When you are shopping for herbs, you can search your local natural-product pharmacy or health food store. You can also keep your own apothecary at home with the proper components. Searching for necessary herbs can seem overwhelming with the number of options, but this guide will help you along the way.
Buying Herbs in Bulk
When buying a bulk herb for cooking or tea, or making your own homemade remedies, choose herbs with a strong aroma, color, and flavor. Once you become familiar with the odor, appearance, and flavor, you will gain a deeper understanding of what you are searching for. Teas and tinctures developed from weak herbs will not yield a high-quality product.
Find an Herbalist
Herbal teas and essential oils from an herbalist are likely to be higher quality than those found at a health shop or grocery store. Even simple spices, like cinnamon, can be of a higher quality. Fortunately, as interest in natural remedies grows, they are becoming more accessible to the average person.
Herbal Potency
Generally, an herb’s potency for flavoring is linked to its potency as a medicine. It’s also important to note here, that the essential oils (volatile oils) are responsible for most of the herb’s therapeutic properties. The term, “volatile,” means these compounds are relatively unstable. They are one of the first constituents in any herb to become less potent. As the flavor and aroma decrease, so does the potency.
Herbs in Capsule or Tablet Form
When you are purchasing an herb in capsule or tablet form, it’s not possible to determine the potency of the herb. Naturopathic physicians or practitioners, herbalists, or those who have personally used the product are good sources to reflect on for this information.