Traditional medicine treats symptoms and body parts separately. Herbal medicine, on the other hand, views the body as a whole, addressing root causes and restoring balance with natural products.

Yes, you can! But it can be a bit complex. Many herbs have similar actions, but finding the right substitute depends on your needs. It's best to consult a qualified herbalist for personalized advice.

This depends on many factors. Physicians have NO experience or knowledge of plant medicine as a rule. They do not spend any time at medical school in the study of natural medicine, so will usually advise against combining herbs and pharmaceuticals. Herbalists, however, have included in their curriculum, studies of pharmaceuticals and their

chemicals. I personally don’t like to combine pharmaceuticals with herbs because one tears down while the other builds up. But it can be done if done safely and with the advice and counsel of a qualified herbalist. One note here. NEVER stop taking your medications without consulting with your doctor or a natural care practitioner. It can be very dangerous.

To keep your herbs fresh and potent, store them in a cool, dark place! Glass jars are perfect because plastic can leach chemicals. Keep them away from heat and light to maintain their quality.

Holistic medicine looks at the body as one system with interdependent parts.

Many times, symptoms will seem to be related to one thing, when in fact, disfunction in another organ may be the issue.

Fatigue for example, can be related to hormones, liver disfunction, heart issues, anemia etc. Holistic practitioners are going to ask questions, check blood tests and try

to get to the root of the issue and then provide suggestions or recommendations.

Yes, they are! Teas provide minerals and vitamins, while tinctures (alcohol extractions) target specific issues. For example, heart tonics are best as tinctures, while teas offer general nutrients.

The Simpler’s method is related to what they call “Folk Medicine” and is a simple way to measure the herbs we are putting into our formulas. This is done by “parts” and the only rule is that the part must remain consistent throughout the recipe. For example, if I give you a recipe of 2 parts chamomile, 1 part passionflower and ½ part valerian, you can use any unit

of measurement you want to make the formula as long as you are consistent. A “part” can be a teaspoon, a cup, or a gallon. Just be sure to use the same measuring item for all ingredients.

Use herbs until balance is restored. After that, there's no need for medicinal use. Enjoy herbs like chamomile for relaxation, but avoid long-term use without a clear reason. Always check with a qualified herbalist to be sure.

Tonic herbs are herbs that have actions related to a particular organ or system and are taken to strengthen that organ or system. For example, hawthorn is a very good herb for the heart. So if you were taking it as a tonic, my recommendation would be to take it in low doses for 2 weeks, then stop. I do this regularly with herbs for my lungs, heart, liver and digestive system on a quarterly basis.

The best way to learn about herbs is hands on! Start with 1 or 2 herbs in pots and “get to know them”. Taste them, use them in your food, in teas etc. If you want to become a qualified herbalist, there are many wonderful schools

out there, but book knowledge is not enough. You need to really experience them first hand to understand them and use them well.