “shifty.”
However, those selling herbs for health are not legally allowed to make structure and function claims (such as “this or that herb will heal your high blood pressure”). This puts the onus for finding natural remedies for your own personal body squarely on each individual.
Herbalists can certainly make recommendations and also provide herbal supplements, like tinctures, teas, and other infusions; but an herb is simply not classified as a drug. This fact can’t be over stated.
This is why you see herbalists and herbal shops and people like me who write about herbs continually making the statement: “I am not a medical doctor…..” (You’ll see it at the end of this article in my disclaimer.)
Honestly, this fact is actually a good thing. The laws are set up so that people with no education or background can make bogus claims and potentially hurt people.
So what does this mean for us?
Well, it simply means that we are all in charge of our own health, and one of the choices available to us is to use herbs. Using herbs effectively and safely takes some knowledge, experimentation, and trial and error. Regardless of the effort it takes, it’s worth the effort to start going natural with your health, in my opinion.
With that said—-please don’t be afraid to begin to use herbs for your health and the health of you family! Once you get started using safe, effective herbs, you’ll gain confidence. Your intuition for the plants will wake up—-I know that sounds a little “woo”, but it really will.
Start out slowly. Read a great book! The one book that gave me a great beginning foundation for my own personal herbal journey was Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide.
Even though it is a guide for beginners, trust me: she packs a LOT of excellent information and ways (recipes) to use safe herbs for your health into this book.
Even after years of taking courses, self-study, reading and following other experienced herbalists, I still turn back to that first book I ever read for guidance.
If you’re interested in beginning a journey into learning herbalism and aromatherapy, I hope you’ll start with my online school, the Confident Herbalist Academy. I’m actually there, in person, for your learning as well as other experienced herbalists and aromatherapists in our student community. It’s an amazing way to learn herbalism!
Click here and I’ll send your FREE Herbal Remedy Guide and Cheat Sheet to your inbox! It’s perfect for your home apothecary or kitchen.
How to Dose Medicinal Herbs
I’m going to answer this question very generally here because how much you use depends on a lot of factors.
First of all, if you purchase your herbs in a bottle in capsule, tea, or tincture form from the store, just follow the directions on the label. Be sure you are purchasing from a reputable company. There are many herbal supplement companies out there now, and be sure to do your research. I would avoid companies based outside the United States.
**Due to the growing popularity of using herbal supplements, the FDA is finding more and more cases of adulteration in products. It’s simply a good idea to learn how to make your own medicine at home, in my experienced opinion.
In the meantime, here are a few you can start out with right away and feel confident about using:
Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide (Gladstar)
Making Plant Medicine (Cech)
The Way of Herbs (Tierra)
and there are many others. You can find a lengthier list in my article: How to Become an Herbalist.
General Guidelines
There are many systems for dosing herbal preparations, and these are good to explore. But I’m going to share the way I do it, based on what I’ve learned so far (and I continue to learn). Here are my basic steps:
1) I take a look at the person.
Are they large? Robust? Or small? Thin? A large, heavy person can take a larger amount of an herb than can a small, thin person.
Did you know the pharmaceutical industry bases dosing guidelines on a 150 pound male? Not a woman. Not a large man. Not children, of course.
The energetics, or constitution, of a person is yet another factor, and I’ll discuss that more later on.
2) What is the herb being used for?
Is it for nausea? Is it indicated for a headache? Tension? Or maybe to aid sleep? Some health issues require a higher or lower amount of herb.
3) Are you using a single herbal formulation (called a simple)? Or are you combining herbs for a synergistic effect?
You can blend herbs if you like, and with some skill, you can create formulations where the herbs work together to create a balanced, and more effective formula.
4) Frequency: How often should you take the formula?
In general, an adult dose will range from about 2 to 5 mL of an herbal formula, 2-3 times a day. And for comparison, a half-teaspoon is about 2.5 mL, and 5 mL is about 1 teaspoon full.
For myself and Mr. V., we tend to use smaller amounts. Three droppers full of a standard dropper in an amber glass bottle is about 2.5 mL. Sometimes just one dose is enough, as in the case of a headache. But sometimes, using that dose or a smaller dose more often (3 to 4 times a day) is better indicated.
