Herbal Tips:
If, like me, you like your herbs and wish to have a collection of them in Amber jars lined along the walls of your dream witchy kitchen amongst your copper pots and pans, all the while sipping a brew near your amazing welcoming fireplace, there’s a few things you should know about them.
1) Herbs aren’t safe to consume in large doses. Your body can’t handle 2,000 cups of herbal tea a day. Your kidneys and liver have to filter out everything you consume, so keep the amount of dark liquids and herbal brews to a safe minimum. After a while, you can actually harm your body rather than heal it. This also goes for tinctures and herbal capsules. Drink plenty of clean, fresh water daily.
2) Not all herbs are safe for human consumption. There are many herbs that are poisonous and could cause major adverse effects and (or) death. If you wish to make a medicine from herbs, please do research BEFORE consuming. Just because the magickal properties of herbs say one thing, it doesn’t mean that the medical properties are safe to consume.
3) Dried herbs, herbal tinctures, herbal capsules, medicine in general, should be stored away from sunlight, high heat, and lots of humidity. All of this can ruin the potency of the herbs and render them less effective. Ever buy herbal capsules or supplements from the big chain stores? While they are herbs, they aren’t as potent or effective as freshly prepared concoctions because the companies that make these products don’t use very potent herbs to begin with, and when they get to their destination, there’s no telling how long they stay on the shelf in storage before they hit the shelf for sell and before you purchase them and take them home. Big companies are only truly interested in the end result: their profit.
4) Not all medicines mix. If you’re on prescription drugs from your doctor, always, always, always check with them before beginning herbal anything! There’s a reason they tell you this. Chemicals can cross and cause adverse effects. Or, they could mix and double or triple the result–in a bad way. Always check with your actual health care provider.
5) Herbs are NOT a substitute for a medical professional! Do NOT rely solely on herbal medicines. If you have a serious condition that needs medical attention, go to your doctor. While it is true that herbs are effective and heal, don’t chance a possibility of death by drinking tea rather than seeing a professional. I don’t know of any herbalist that would argue against this point.
Please use common sense.
