Demystifying dosage
Consider a tincture of any particular herb. How much of it should one take?
This is where many people get stuck. They want a clear number, a fixed answer, printed neatly on the bottle that removes all uncertainty, but dosage is one of the most nuanced aspects of herbal medicine.
It depends.
Why Dosage Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Dosage depends on:
Personal sensitivity
The strength of the preparation
The herb itself
What you’re addressing
The tradition of herbalism you’re working within
Some people with a more delicate or weaker constitution (and especially children or the elderly) may be highly responsive to small doses and others with a stronger, more robust body constitution (think a big, burly guy) may need more to achieve the desired effect.
Obviously, the ailment itself is a big factor. Addressing chronic issues gently over time is going to look different than how we would address an acute ear infection, for example.
HErbal remedies for chronic ailments
Well-respected herbalist Matthew Wood has recommended something like:
3 drops, 3 times a day.
Three drops? Wow! That doesn’t seem like it would do anything at all!
But, when an herb truly matches the specific indication and the person’s bodily constitution well - when it is the right herb - less is often required. It acts like a key in a lock. In most cases, I’ll suggest someone start around 10 drops per dose for the first week or so. If that’s sufficient for them, great! If not, they can increase gradually. Surprisingly often, that modest amount is enough, and it makes your tincture bottle last much longer! But more importantly, it teaches you to listen to how your body responds instead of potentially overwhelming it from the start.
Herbal Remedies for acute Ailments
The Principle: Early, Often, After
Now let’s shift gears slightly. When we’re talking about treating common acute ailments at home - colds, sore throats, bacterial infections, digestive upsets - there is one principle that matters tremendously:
Early, Often, After.
If you want herbal remedies to truly work, you must:
Catch things early
Dose frequently or consistently
Continue a little while even after symptoms improve
Herbs work with the body, not against it. They do not override your systems with a single dominating dose the way pharmaceuticals often do. Their strength is in steady, persistent support. In acute situations, this can mean dosing every 1–3 hours. That often surprises people. They assume herbal dosing is like pharmaceuticals - pretty good sized doses once or twice per day. But in acute care, frequency matters more than volume. And, stopping too soon is one of the most common mistakes I see. When you stop the moment you feel better, the body may not have fully resolved the issue. The symptoms quiet down, but the underlying imbalance could linger and return with a vengeance. Continue a little after. Let the body catch up to the healing work it is doing!
Here’s a link to a video I made explaining this principle more in depth:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ11VZiN7qk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Discernment Is Not Failure
Let me be very clear. Good herbal care is not about stubbornly refusing medical help. There is wisdom in knowing what you can handle at home - and just as much wisdom in knowing when to seek outside care. If something worsens, drags on longer than it should, if red-flag symptoms appear:
Call a doctor, y’all.
That is not failure! That is discernment and good stewardship.
Home herbalism is about taking good care of our people — not about pride or proving a point (at the expense of our people.) Yikes! With practice over time, you will realize you CAN handle far more at home than you once thought you could. And that skill and confidence - tempered with humility of course - is the heart of a true healer.
A Final Word on Safety
Always talk with your doctor and research possible risks and contraindications before using any new herb, especially if you are:
Pregnant
Trying to conceive
Breastfeeding
Managing a health condition
Taking medications
Herbal medicine is powerful. Herbs can and do interact with pharmaceuticals. Respect them, learn about them and use wisely!
The goal with dosage is not just to simply know the right amounts for things - the goal is to understand how plants and bodies interact - and to learn how to adjust thoughtfully. Sometimes that means 40 drops and sometimes it means 3, and sometimes it means giving 10 drops every two hours for a full day because you caught something early and you’re determined to support the body all the way through.
That is the art and the practice!
And that is how home herbal health care becomes both effective and responsible.
