Herb Capsules, Teas, Liquids, and Loose

Herbal medicine is an approach to health care that focuses on the body as a whole and uses medicinal herbs rather than synthetic drugs, but what's best: liquid herbs, bulk herbs, or capsules? It has been part of traditional health care systems in many countries for centuries.

However, when it comes to taking your herbs, there are a lot of options. When you shop our in person or online shelves, you can find a plethora of tinctures, loose teas, capsules, and so much more. But the leading question still lingers: which one is best?

We've put together a list of the different types of capsules, teas, and liquids available on our website and how they compare. Read on for an introduction to herbal medicine, including what exactly makes herbs so unique and how they can support your health.

An Introduction to Medicinal Herbs

Herbs contain active ingredients as well as a wide array of beneficial compounds called phytonutrients. They will also contain some inactive components. The amount of active ingredients varies from plant to plant and depends on growing conditions.

Most gardeners know that a crop won't grow as well in a year with less rainfall and sunshine. This can result in differences in the flavour, colour and consistency of the plant. The time of year that an herb or plant is harvested can also impact the plant's nutrient profile.

Additionally, some herbs and plants are more absorbable than others. For example, curcumin (one of the active compounds in turmeric) can be difficult for the body to absorb and is generally absorbed at low levels.

Herbalists have long understood the medicinal value of plants, which is why you often see herbs in tincture format or listed as a percentage when sold as a capsule or powder.

This means that the active ingredients in an herb are standardized, or guaranteed to be present at a clinically effective dose. This is what is tested in research studies to determine whether an herb is beneficial. Simply put, standardized herbs ensure you are getting a consistent dose of the active ingredient found in the herb—every single time.

Whole Plant vs Standardized Extracts

Standardized extracts are concentrated forms of specific active ingredients from a medicinal herb. For example, we could extract all of the caffeine from coffee beans and create a pill that contains a high dose of caffeine.

Whole plant extracts offer some advantages and disadvantages over standardized extracts because they contain all parts of the plant, not just one compound. These are usually found in teas.

The problem with whole plant extracts is that they can be hard to dose since there’s no standardization. This means that the amount of active ingredients in a serving varies depending on the bottle.

This is why, when it comes to therapeutic benefits, standardized extracts deliver the active ingredients in precise amounts.

Medicinal Herb Formats

As you can see, there are advantages to buying an herbal preparation with a standardized dose. Now read on to learn about the different formats of herbs and when you would want to choose one over the other.

Herbal Capsules

Capsules contain whole plant extracts that are usually standardized to ensure consistent potency. They are easy to swallow and effective when taken on an empty stomach. Capsules are best suited for short-term use due to their high concentration level. Many people prefer to take capsules because of their convenience; they're easy to travel with and easy to take.

Nature's Way has a reputation for being one of Canada's most trusted brands for natural health products. That's because they use pure, high-quality ingredients in all their formulas. The company's team of professionals performs thorough testing on raw materials and every batch of product. The company approaches quality from all angles, carefully implementing chemical testing, identity testing, and microbiological testing. At National Nutrition, we carry a wide variety of Nature's Way herbal capsules.

Medicinal Herb Teas

Medicinal herb teas are made from specific parts of plants (flowers, roots, or berries) and contain many active compounds and polyphenols found in the whole herb. They are steeped in hot water and consumed. Tea can be used for a long time. However, if you are using herbs for an acute condition or need a specific dose of active ingredients, teas may not be the ideal choice, as you would need to drink a lot of tea every day to get therapeutic benefits. 

That said, tea can be a great way to incorporate beneficial herbs into your routine. Try unwinding after a long day with a relaxing and sleep-inducing tea blend or soothing menstrual cramps with a warm cup of tea.

Celebration Herbals are passionate formulators who make herbal teas that are all made from organically grown herbs.

Herbal Liquids

Liquids (also called tinctures) are usually made by soaking herbs in alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin. They can be taken on their own, or, if you don't like the taste of herbs, you can mix them with juice.

Teas and capsules rely on the digestive process to be fully absorbed. Liquids, on the other hand, are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and may take effect within 15 to 30 minutes.

Plus, tinctures and liquids are easy to measure, so you know that you are getting a consistent dose every single time.

The tinctures produced by St. Francis Herb Farm are well known. Their herbalists know that each herb has its own energy, and the right extraction method—temperature and length of time—for the particular herb's medicine depends on a number of factors. St. Francis is well-known for their Holistic Herb Approach™, which treats each herb in its own distinct manner. They customize their extraction approach based on studying decades of herbal texts. St. Francis Herb Farm makes both individual and blended formulas that are effective and easy to take.

Loose Medicinal Herbs

Bulk herbs are the leaves or flowers of a plant. Compared to liquid herbs, They can be dried and ground into powder, which is then used in herbal preparations or made into teas. This form of herb is great for the budding herbalist because it can be used to make teas, tinctures, or salves. Loose herbs are also very cost-effective.

When buying dried or loose herbs, make sure they’re labelled "organic" to ensure they were grown without pesticides. At National Nutrition, we carry Organic Connections, which is a family-owned Canadian company. Since its inception, the company has been distributing the highest-quality organic herbs and seeds available. The company works directly with herbal farmers and wild crafters to ensure that their products meet high standards.

If you still have questions, we're here to help. Stop by our store (or visit us online) and chat with one of our experts to be further guided to the right format of herb for you.