Taking care with using herbs

I was recently re-reading an informative book written by renowned American herbalist Susun Weed, Breast Cancer, Breast Health. The Wise Woman Way. In this book she has categorised herbs well. "To use herbs wisely and well, we need to understand each category, their uses, best manner of preparation and usual dosage range." These four herb categories are nourisher, tonifer, stimulant and sedative, and potential poison.
Nourishers are the safest of all herbs. Side effects are rare. These herbs are taken in any quantity for any length of time. They are used as foods, just like spinach and kale. Nourishers are highly nutritive, providing high levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenes and essential fatty acids. Some nourishing herbs include alfalfa, amaranth, calendula flowers, chickweed, dandelion, fenugreek, flax seeds, nettle, oatstraw, plantain leaves, raspberry leaves, red clover and seaweed.
Tonifers act slowly in the body and have a cumulative effect. They build the functional ability of an organ (like the liver) or a system (like the immune system). Tonifying herbs are most beneficial when used in small amounts for extended periods of time. The more bitter the tonic taste, the less you need to take. Bland tonics may be used in quantity. Side effects occasionally occur with tonics, but are usually short term. These include burdock root, chaste tree berries, dandelion root, echinacea root, fennel seeds, garlic, ginkgo leaves, hawthorn berries, lemon balm, milk thistle, parsley, raspberry leaves, St John's wort and turmeric.
Sedatives and stimulants cause a variety of rapid reactions, some unwanted. Some parts of the body may be stressed to help other parts. Strong sedatives and stimulants push us outside our normal ranges of activity and may cause strong side effects. If we rely on them and then try to function without them, we wind up more agitated (or depressed) than before. Habitual use of strong sedatives and stimulants leads to loss of tone, impairment of functioning and even physical dependency. The stronger the herb the more moderate the dose needs to be and the shorter its use.
Herbs that tonify and nourish while sedating/stimulating, especially oatstraw and peppermint, can be used freely as they do not cause dependency. Others include cleavers, ginger, hops, lavender, marjoram, motherwort, passionflower, rosemary, sage and skullcap. Strong herbs include blessed thistle root, shepherds purse, wild lettuce and valerian.
Potentially poisonous herbs are potent medicines. These herbs are taken in tiny amounts and for only as long as needed. These should only be used under supervision of a qualified herbalist. Some examples include comfrey root, pokeroot and goldenseal root.
To contact Kim: herbaceousnz@gmail.com, or 027 307 3062.