For “food” herbs or herbs that are highly nutritive like dandelion, burdock, and nettles (among others), you can be far more liberal.
For the question “How often should you use the herbal formula?”, here are some ideas:
A standard dose would be how Mr. V. and I use tinctures above. A dose of about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three to four times a day for an average sized adult. You’ll want to titrate the dose, which means to start with a smaller amount and adjust upwards as needed.
If you are dealing with an acute situation or if the formulation is being used to help balance or support a condition (like my blood pressure, for example), then taking the formula more often (I take a small amount of Hawthorn 3 to 5 times a day) is the better choice.
Sometimes taking a smaller amount more often throughout the day is the best choice.
Keep in mind these are very general guidelines, and you need to make decisions about the particular dose depending on the kind of herbal preparation you are using (tea, tincture, capsule, oxymel, etc.), the constitution of the person, the size of the person, and the specific indication, or need.
Click here, and I’ll send your FREE Herbal Dosing Guide! You’ll never wonder how much to take again!
What is the Difference Between an Acute Condition and a Chronic Condition?
Acute Conditions:
**For dosing acute conditions, a smaller dose given frequently may be far more effective than large doses taken farther apart.
An acute condition is usually short term, is aggressive, and often responds quickly to the herb used. Examples are tension headache, fever, stomach upset, menstrual cramps, etc.
One example is menstrual cramps. Taking a tincture of Cramp Bark will help alleviate the cramping, and help you feel better fairly quickly. But the feeling will be much different than taking one of the over the counter medications for menstrual pain.
In my opinion, the cramp bark works a tad more slowly, but there is definitely a better overall feeling of well-being—I can actually feel the muscles relaxing—-and no side effects.
Here’s another example: Let’s say you are coming down with a cold. You’re beginning to get the sniffles and a bit of congestion. Well, the typical OTC (over the counter) drug will solve the symptom problem fast, but will not head off the cold or help the body heal faster.
Using an herbal formula (say an immune boosting tincture, elderberry syrup or a tonic drink like Fire Cider) very often throughout the day will help the body fight off the cold and flu but will not necessarily take care of the symptoms with the same immediacy as the OTC. But still—-the symptoms will be helped and so will the healing process.
You could use other herbs for the symptoms, however, such as a mullein and marshmallow combination, and these will also help support the healing process. But keep in mind, herbs sometimes just don’t have the dramatic immediate results that drugs have. Herbs do support health and healing.
You can find out a LOT more about what to do in all phases of the Cold/Flu in this eBook. There’s information about all the stages and natural remedies you can use to support your body and feel better really quickly.
Chronic Conditions:
**For dosing chronic conditions:
If the condition is causing acute symptoms, then you’ll want to treat it like it is an acute condition. But typically, you would take larger doses over a long period of time. The thing about chronic conditions is being consistent. You can’t just stop the program or forget to take your herbs.
Chronic conditions usually take a lot of time to demonstrate consistently, sometimes over a period of many years. They may be caused by family genetics, lifestyle choices, or by taking medications for long periods of time. They are also more difficult to improve.
Examples of chronic conditions may include blood sugar levels, blood pressure, allergies, asthma, eczema, anything that has been ongoing for a period of time.
One guideline I found in Rosemary Gladstar’s book is that for every year you’ve had a chronic condition, it will take a month of consistency to treat it. She does state that this is rather arbitrary, but it’s a good general guideline.
My high blood pressure is a good example of this. I’ve probably had borderline high blood pressure for the past couple decades at least (I’ve never really had a primary care doctor).
Medications from the one medical doctor I saw did not help (he scared me into giving it a try, and honestly, I felt worse on the medications—you can read about this in these heart-related articles: 8 Herbs for Your Heart,
Things to Do Every Day to Help Your Heart, and
How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally. )
Essential Oils and Hypertension
So, what I have been doing, and has helped considerably, is to take my herbal supplements of choice once or twice a day; and for the hawthorn tincture and the essential oil protocol, 3 to 4 times a day.
Here’s another example of how I figured out my allergy problems, which I had been dealing with for the better part of every year of my life for decades.
