Tips for creating an herbal routine

Whether from the standpoint of client or practitioner, you may have experienced the phenomenon that knowing what to do is only half the battle; getting support on how to do it is the other half. It is easy enough to learn about herbalism from a book, and often times we even know what we should be doing in order to improve our health and well-being. The true challenge is actually doing it. 

Altering your daily habits and making lifestyle changes isn’t easy. Most have a sense of what to do, they just can’t seem to make the changes on their own. 

This article will offer tips on creating an herbal routine so that you can integrate herbal supports and other wellness practices into your daily life with greater ease—creating a seamless, natural flow to your self-care routine. 

Know Thyself

Being realistic about your own tendencies and having an understanding of what does and doesn’t work for you is one of the keys to creating a successful herbal routine. For instance, if you can’t stand swallowing capsules, then perhaps an herbal tea or tincture would be a better preparation to choose. On the other hand, if the taste of certain herbs makes your stomach turn or mouth turn to chalk, then capsules may be the best choice for you. 

These choices may also vary depending on the herb or formula you are taking. For example, some folks can’t stand bitter-tasting herbs and others detest the flavor of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). These folks may choose to substitute these herbs if a formula calls for them. Another example could be that you are fine with the starchy taste of powdered ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), but powdered triphala on your tongue makes your mouth pucker. In this case, you might choose ashwagandha as a powder and triphala as a capsule. 

As a practitioner, I like to obtain this type of valuable information from clients during the intake process, as it increases client compliance. As a client, sharing these useful tidbits about your preferences and aversions will also help guide your practitioner in creating a sustainable herbal routine for you. 

Setting Reminders

Once you and your herbalist or health practitioner have determined the best herbal supports for you, the next task is creating consistency so that you give your herbal allies a chance to do their work. Of course, some herbs are only intended for very short-term use. For instance, in the case of acute indigestion, taking a digestive support formula such as hingwashtak churna (a classical Ayurvedic formula) once or twice could be all you need. However, as is often the case, herbalism is not a quick fix—it is more about being consistent over a determined period of time. This is where skill in creating an herbal routine comes in. If forgetting to take your herbs gets in the way, here are a few memory tips for establishing a regular herbal routine.