Can low doses of herbs be effective?

December 5, 2023 KATHRYN CANNON

Many herbalists share the experience that a small amount of an herb can have an energetic effect on a person.

In fact, it is common for an individual to find a couple drops of a tincture or a tablespoon of tea to have a noticeable impact on their wellbeing. Certain herbs have a reputation for working well in low doses, where others are thought to be needed in larger amounts. 

Low doses are small doses of herbs taken to create an energetic or physical reaction in the body. The idea that low, or very low doses of herbs are effective, supports the theory that plants have energetic qualities we can benefit from by consuming them in a wide range of doses.

Taking an herb in a dose or a dilution that is not typically thought to be impactful may still be useful for you as an individual. Even though it is more typical for a maintenance, or regular dose to be effective, some people find a low dose, or spirit dose, of a plant to be effective.

If only a small amount of the herb is taken, how does a low dose work?

There are several schools of thought when it comes to the effectiveness of taking very small doses of herbs, here are a few to consider.

1. Homeopathic medicine is based on a theory that suggests only a small amount of cellular energy in a plant is needed to turn on, or off a cell. Sometimes only a small amount of the herb is needed to stimulate a reaction that supports the body’s natural ability to heal.
2. Placebo effect suggests that the act of taking a placebo may speed up healing because thoughts alone may be enough to stimulate a body’s natural ability to heal and maintain balance.
3. Plant Spirit Medicine is a term used to suggests each plant is alive with a spiritual energy that can be taken in by the person consuming the herb, even at a small dose. The spirit of a plant is an energetic quality of the plant.
4. Herbs are full of flavor and smell compounds called terpenes. Terpenes have medicinal benefits ranging from mood elevation to decreasing inflammation. Fresh and well-dried herbs carry more terpenes than older or poorly dried herbs. Even a small amount of a sesquiterpene or monoterpene can be impactful.

Kathryn Cannon is an experienced organic gardener, clinical herbalist, and advocate for patient rights. She founded Terra Uma LLC in 2017 to empower clients to optimize performance and mental health by incorporating plants and fungi into their everyday routines. Kathryn was co-founder of an urban farm and community center in Portland, OR. She currently runs a wellness coaching practice in the Washington, DC area where she assists clients in finding relief with herbs and wellness tools.