Do you have a tea for_______?

Many people visit us looking for the perfect tea or tisane to help with specific ailments. While we love sharing our knowledge about herbs, we’ve made some changes to how we approach these conversations.

Why? First, regulations on health claims have tightened, and we want to stay on the right side of the rules. More importantly, we’ve realized it’s not responsible to give health advice without knowing your personal history. We’re tea lovers, not doctors or herbalists, so offering medical advice just isn’t our role.

Herbs and spices are nature’s little wonders—many even inspire modern medicines! But they’re not magical cure-alls and need to be used thoughtfully. Did you know some herbs can interfere with medications, affect blood clotting, or even build up toxins in the body when overused? They’re powerful, but like any remedy, they come with limits and quirks.

That’s why we always recommend consulting a trusted healthcare professional who knows your needs. They can help you safely incorporate herbs into your wellness routine. While we’re happy to share what we know, having expert guidance ensures you get the best results.

Exploring herbal remedies is like walking through a garden full of possibilities. Herbs have fascinating stories and incredible benefits. But to truly enjoy them, balance is key—lean on trusted sources and talk to a professional before making changes.

Ready to learn more? We’ve got some great resources to help you explore these botanical treasures. After all, understanding herbs can be as rewarding as the benefits they bring!

German Commission E Monographs

Did you know Germany has been way ahead of the game when it comes to herbal medicine? The German Commission E, a multidisciplinary group within their federal health agency, has been evaluating the effectiveness of various herbs and combinations for years. Back in 1998, the American Botanical Council translated 380 of these German monographs and published them in a handy book. It’s like a treasure trove of herbal wisdom!

You can still find this book floating around online if you’re a fan of hard copies, or—here’s a little tip—you can visit the American Botanical Council’s website to access digital versions of these fascinating monographs. It’s a peek into a world where science and tradition come together, and who wouldn’t want that?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Looking for reliable information about herbs and supplements? You're not alone. That’s why the About Herbs section in Sloan Kettering's Integrative Medicine program is such a gem. Instead of brushing off the interest in natural medicine, they’ve embraced it—doing the homework for you so you can make informed choices without adding more stress to your plate.

Here’s the best part: it’s completely free and lovingly curated by pharmacists and botanical experts who keep it fresh and up-to-date. Did you know some herbal remedies popular 20 years ago have since been re-examined through modern research? This resource stays on top of it all, expanding what we know about the fascinating world of herbal medicine. It's like having a wise, friendly guide walk with you on your wellness journey—ready to share insights and help you.

Medline Plus

Here’s a gem we absolutely love—and it’s free! This resource is packed with insights on the effectiveness of a wide variety of dietary supplements and herbs. Curious about dosages? Wondering about potential drug interactions? It’s all here, laid out in a way that makes navigating the world of supplements feel a little less overwhelming. 

The only slight hiccup—if you can even call it that—is that the information isn’t always formatted the same way. But here’s the bright side: this is a curated list of trusted links from various medical sites, all in one place. Think of it like having a helpful friend who’s already done the digging for you, so you don’t have to sift through each site yourself. It’s a little time-saver that makes finding what you need so much easier!

WHO Herbal Monographs

The World Health Organization has a downloadable PDF of their 1999 book  Monographs on Select Medicinal Plants. We're including it as a free resource, even though it's not something we've used much. If you find it useful, here are links we found for pdf copies of Vol. 2,  Vol. 3 and Vol. 4.

These monographs were developed to help medical practitioners in developing countries and inspired the WHO to work toward establishing an International Herbal Pharmacopeia, to pool knowledge and resources to create universal standards for herbal medicine. But, there's a caveat to all of this. The folks compiling all of this are human and may make mistakes, which brings us to our next resource.

American Herbal Pharmacopeia

If they didn’t have one standout quality, I might not have included them here. But their monographs—oh, their monographs! These are no ordinary summaries; they’re in-depth, detailed explorations. For example, the one on Ashwagandha spans over 20 pages! The catch? Each one is paid, and not just a few bucks—they’re more of an investment. So, why mention them? A press release on their site from June 2024.

Turns out, the World Health Organization released an Ashwagandha monograph that, according to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), misinterpreted key details from AHP's extensive research. Since 2020 this mix-up led several countries to label Ashwagandha as unsafe during pregnancy. AHP's press release details how the herb was misclassified and explains what was done to investigate those claims and how it ultimately led to the classification being changed to safe to use during pregnancy—with proper precautions, of course.

It’s a bit of a deep dive, sure, but we admire their commitment to transparency. It feels like they aren’t just sharing research—they’re working to set the record straight. Sometimes, it’s the stories behind the science that make you appreciate the effort even more!