BUY GOOD QUALITY DRIED HERBS

It’s important to use high-quality herbs for medicinal purposes. If you decide to buy herbs until you have enough of your own to harvest, make sure you buy the best quality you can afford. They should look and smell almost like they do when fresh: they smell strong, have a vibrant colour, and you can taste them. That may sound obvious, but think of the spices you buy from supermarkets: they smell and taste strong when you first open the packet, but after a few months they lose their potency altogether. There‘s no point continuing to use them because by this time they have lost any flavouring they once had. It’s the same with dried medicinal herbs. After a while, particularly if stored improperly, dried herbs will lose all their health properties.

There are several good-quality herb suppliers online, or find a specialty health store that stocks quality herbs. If possible, buy organic and read the labels to see where and how the herbs are grown. Use growers with an honest and ethical reputation who use sustainable practices. Ask the growers if you are unsure.