I Was Skeptical of Herbs Until I Understood How They Worked

Herbs were always somewhat in the background of my life. My mom leaned more toward holistic medicine, and while I know she meant well, it often felt like things were being used without much clarity or explanation. A new herb would show up in the cupboard, usually in pill or capsule form, but no one really explained why it might help or how it was working.

And that left me feeling skeptical, not dismissive, but unconvinced. It all seemed a little vague. Sometimes even a little performative. Like something you tried because someone else said it helped, not because you actually understood what it was doing in your body.

What I needed wasn’t more hype. I needed understanding.

When I finally started learning about the compounds inside herbs, the minerals, nutrients, and constituents that interact with your body in real and supportive ways, it all started to make sense. I realized herbs weren’t magic. They weren’t random. They were plants with specific actions, shaped by the chemistry they naturally contain.

That’s what pulled me in, not aesthetic routines or mystical energy, but the grounded, practical science behind how herbs support the body.

The Book That Changed My Mind

It started with curiosity. I told a friend how I used to love making potions as a kid, gathering leaves and dirt, mashing them together in water just for fun. She casually said, “Why not take a class in botany or herbalism, just for yourself?”

That little comment stuck.

I didn’t find a class right away, but I bought a book:
📚 The Everyday Herbalist by Jane Wrigglesworth
That was the beginning.

It was the first time I saw herbs explained in a grounded, clear way. The book listed specific actions, minerals, and benefits for each plant, and most importantly, why they worked.

That’s when nettle first caught my attention.
The author explained that nettle is incredibly mineral-rich, especially in iron, magnesium, calcium, and silica, all things my body was craving after gut issues and low energy.

And it made sense.
Of course plants are medicinal. They're filled with the stuff our bodies need.

What Makes Herbs Medicinal?

Let’s go a little deeper—because this is the part I wish someone had explained to me from the start.

Herbs aren’t magical.
They’re medicinal because they contain bioactive compounds that interact with the systems of your body in very real ways. These compounds fall into several categories—each with different actions, effects, and benefits.

Here are some of the major players that make herbs so powerful:

Minerals

Plants like nettle and oatstraw are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, silica, potassium, and more. These aren’t “nice to haves”—your body needs these minerals to function. Here's a little rundown of just some of the processes these minerals support in your body:

• Magnesium helps regulate nervous system activity and supports relaxation.

• Iron is essential for energy production and oxygen transport.

• Calcium supports bone health, nerve signaling, and hormone balance.

• Silica strengthens connective tissue, hair, and nails.

• Potassium supports hydration, muscle function, and cardiovascular health.

What’s cool is that plants deliver minerals in a form your body can actually absorb (they contain the bioavailable forms), especially when steeped as long infusions. You’re not just drinking tea—you’re absorbing foundational nutrients.

Vitamins

While herbs aren’t typically high in vitamins the way some fruits or veggies are, many do contain beneficial amounts—particularly:

• Vitamin C (found in rose hips, hibiscus) supports the immune system and enhances iron absorption.

• B-vitamins (especially in oatstraw) support energy, brain function, and stress resilience.

• Vitamin K (in herbs like nettle) supports bone and blood health.

Combined with minerals, these nutrients act as cofactors, supporting hundreds of processes in the body like detoxification, repair, and energy production.

Mucilage

This one’s my favorite, especially in marshmallow root and slippery elm.
Mucilage is a gel-like, slippery substance that:

• Coats and soothes irritated tissues (like the gut lining, throat, and bladder)

• Helps reduce inflammation

• Supports tissue healing

It’s especially helpful for anyone dealing with gastritis (like me), sore throat, dry cough, or general digestive sensitivity. And you can’t get this kind of support from a pill, mucilage needs water, so it’s best extracted through cold infusions.

Tannins

Tannins give you that slightly dry, puckery feeling in herbs like yarrow, red raspberry leaf, and rose. They’re astringent, meaning they:

• Tone tissues — meaning it strengthens and supports the structure and function of specific tissues which helps them work more efficiently without overstimulating or weakening them.

• Tighten and firm inflamed or leaky areas (like gut lining or skin)

• Help stop minor bleeding

That’s why astringent herbs are often used for wound healing, gut integrity, and even postpartum care.

Bitters

Herbs like dandelion root, artichoke leaf, and gentian are bitter for a reason, they stimulate the entire digestive process. Bitter compounds:

• Trigger the release of saliva, stomach acid, bile, and digestive enzymes

• Help the liver detoxify and metabolize hormones

• Support better nutrient absorption

Bitter herbs are especially helpful for sluggish digestion, bloating, indigestion, and fatigue after meals. And yes—you have to taste the bitterness for it to work! That’s what signals the vagus nerve and kicks off digestion.

Adaptogens

Adaptogens are herbs that help your body adapt to stress by supporting the HPA axis (your central stress-response system). Instead of pushing your body in one direction, they work by modulating cortisol levels and enhancing resilience, thanks to compounds like withanolides, saponins, polyphenols, and beta-glucans and more.

Some popular adaptogens include:

• Tulsi (Holy Basil): Contains rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols that calm the nervous system, support mental clarity, and uplift mood.

• Ashwagandha: Rich in withanolides that help regulate cortisol, calm anxiety, and support thyroid and hormone function.

• Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng): Contains eleutherosides (a type of saponin) that enhance stamina, endurance, and immune resilience.

Adaptogens don’t push, they build. Taken consistently, they help you respond to stress more evenly, feel less drained, and stay grounded through life’s ups and downs.

Alkaloids, Flavonoids, and Polyphenols

Now we’re getting into the real nerdy stuff, but stay with me:

• Alkaloids are often the most pharmacologically active compounds (like caffeine in coffee or berberine in goldenseal). They can be stimulating, pain-relieving, or even antimicrobial.

