There is a version of herbalism that says you have to choose.

Plants or pharmaceuticals.
Natural remedies or conventional medicine.
The apothecary or the doctor's office.

That's not how I see it.

I believe herbalism and modern medicine can sit on the same shelf.

For me, responsible herbalism is about understanding what plants can offer, knowing where their limits are, and making informed choices about how they fit into the rest of your life.

Sometimes that means a cup of herbal tea and a quiet evening.

Sometimes it means taking your prescribed medication.

Sometimes it means doing both.

And sometimes it means putting the herbs back on the shelf and speaking to your doctor or pharmacist.

That isn't a contradiction. It's part of being responsible.

What does “both/and” herbalism mean?

I've always been drawn to herbalism because it gives us another way to build a relationship with plants.

There's something special about growing a herb, learning its traditional uses, preparing it into a tea or extract, and making that preparation part of a daily ritual.

But loving plants doesn't require me to reject everything else.

Both/and wellness means making room for complexity.

You can care about traditional herbal knowledge and value modern scientific research.

You can enjoy herbal tea and take prescribed medication.

You can use a Botanical Nectar as part of a personal ritual and speak to your pharmacist about whether its ingredients are appropriate alongside your medicines.

You can be curious about herbs without assuming that “natural” automatically means “safe.”

That last point is especially important.

Herbs are active substances

One of the biggest misconceptions about herbal products is that natural automatically means gentle or risk-free.

Plants contain biologically active compounds. Some can have meaningful effects in the body, and some can interact with medicines.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that supplements can sometimes increase or decrease the effects of medicines, including potentially causing unwanted side effects. It also highlights that there is limited information about interactions for many herbs and supplements.

One of the best-known examples is St John's wort.

St John's wort can affect the way the body processes numerous medicines and has documented interactions with medicines including some antidepressants, hormonal contraceptives, warfarin and other drugs.

That's why I don't believe responsible herbalism should be built around the idea that plants are inherently safer than medicines.

Plants deserve the same respect we give anything else that can affect the body.

What herbal rituals can offer

This is where I think it's useful to separate a herbal ritual from a claim about treating a medical condition.

A cup of tea can be a way of creating a pause in your evening.

Preparing a botanical infusion can connect you with the plants you're working with.

An alcohol-free Botanical Nectar can become part of a personal ritual around a particular intention.

These things can have value without needing to replace medical treatment.

My approach to Alchemilla has always been about creating herbal rituals for sacred moments in a busy modern world.

That might mean making a cup of tea before bed.

It might mean taking a moment with your favourite Botanical Nectar.

It might mean creating a ritual around journaling, meditation, divination or simply stepping away from your screen.

The ritual itself can be meaningful.

The important distinction is that a meaningful ritual isn't automatically a medical treatment.

What herbal products should not replace

There are times when professional medical care matters more than anything you can prepare in your kitchen.

Herbal products shouldn't be used as a reason to delay assessment for symptoms that are new, severe, persistent or getting worse.

They also shouldn't be used as a substitute for prescribed medication without speaking to the person who prescribed it.

The NHS specifically advises people not to stop prescribed medicines without talking to their doctor first, and recommends speaking with a pharmacist before taking herbal medicines when you're already taking other medicines.

So if you're experiencing something that concerns you, the first step isn't necessarily finding the perfect herb.

Sometimes the first step is making an appointment.

Sometimes it's calling your GP.

Sometimes it's asking your pharmacist a question.

And sometimes it's emergency care.

Knowing when herbalism isn't the appropriate tool is part of knowing how to use herbalism responsibly.

How can herbs interact with medication?

There are several ways this can happen.

An herb may:

• Increase the effects of a medicine
• Decrease the effects of a medicine
• Affect how quickly your body processes a medicine
• Increase the likelihood of side effects
• Have overlapping effects with a medicine

The exact interaction depends on the specific plant, preparation, dose, medicine and person.

This is one reason blanket statements like “this herb is safe with medication” aren't particularly helpful.

The European Medicines Agency's herbal monographs consider safety information and interactions with other medicines for individual herbal substances and preparations. The EMA also distinguishes between preparations and recognises that the available evidence can vary considerably from one herb and preparation to another.

So rather than asking:

“Are herbs safe with medication?”

A better question is:

“Is this particular herb, in this particular preparation and amount, appropriate alongside the medicines I take?”

That's a question worth taking to a qualified professional.

