A Safety Framework to Guide Herbal Use

The first step in becoming a confident herbalist is to have an in-depth understanding of the herbs you are working with. This can feel overwhelming initially, as there are so many herbs, multiple ways to use each one, and a range of safety considerations to keep in mind. In the Herbal Safety Intensive, clinical herbalist and Herbal Academy Lead Herbalist Educator Pamela Spence, MNIMH shares a framework—the Herbal Safety Continuum Scale—to help you get started using herbs safely and empower your practice of herbalism, and provides guidance on how to determine dosages so you can move forward confidently. 

And because trusted herbal information is as important as foundational tools, clinical herbalist and Herbal Academy Lead Herbalist Educator Selima Harleston Lust shares how to find reputable, experience-backed herbal sources as you research an herb’s characteristics and uses, so you can trust the information you are learning and develop your discernment as you apply it in practice. 

Herbal Safety Continuum Scale

It is helpful to visualize herbal safety as a spectrum—ranging from herbs that are generally very safe to those that require precise dosing and advanced level knowledge for safe use. The Herbal Safety Continuum Scale refined by Herbal Academy’s team of clinical herbalists ranks categories of herbs according to how gentle or potent they are on a scale of 1 (most gentle, nourishing, and safe) to 5 (most potent). The higher an herb is on the scale, the more research and experience one needs to use the herb wisely and safely. With this framework in mind, you can begin working with herbs in the 1 and 2 categories and you’ll know that you’re staying within a safe and effective range. Pamela Spence, MNIMH shares an introduction to this herbal continuum in the video below!

This video is one of many resources included in The Herbarium membership at Herbal Academy. The Herbarium is a beautiful digital portal where herbal knowledge, discoveries, and lessons await! Whether you’re an herbal student, clinician, business owner, researcher, or hobbyist, The Herbarium membership offers a convenient and affordable online library that’s packed with trustworthy herbal resources and reference materials. Check out more here: https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/

Meet your teachers! In the Herbal Safety Intensive, you’ll learn from seasoned clinical herbalists and educators Pamela Spence, MNIMH and Selima Harleston Lust.

Inside the Intensive, you will find:

Session 1:  Herbal Safety Continuum Scale

Learn how to work with herbs in a way that feels clear and safe, starting with Herbal Academy’s powerful Herbal Safety Continuum Scale—which herbs are the safest, which ones require more caution, which can be used long-term, and which are better for short-term use—to help you gain a better understanding of how to make safe herbal choices that feel right for you and your family.

Session 2: Determining Herbal Dosage

Learn how to calculate safe herbal doses based on both the category of herb and how it’s prepared—as well as a practical, step-by step approach for understanding the strength of an herbal preparation, how this affects dosage, and the guidelines used by herbalists to make dosage decisions and determine safe doses for herbs.

Session 3: Dosing Acute-Use Herbs

Learn how herbalists combine these tools (herbal safety categories, herbal preparation, and dosage) to safely work with acute-use herbs—those that are best used for short periods of time during active illness—so that you can confidently use them safely and effectively as-needed in your seasonal routine. 

Session 4: Sensitive Populations & Herb-Drug Interactions

Explore additional safety considerations, including the use of herbs during sensitive life stages such as childhood, pregnancy, and older adulthood, and with those who are taking pharmaceuticals. Herbs that are typically safe for adults may have precautions for these sensitive populations as well as adjustments in dosage. 

Session 5: Finding Safe Herbal Information

Delve into a very important aspect of herbalism—sourcing quality information so you know what you’re learning is safe. Learn how to evaluate herbal sources so you can discern helpful vs. harmful information, which red flags to watch for, and source suggestions for reliable herbal information.   

SEE THE FULL LENGTH VIDEO  IN THE HERBARIUM!

The Herbal Safety Intensive, which includes five sessions and four instructive videos, joins our many other popular intensives—on topics from fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause to botanical nootropics, kitchen herbalism, and holistic support for grief—as trustworthy resources in The Herbarium. 

Would you like to learn more about using and dosing herbs safely? Get access to the Herbal Safety Intensive today with quarterly or annual membership!

The Herbarium is an ever-expanding, illuminating virtual collection of over 200 (and counting!) searchable herbal monographs, topic-specific intensives, masterclasses, and numerous articles, videos, ebooks, and helpful downloadable resources. Members also gain instant access to several other intensives on popular topics, such as the Maker’s DIY Summer Herbs Intensive,  Regenerative Herbalism Intensive, and Seasonal Rhythms Meditations (and many, many more!). The Herbarium is crafted to help you learn and grow in your herbal journey!

Learn more and sign up for The Herbarium here.