Herbal supplement usage is on the rise, especially for people looking for alternatives to conventional pharmaceutical products and those seeking support for common issues. With so many options, it can be difficult to know which herbal supplements to choose.
Three tips to help you choose the right herbal supplements
Tip #1: Have Patience and Do Your Homework
Not all herbs are the same. Different herbs will take different amounts of time to take effect in your body. Some herbs may work quickly to address acute concerns, while other herbs need time to restore balance in the body before you are able to really feel a change. Knowing which herbs offer support in the moment, and which herbs require additional time, can offset disappointment and misunderstanding.
How do you get started?
We suggest always reading the product information printed on the package(s) and to research in advance how long these herbs typically need to take effect so that you can manage your expectations.
When researching ingredients, you may find some say best results obtained after a month of daily use. Alternatively, your research could reveal some herbs may indicate usage on an "as-needed basis". Follow the guidance of trusted herbal reference materials and consult a healthcare practitioner if needed.
For example, Gaia Herbs Calm A.S.A.P., is a supplement specifically formulated to provide support for occasional anxiousness as needed*. Calm A.S.A.P. uses a proprietary blend of herbs that have been used traditionally to provide a sense of calm and peace when you need it the most, taking you from feeling occasional anxiousness to feeling tranquil.*
Gaia Herbs Emotional Balance™ can be taken daily to support a sunny outlook*. To reap the benefits of Emotional Balance™ and its ingredients, best results will be achieved after prolonged use*. This formula contains a blend of herbs, including St. John's Wort*. St. John's Wort's primary action is a positive effect on emotional and mental well-being*.
Tip #2: Choose an Herbal Preparation that Fits Your Lifestyle
Herbs can be prepared, concentrated, and administered in a number of ways. When choosing a specific herbal supplement, you should first review what preparations are available and in what form, such as liquid extracts, capsules, mixes, powders, etc. Determine if there is a formula designed for your specific concern, and if so, which delivery format will bring you the most benefit. In other words, figure out what is most convenient and useful for you that you will be more likely to take according to the suggested use instructions. Maybe you prefer our concentrated and convenient Holy Basil Liquid Phyto-Caps® so you can easily toss a bottle in your bag to use during the day, or perhaps you decide you are better off treating yourself to a cup of Tulsi tea each morning for your Holy Basil.
Tip #3: Know the Source, Quality and Purity of Your Supplements
All herbal supplements are not created equal. The purity, integrity, and potency of ingredients used in your supplements will impact performance and results. Look for products that have what you want in them, and nothing you don't (such as fillers, heavy metals, or pesticides and harsh chemical residues).
At Gaia Herbs, we use only organic methods to cultivate more than 6.5 million plants each year on our farms and we test the plants in our analytical laboratory to pinpoint the exact right time to harvest them and extract and concentrate the plants' healing power in our state-of-the-art processing facility. All of that leads to products exceptional in their purity, potency and integrity.
You can always trust that what you read on a Gaia Herbs label is what you will find in the bottle. To help make it easy for our customers, we created meetyourherbs.com, the world's first comprehensive herb traceability platform. You can look up any of our products with a bottle-specific Herb ID. Here, you will discover the origin of your herbs, how they were grown, and see validation of your product's level of purity and potency. We verify at every stage of our products seed-to-shelf journey because you deserve to know exactly what's in your herbal supplement.
Connecting Plants and People
For over thirty years, Gaia Herbs has been Connecting Plants and People to nurture health and well-being. To help you learn more about the herbs used in our products, our website features a comprehensive herb reference guide. This is a great tool for those just getting started with herbal supplements as well as those who have been taking supplements for years.
And if you ever have any product specific questions, please feel free to contact us and one of our dedicated product specialists would be happy to help.
We hope you enjoy the journey on your path to well-being!