I started using a tincture of marshmallow and mullein, plus using raw honey in tea. Over a period of a year, my allergies decreased, and now I hardly ever suffer. It’s been a pretty amazing thing.
Keep in mind that I was one of those children who needed an allergy shot every two weeks, and an Rx drug for much of every single year. For literally decades. As a child and adult prior to using natural methods, I just suffered. Then I found herbs!
When I began my own herbal and aromatic journey a few decades ago, my life (and health) transformed.
These are little examples of how you would work with a chronic condition.
This is a natural cough syrup using two simple ingredients: honey and red onion. Wouldn’t you rather give this to your child than the chemical and sugar options in the drugstore? Here’s how to make the BEST natural cough syrup!
Using Herbs with Children:
I’ve come across people over the years who will take herbal remedies for themselves but opt to give their children the prescription drugs just because the doctor said to. Using herbs is generally a safer option, and most children do very well with natural remedies. But many young parents feel a lack of confidence in this choice.
I do understand this. We give our blind trust over to doctors, because as I mentioned above, we have been “indoctrinated” and trained to do this.
The best advice I can give here is to take a look at the side effects listed on the OTC and Rx medications, and compare those to the side effects of an herbal remedy. This will underscore the safety of using herbs.
You can find THREE different safe methods for safely dosing herbs with children in my FREE guide: Safe Herbal Dosing Guidelines. Just click here!
Final Reflections on the Safety of Herbs and Deciding How Much to Use
“There are no fixed methods to apply to the human predicament, there is no single all-pervasive rule to follow, since medicine is not a science, but an art.” —-Michael Moore, herbalist & author
I think Michael Moore said it perfectly in that quote. When we go to the doctor’s office, the medications we are given are standardized and dosed based on whatever criteria they use based on the population in general. They are not individualized for the single person. There is no time for that in the allopathic world. Even some herbalists practice with this kind of allopathic mindset, especially if they have a medical background.
With a holistic herbal practice, the whole person is taken into account. You work with the specifics of that person’s body and mind and history. You work with lifestyle. Medical conditions. Mindset and emotions. Trauma history…..There are so many factors at play.
Why not take a look at the medicines you use for typical illnesses like the cold or flu or other common non-life threatening health issues or ailments and put them aside for a minute.
Try out those natural remedies and herbs and do some trial and error work with them. I’m not talking about dangerous conditions, here, but common problems we all deal with from time to time, like a headache.
Instead of reaching for the incredibly liver-damaging ibuprofen, how about reaching for the peppermint tea? Or dabbing a bit of lavender essential oil on your temples? You may just be surprised!
And if you decide they don’t work for you? Well, you can try something else. Or, you can always go back to the drugstore.
Finally, I want to mention lifestyle choices. Sometimes all we really need to do is exercise consistently or lose a little weight. Stop smoking or other bad habits you may have. I know I have my own crosses to bear in the lifestyle category, and we all do.
In your journey toward natural health, don’t forget about the basics first!
I’d love your thoughts, comments, and experiences! So leave a comment in the comments section so we can all learn from each other.
You may also enjoy these related articles:
What is a Tincture? How to Make and Use Herbal Tinctures
Here is the Herbal Tincture That Saved My Marriage (A Sleep Aid)
Don’t forget to check out Starwest Botanicals for some excellent herbal and tea blend options!
And….You may be interested in joining my private Facebook group, Practical Herbs with Heidi, which is a supportive herb study and natural living group! :-)
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
P.S. Be sure to get your copy of the Herbal Dosing Safety Guide for Children and Adults. It’s my gift to you! Just click here, and I’ll send it to you right now!
Disclaimer:
I am not a medical doctor. In no manner, stated or implied is anything in this article meant to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease or illness. These are simply my opinions based on experience and study. Please be sure to seek medical attention from a medical doctor before using herbs or essential oils. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Resources:
The Herbal Academy of New England Int. Herbal Course Materials
Gladstar, Rosemary. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Copyright 2012. Storey Publishing.
https://laney.edu/cheli-fossum/wp-content/uploads/sites/210/2012/01/8-Synthesis-of-Aspirin.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21226125
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2517879/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ (general site—easy to search)