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A lot of the information that we've covered in the past few weeks is more specific to nutrients, so I thought I would tackle herbs more today.

I use herbs quite regularly in my practice, usually in a capsule/standardized dose form.

Berberine, Ginger, Curcumin, Saffron, Ashwagandha, St. John’s Worth, Vitex, and Rhodiola are all herbs I use quite frequently for a variety of different health concerns. However there are a few challenges with herbal products.

Let’s get into it!

Herbs Are Not For Everyone:

Herbs are NOT going to be safe for everyone.

For example, if you’re on medication or have an underlying health condition please do not self-prescribe. There ARE interactions with some medications and for many people long-term use will not be safe.

use the reputable dose:

If using an herbal product we want to use the dose that has been studied in the research.

COMBINATION herbal products often have very low doses of a number of different things. While we know the individual herbs at therapeutic doses may have benefit, we don’t know if combining them together is safe, or if they’ll work at ⅕ of the dose that’s been studied. Realistically they likely WON’T work at a super low dose.

purchase from a reputable source:

Herbs should be purchased from a reputable source. I mentioned in a previous post that in Canada to sell products you need to have an NPN number. This certifies that the product does indeed contain what it claims to contain.

There are a few studies in the United States that look at herbal products sold there and found that many of the products actually did not contain the herb or dose that the label stated. This is a problem and as such we want to use products with an NPN.

what we’re looking for in our herbs:

For some herbs we’re looking for a specific active ingredient or we’re looking to see that it is standardized to a specific component of this herb.

Curcumin for example, is the active ingredient of turmeric and when looking at the product we care about how much actual curcumin it has versus how much turmeric.

St. John’s Wort will typically specify a standardization to the % of hypericin in it. Good products will articulate these doses on the side of the label, and then info should be easy to come by.

If it says ‘proprietary blend’ that means we have no idea how much of each thing is in there!

Timing Your Herbs:

Lastly, some herbal products are intended to be taken in twice daily dosing formats, and some even three times daily dosing formats.

If it’s been studied in this way, we probably want to take it in this way as much as possible!

Summary

Herbs aren’t safe for everyone. They’re best in single ingredient or two ingredient forms. Make sure you’re buying something sold in Canada, and read the label carefully to confirm the dose and instructions!

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Disclaimer:

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, naturopathic doctor, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health concern. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.

Hi, I’m Dr. Janine, ND

I’m a Naturopathic Doctor currently practicing in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
I truly believe that our enjoyment of life is closely tied to how we feel physically. When we’re healthy, we can take on anything. But when we feel off, even the simplest tasks become overwhelming. I’ve been through hormonal shifts, sleepless nights as a parent, and the stress of balancing everything. But I also know that with the right strategy, we can go from surviving to thriving—and create a healthy, thriving family in the process.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
***- Dr. Janine, ND***