• Flavonoids and polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation, protect your cells from oxidative stress, and support long-term health.

• Herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, skullcap, and gotu kola contain different flavonoids that influence mood, digestion, circulation, and more.

These compounds are why herbs can support mood, inflammation, digestion, immune function, and even skin health, without being synthetic.

It’s Not Just What’s in the Herb, It’s How You Use It

How you prepare a herb changes what you extract.

For example:

• Cold infusions preserve mucilage (great for marshmallow root).

• Long, hot infusions extract minerals and vitamins (ideal for nettle or oatstraw).

• Tinctures are best for herbs with alcohol-soluble compounds or herbs used in small doses (like adaptogens or bitters).

• Powdered capsules often miss mucilage, bitters, or volatile oils, and they bypass the taste experience that activates digestion and nervous system support.

This is why how you make your tea or tincture matters. You’re not just tossing herbs in water and hoping for the best. You’re working with real compounds, and that’s powerful.

My Aha Moment with Nettle (AKA The Plant That Won Me Over)

I was living in New Zealand when I really fell in love with herbalism.

I had been using mineral drops in my water to supplement my nutrition, but they were leaking all the time, hard to travel with, and frankly, not something I wanted to rely on long term.

Then I read that nettle leaf was not just a gentle herb, it was loaded with minerals.

I could make something myself.
I could steep a whole plant and flood my body with nutrients.

That’s when I started making long-steeped infusions. I learned about oatstraw and its support for the nervous system, and tulsi, which gently boosts energy and helps you feel more centered.

That’s when I stopped reaching for products, and started building relationships with plants. Not that I don’t still use products too. It’s just that my main focus is plants. 

The First Real Shift I Noticed: My Energy

Before herbs, I felt foggy. Sluggish. Like it took energy just to want energy.

Even when I was sleeping or eating okay, I just didn’t feel fully rested.

But once I started drinking herbal infusions—especially nettle, oatstraw, and tulsi—that changed.

It wasn’t a caffeine jolt.
It was a slow, steady return to presence.

I felt more awake, yes, but also more motivated. I wanted to move. To create. To engage.

From Control to Partnership: A New Way to Care for My Body

Before herbalism, I wanted to trust my body, but I didn’t fully know how.

Now? I do.
I don’t treat my body like a machine I need to manage or fix. I treat it like a friend.
Something I support, and that supports me back.

Herbs didn’t create that trust from scratch, but they deepened it. Every time I scoop herbs into a jar or sip something warm and nourishing, it’s like I’m saying, “I’ve got you.”

That’s what this is about. A relationship. Not a regimen.

Why I Always Come Back to Nourishment First

Herbalism can be approached in a lot of different ways—detoxing, stimulating, symptom-relief. And yes, sometimes those things are helpful.

But the herbs I love most? They’re the nourishers.

🌿 Nettle for minerals, vitality, and overall strength
🌿 Oatstraw for nervous system support and soft energy
🌿 Tulsi (Holy Basil) for mood, clarity, and emotional resilience

I don’t just love their benefits. I love the process.

• Smelling the blend before I steep it.

• Watching the herbs swirl in hot water.

• Drinking slowly, letting my body receive it.

This isn’t just self-care. It’s grounding and connecting in one simple action. 

Herbalism Isn’t Like Pills And That’s a Good Thing

If you’re new to herbs, one of the most important things to understand is this:
Herbs work differently than pills.

They’re not quick-fix band-aids. They don’t override your symptoms. They don’t push your body, they support it.

You might not feel a big shift after one cup of tea. But drink it consistently? Tune in to how your body responds? That’s where the magic builds.

Healing is slow. Herbs remind you of that. But that slowness is also what makes them so powerful.

3 Beginner Herbs That Show Why Plants Work

If you’re curious where to start, here are three beginner-friendly herbs that beautifully show how plant medicine supports the body:

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

• Mineral-rich (iron, magnesium, silica, potassium)

• Supports energy, hormone balance, and circulation

• Great for long-steeped infusions

Oatstraw (Avena sativa)

• Nourishes the nervous system

• Contains B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium

• Helps with emotional resilience and gentle grounding

Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)

• High in mucilage (a slippery compound that soothes tissues)

• Supports the gut lining, throat, and urinary tract

• Best used in cold infusions to preserve the mucilage

Each of these herbs supports a different part of the body, but they all help the same way:
By giving your body what it needs to take care of itself.

Ready to Try It? Start Here.

Here’s how to start exploring herbalism in a way that feels grounded and supportive:

✅ Start with nourishing herbs.
Skip the intense detox stuff and begin with plants like nettle, oatstraw, tulsi, or marshmallow root.

✅ Let it be a ritual.
Make an infusion the night before. Smell the herbs. Touch them. Be curious.

✅ Don’t force it.
If you wake up and don’t feel like drinking your infusion, it’s okay. Toss it. Try something else tomorrow. Let your body lead.

✅ Expect subtlety.
Herbs whisper. Over time, you’ll learn to hear them.

✅ Stay flexible.
Herbalism is a relationship, not a rulebook. You get to change it up.

📖 Want more infusion guidance? I wrote a whole post on herbal infusions [link here].

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Magic. It’s Medicine.

Once I learned what actually makes herbs medicinal, I stopped feeling like I needed to choose between science and intuition.

Because herbalism can be both. It is both.

It’s the ancient wisdom of plants + the modern understanding of how the body works. It’s tradition + biochemistry. It’s intention + action.

And that’s why it works. It’s not fluff. It’s not hype. It’s nourishment.

If you want a simple way to get started, my Tea & Herb Recipe Cards include beginner-friendly blends for stress, digestion, and nervous system support. You can check them out [here].

Because sometimes? One cup of tea is where everything shifts.