Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
Medicinal plants are part of our cultural heritage.
They are accessible not only through herbalists, but also, obviously, in nature. As most of them are considered "weeds" (hence the name of our company, lol), they often grow everywhere. It is not uncommon to find yarrow, tansy, goldenrod, chicory, or plantain by the side of the road, in a field, or on a vacant lot! You just need to know how to recognize them, pick them, process them, and use them.
Consuming fresh plants is obviously the best option, as freshly picked plants are much richer in vitamins and their medicinal properties are more active than their dried counterparts. But since this is not always possible (hello winter), we often have to process plants to stock up: drying them, macerating them in alcohol, vinegar, or vegetable oil to make tinctures, medicinal vinegars, or therapeutic oil macerates.
Today, I'm addressing the issue of dried plants, because their quality varies enormously on the market. I am not (unfortunately) an herbalist, but over my years of research, I have acquired some knowledge that allows me to better choose my plants.
So here are, in bulk (lol), five mistakes to avoid with medicinal plants.
1. Buying poor quality plants
"Plants are for charlatans."
We've all heard this statement somewhere before. Often, it comes from people whose only experience with said plants is limited to poor-quality tablet bottles from pharmacy shelves, or cheap herbal teas from large grocery stores.
Let's be clear: plants have medicinal properties.
Humans would not have survived 100,000 years without knowing the plants in their environment to treat their ailments. The vast majority of our Western pharmacology is based on medicinal plants and their derivatives. That's significant!
Utilizing plants is an art. Like anything else, there's a time of year to harvest each part. For example, in spring, we focus on buds; in summer, leaves and flowers; and in autumn, fruits and roots.
There is also a way to harvest, process, and store them to ensure the quality of the final product.
The effectiveness of a tincture made from fresh echinacea roots picked in late autumn has nothing to do with that of dried and powdered echinacea root tablets found in a pharmacy. Similarly, chamomile powder tea from the grocery store doesn't compare to an infusion of chamomile buds carefully harvested and dried.
If you are interested in consuming medicinal plants, avoid pharmacy products where the plants have not been properly processed. Instead, support businesses that know how to select quality plants and store them.
Here are three basic principles to check before buying:
1. Are the plants protected from light?
Plants stored in bulk bins or glass jars are very pretty, but they are a big no-no! Light alters the properties of plants and makes them lose their effectiveness.
Next!
2. Are the plants stored in an airtight container/bag?
Forget about plants in small paper or thin plastic bags that have been on the shelves for ages... They must not remain in contact with air, otherwise they will lose their essential oils and oxidize.
You can buy them in bulk in a paper bag, but once at home, they should go straight into an airtight jar and then into the cupboard!
4. Are the plants “whole”?
Whenever possible, opt for whole plants (leaves, flowers, cut roots). Since plants oxidize in the air, the more shredded they are, the more their molecules come into contact with it. We don't want that. Powdered plants therefore do not keep as long.
5. Are the plants fragrant?
A good quality dried plant SMELLS. In principle, a quality plant that has been stored in a dark place and in an airtight container will retain its active ingredients for at least a year, or even more. A plant that no longer smells has lost its essential oils, and therefore a large part of its medicinal properties. Basically, a stale plant is a no-go!
On our online store, our plants are stored in airtight containers away from light. We portion them on demand, to avoid exposing them to the elements for too long!
2. Improperly storing dried plants
Once at home, medicinal plants should always be stored 1) in airtight jars, 2) away from light.
Yes, a nice shelf of plant jars is pretty and witchy, but any good witch knows that plants should be kept in a dark cupboard. You also shouldn't leave them in their original bag (re-read point 1).
3. Not steeping your plants long enough
To be effective, herbal tea should be steeped for at least 10 minutes. Anything less is not optimal, as the plant will not have enough time to transfer its medicinal properties into the water.
The ideal procedure:
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil.
- When the water simmers, turn off the heat.
- Wait a few minutes before adding the plants, so as not to scald and damage your beautiful ladies.
- Cover your mug during infusion, to prevent essential oils (which are very volatile) from evaporating. Plus, it will keep our herbal tea warmer, hehe.
- Strain and enjoy!
4. Confusing infusion and decoction
An infusion is what we all know: pouring hot water over plants before sipping them.
A decoction is the act of extracting the properties of plants by simmering them gently for 10 to 15 minutes. As a general rule, this process is reserved for roots, branches, and fruits (e.g., dandelion roots, burdock, conifers, elderberries). This type of organic material needs more than an infusion to release its maximum properties.
5. Picking anything, any old way
Are you highly motivated, or do you want to start picking a plant or two to use them? Read our article on the subject: Eco-responsible identification and harvesting of plants. You'll be better equipped and avoid mistakes that could harm YOU, or harm the environment, its flora, and its fauna.
There you go! That concludes my little list of mistakes. It's not rocket science. 😉
Of course, before consuming any plant, it is important to find out about its contraindications and possible interactions with medication.
Accredited herbalist therapists are best placed to answer our questions about this.
Oh, and just as there's a time of year to harvest each part of a plant, there's also a time to ingest each plant, depending on the ailment (you wouldn't take echinacea for prevention, for example). Educate yourself before throwing your money away.
Happy tea time!
