HOW TO JUDGE THE QUALITY OF AN HERB WITHOUT OPENING A BOOK

The herbs you use form the basis of the herbal work that you do. Many folks complain that herbal remedies and products do not work well. Often this is the result of using poor quality herbs as the base of the preparation. Herbs are plants; containing a life force of their own. They can be of poor quality or lifeless due to improper growing, handling, or storage techniques. Obviously the better the quality of the herbs used, the better the results that will occur.

A short vocabulary list:

• COMMERCIAL - in many cases this means that the growing method is unknown or that the plants were sprayed with pesticides or herbicides during their growth
• ORGANIC - plants that have been grown according to specific rules regarding the procedures of growing; simply defined as having used no synthetic pesticides or other chemicals
• WILDCRAFTED - gathering the plants from their natural environment, where they have had no human contact or manipulation
• WOODSGROWN - plants that have been planted in what would be their natural environment, but placed and cared for by people

So, how do you judge good quality herbs? Dried herbs should look, taste, smell almost exactly as they do when they are fresh. And they should be effective. Here are the main guidelines for determining high quality herbs: (this works for fresh herbs, too)

• COLOR: The herb should retain the same color as when it was fresh with very little color variation. Leaves should be vivid, bright and alive looking. Blossoms or flowers should retain almost the same color as when fresh. Roots generally are not as colorful as leaves or blossoms, but they should retain their original color, as well.
• SMELL: Herbs have distinctive odors that are effective means to determine quality. Smell your herbs before purchasing them. They should smell strongly, not necessarily good. Good quality valerian should smell like really dirty socks; good quality peppermint will make your nose start to run and eyes sting; and good quality nettles just smell "green".
• TASTE: Herbs should have a distinctive, fresh favor. You want to judge them on the potency of flavor. Here are some questions you can ask yourself - do they taste fresh? strong? vital? distinctive? are your taste buds tingling?
• EFFECT: The herbs must work effectively. Go back and reassess the other qualities and make sure you are using the correct herb!

How To Store Your Dried Herbs:

Herbs will rapidly lose their quality, potency and efficacy if not stored properly. Exposure to heat, air, moisture, and light are the main damaging factors. So, by following a few suggestions for optimum storage you can protect and extend the life of your dried herbs.

• The absolute best storage container for herbs is glass jars or bottles. Glass allows the herbs to breathe, keeps excess air and moisture out and maintains the integrity of the herb for the longest time. Ideally, dark glass is best as it cuts down the light rays or store clear glass in shaded or dark spaces. If you are using recycled jars, make sure there is no moisture, especially around the rims of the lids. If there is a cardboard inner lid, remove and clean it well. Other containers like tins, boxes or paper bags can be used, but there are not as good as glass.
• Store your herbs out of direct light and in a cool area. This means do not set-up your spice rack next to your stove or above your refrigerator! Heat and light will destroy the essence of herbs quickly. A good place is where you store your grains and flour.
• Herbs should be properly labeled and dated when purchased or dried. This way you know the what and when without guessing.
• The shelf life of an herb is determined by how long it retains its quality of freshness. The general rule is . . . leaves and flowers can be stored up to one year; roots and barks can be stored up to 2 years. But use this as a guide only; make your determination based on your sense.
• Do not store in fridge or freezer.

This article only covers the basics on judging herbs. As with anything else use your own common sense. If possible, know where your herbs come from, how they were grown and harvested. It is imperative that the parts of the plants be harvested at the appropriate time to ensure the best potency and strength. Obviously, if you grow, harvest and dry your own plant material you can control these factors. When buying herbs from stores or products already made ask questions and if you do not get satisfactory answers, do not buy them. If a store will not let you open the jars to smell, touch or taste the herbs; it might make you suspicious that they have something to hide. With the growth of the herbal industry in the past few years, unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there trying to make a buck. Seek out reliable growers or retailers. Remember, to make good quality products or medicine you must start with the best quality herbs.