Specialists warn that not every plant is safe, and even well-known herbs can be harmful if collected in the wrong place, confused with poisonous species, or used irresponsibly. Which herbs are safest for beginners to collect, how to properly dry them, and what mistakes are better to avoid?
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It is important to collect only well-known plants
“Although herbs are of natural origin, it does not mean they are always safe,” notes BENU pharmacist Diana Saltanavičienė. “Most plants contain biologically active substances that can affect the body as strongly as medicines, and improperly selected or used herbs can cause allergic reactions, poisoning, interact with medications, or enhance their effects.”
According to the pharmacist, it is important to collect only well-known plants because some poisonous species closely resemble medicinal plants. Herbalist Virginija Mažeikė adds that extra caution should be taken when collecting umbelliferous plants, as some of them are very poisonous. There are also cases when dead-nettles are confused with wild garlic.
“For beginners, I always recommend collecting plants that are easy to identify and hard to confuse with others: nettles, dandelions, narrowleaf plantain, oregano, raspberry leaves, birch leaves, pine needles. There is no need to rush in nature – knowledge comes with time and experience,” advises V. Mažeikė.
Confused plants and health consequences
According to the herbalist, a plant should never be identified by just one feature or a single photo on the internet: “You need to observe the whole plant – leaves, stem, flowers, smell, growing place. In my opinion, if there is even the slightest doubt, it is better to leave the plant growing than to risk your health.”
D. Saltanavičienė notes that confusing poisonous species with herbs can have serious health consequences – allergic reactions, digestive disorders, and even very severe poisonings. “In practice, cases occur every year where people are poisoned by incorrectly identified plants or their parts,” the interlocutor notes.
First rule: the importance of the growing place
D. Saltanavičienė notes that one of the most common mistakes is collecting herbs by roadsides, near industrial sites, or fields sprayed with pesticides. V. Mažeikė agrees, stating that the growing place is no less important than the plant itself – even a valuable plant can be unsuitable for use if it grew in a polluted environment.
“I do not recommend collecting herbs near busy roads, railways, industrial enterprises, landfills, sprayed agricultural fields, or other polluted places. Plants can accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants, so I always collect where nature is clean. I am convinced that quality plant raw material starts not from the plant’s name but from the place where it grew,” says the herbalist.
Proper time for collecting herbs
According to D. Saltanavičienė, it is also important to collect herbs at the right time because the amount of active substances depends on the plant’s development stage.
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V. Mažeikė adds that each part of the plant has its time: flowers are usually collected at the beginning of flowering, leaves while they are young, healthy, and undamaged.
“The above-ground part of the plant is usually collected during flowering, fruits and seeds when fully ripe. Roots are dug up early in spring or autumn when the plant has accumulated the most reserves in them. It is also very important to collect in dry weather when the dew on the plants has already dried,” notes the herbalist.
Storage and drying of herbs
When drying herbs, plants should not be left in direct sunlight or in damp, poorly ventilated rooms. According to D. Saltanavičienė, this causes loss of some valuable substances or mold may develop.
“Dried herbs are recommended to be stored in airtight containers, in a dry and dark place, so they retain their properties as long as possible. Improperly collected, stored, or poorly dried herbs can lose some active substances, be less effective, and in some cases even become unsafe to use,” says the pharmacist.
Possible interactions with medications
According to D. Saltanavičienė, herbs of natural origin can interact with medications or dietary supplements and alter their effectiveness or increase the risk of adverse reactions. For example, some herbs can enhance the effect of blood-thinning drugs, affect blood pressure, blood sugar levels, or liver enzyme activity.
“Before starting to use herbs, it is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist. Especially if prescription drugs are used, chronic diseases are present, pregnancy or breastfeeding is ongoing. Specialist consultation is also recommended for children, seniors, and people taking several medications simultaneously. Responsible use of herbs helps avoid possible interactions and ensures their benefits are maximized and risks minimized,” says the pharmacist.
Herbs from the meadow and from the pharmacy: is there a difference?
According to the pharmacist, self-collected herbs can be of good quality if the plants are well known, collected in a clean environment, at the right time, properly dried, and stored. However, this requires knowledge and experience because even small mistakes can affect the quality, active substance content, and safety of herbs.
“Herbs sold in pharmacies are quality controlled – their identity, purity, microbiological contamination, and other important indicators are checked. Moreover, the packaging provides clear information about usage, storage conditions, and possible warnings. Therefore, for people without sufficient knowledge about herbs, it is usually safer to choose products that have passed quality control and consult a doctor or pharmacist before use,” advises D. Saltanavičienė.
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