Choosing the Best Herbal Products

As with any plant, a number of factors can influence the potency of herbs, including growing conditions, harvesting method, drying and storage processes, even the time of year and time of day when the herbs were harvested. Don't underestimate freshness—the moment an herb is picked, enzymes released in the plant begin to break down its active compounds. Light, heat and air all increase oxidation, which causes herbs to deteriorate.

Store herbs in airtight containers, preferably glass, away from heat and direct sunlight. Herbs in large pieces will keep longer than those that are finely cut or powdered. Plan on keeping leaves and flowers for at least two years, roots and barks for three years. Since there is no exact cutoff date, use an herb's color, taste and aroma as guides to tell you how much potency remains. Even after it is dried, an herb should retain its taste and color, and a fragrant plant should still have its characteristic aroma. For example, if dried chamomile looks brown instead of yellow or if you cannot detect much of peppermint's characteristic fragrance, these herbs are probably no good.

The savvy consumer needs to be open-minded to new, improved methods of extracting and preparing herbs, but wary of sales pitches that promote one product over another. One of the best ways to sort through this marketing confusion is to educate yourself and to seek out a store with knowledgeable clerks. Herbs are wondrous healers, but be realistic about their abilities. Take a hard look at products that sound too good to be true. Do not trust product literature as fact. As with other commodities, herbal advertising sometimes stretches the truth, uses tricky wording or tells only part of the story. Most herb companies claim that their products and processing techniques are the very best. They probably believe this, but that doesn't mean it's true.

Herbal Preparations: Quick Reference