Questions to ask your pharmacist

Your pharmacist can be a particularly useful first point of contact when you're wondering about a new herbal product.

Bring the actual product or its full ingredient list if possible.

Then ask:

1. “Can I take this alongside my current medicines?”

Give them a complete list rather than just the medication you think might be relevant.

2. “Are there any known interactions with these ingredients?”

The specific herbs matter.

3. “Does the preparation or dose make a difference?”

A food amount, tea, concentrated extract and other preparations aren't necessarily equivalent.

4. “Should I separate this from my medication?”

Sometimes timing can matter, depending on the particular interaction.

Don't assume that spacing everything out automatically makes an interaction safe.

5. “Are there any reasons I should avoid this?”

This is especially important during pregnancy or breastfeeding, before surgery, or if you have a significant medical condition.

NCCIH recommends keeping a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements, including doses, and sharing that information with healthcare providers.

In Ireland, the HSE's medication-safety guidance similarly recommends keeping an up-to-date medicines list and including herbal products and supplements.

When should you speak to a healthcare professional first?

There are some situations where I would always recommend checking before introducing a new herbal product.

These include:

• You're taking prescription medication
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding
• You're preparing for surgery
• You have a significant medical condition
• You're taking several medicines
• You're taking a medicine with a narrow therapeutic range
• You're considering an herb known to have significant interactions
• You're using an herb to address a persistent or concerning symptom

NCCIH highlights particular caution with medicines that have a narrow therapeutic index, where relatively small changes in drug levels can have significant consequences.

If you're unsure, ask.

There is absolutely no prize for figuring it out alone.

What this means for Alchemilla

This philosophy shapes the way I create and talk about every product at Alchemilla.

I want to honour traditional herbal knowledge without presenting tradition as proof of everything a plant can do.

I want to make beautiful, useful preparations without promising that a bottle of herbs can solve every problem.

I want to talk about the plants themselves — their traditional relationships with people, their sensory qualities, their history and the rituals we can build around them.

And I want to be honest about the places where the evidence is limited or where professional advice matters.

That's what responsible herbalism looks like to me.

Curiosity without recklessness.

Tradition alongside evidence.

Plants alongside medicine.

Ritual alongside real life.

Both/and.

You don't have to choose

I don't think you need to abandon herbalism because modern medicine exists.

And I don't think you need to reject modern medicine to have a meaningful relationship with plants.

There is room for both.

There is room for the doctor and the herbalist.

For the prescription and the teacup.

For evidence and tradition.

For asking questions.

For changing your mind.

For knowing when to make a cup of tea — and knowing when to make an appointment.

Your wellbeing doesn't have to fit neatly into one category.

That's the kind of herbalism I want Alchemilla to represent.

Explore the Alchemilla approach

If you're curious about how I work with herbs, you can learn more about the philosophy behind Alchemilla on the [About Alchemilla Herbcraft] page.

For everyday herbal rituals, explore the [Herbal Tea collection] or discover the [Botanical Nectars].

Always read the individual product information before use and speak with a qualified healthcare professional or pharmacist if you're taking medication or have questions about whether a particular herbal product is appropriate for you.

[1] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). How Medications and Supplements Can Interact. Explains how supplements can increase or decrease medication effects and why healthcare-provider conversations matter. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/tips-how-herbs-can-interact-with-medicines

[2] NCCIH. 6 Tips: How Herbs Can Interact With Medicines. Provides examples of known and potential herb–drug interactions and recommendations for maintaining an accurate list of medicines and supplements. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/herb-drug-interactions

[3] NCCIH. Herb-Drug Interactions. Reviews known and potential interactions and notes the limitations of available clinical evidence for many herbs. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/herb-drug-interactions

[4] NHS. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Includes guidance on interactions, speaking with a pharmacist, and not stopping prescribed medication without medical advice. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/herbal-medicines-and-complementary-therapies

[5] European Medicines Agency (EMA). European Union monographs and list entries. Explains how individual herbal substances and preparations are evaluated for safety, efficacy/traditional use and medicine interactions. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/herbal-medicinal-products/european-union-monographs-list-entries

[6] Health Service Executive (HSE), Ireland. Know Check Ask — medication safety. Guidance on maintaining an up-to-date medicines list, including herbal products and supplements. https://www2.healthservice.hse.ie/organisation/qps-improvement/national-medication-safety-programme-safermeds/get-started/