An argument can be made for both whole plants and supplements, depending on your priorities. The most important factor in choosing which one to use is access.

Accessibility

When we break down the benefits of whole plants vs. supplements for health support, the most essential first step is always access, because everyone has different levels of access, and we always meet people exactly where they are.

Levels of accessibility can be impacted by geography, living situations, time, financial or physical limitations, and product availability. The best form of any medicine is one that is readily accessible and consistently used. I can recommend the very best plant for whatever challenge you’re facing, but if you can’t access it or it’s too complicated to use, it is of no use to you.

That is why we begin with accessibility. I’d like you to please take the information that follows as a guide, and always follow your intuition for what will fit best into your life.

Whole Plant Benefits

Plants have evolved over millions of years to grow prolifically, to be alluring for pollination but protected from predation, and to fulfill their roles within the ecosystem. Nutrients from the soil are absorbed through roots or rhizomes, and photosynthesis turns sunlight into energy. In turn, ingesting plants can provide our bodies with:

• Macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
• Vitamins: A, B, C, D, E, and K
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc
• Other Compounds: fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants

Whole plants contain synergistic compounds that work together for a greater effect than any single compound alone, beneficial microbes that improve gut health, and a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

Whether we grow or forage the plants we intend to use for medicine, the location and quality of the soil in which they are growing is essential to consider, ie, avoid anything growing near railroad tracks or along a highway. Certain plants are remediators; through a process called phytoremediation, these plants will actively absorb heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides, radioactive isotopes, petroleum-based compounds, and industrial solvents. Special attention should be paid to the conditions in which phytoremediators are grown. Even plants that are not remediators can absorb pollution from traffic, salts used to melt snow, and pesticides and fertilizers.

In the case of foraging, responsible harvesting dictates that we take no more than 10% of what is available. We always leave plenty of healthy, growing plants untouched so they can continue fulfilling their roles in the ecosystem and reproduce. Before harvesting, we ask permission and express gratitude to the plants themselves and the earth for providing what we need.

When we plan to use whole plants as medicine, they should be well cared for and as healthy as possible. This should be easy to do if you can grow the plant yourself. If you plan to purchase fresh or dried plant material, be intentional about the source and ensure their practices align with your values and intended use.

Supplements

Many supplements are made by extracting and isolating the core ingredient from plants or animals; sometimes, they are created through laboratory or food-based synthesis. Once the nutrient is isolated, it is often filtered or distilled to remove any leftover impurities. Lastly, isolated and purified nutrients are combined with other components, such as binders and fillers, before they take their final form.

During the extraction and isolation process, all compounds or nutrients that developed alongside the particular ingredient being sourced are removed. That is considered a significant loss by many; however, it is an imperative step in supplement processing to ensure precise dosing, product consistency, safety, and maximized efficacy. We trade full-spectrum, synergistic compounds for reliable dosing and targeted efficacy.

Once a desired vitamin or mineral has been identified, finding a supplement isn’t tricky. The challenge is finding a company from which to buy it. My suggestion for choosing a supplement company is to clarify which criteria are most important to you and narrow down from there. Ethical sourcing, cruelty-free and sustainable business practices, potential allergen exposure, form of ingestion, price, and availability are some examples. Sourcing high-quality supplements from well-known, well-reviewed companies comes at a premium.

Contraindications, Preparation, and Dosage

Researching a plant for known contraindications is an often-overlooked step in starting a plant medicine. Any new medication should be thoroughly researched to ensure that it will not have a negative impact when used in combination with other medications or conditions. If you are thinking of adding plant medicine to a pharmaceutical regimen, consulting with the doctor who prescribed those medications is considered best practice.

Many people associate plant medicine with being “natural” and mistakenly assume that anything natural is automatically safe. Most, if not all, of the pharmaceutical medications produced today originated in plants. The active ingredient in aspirin is salicylic acid, and it was first discovered in the bark of the white willow tree. Morphine and codeine are derived from the opium poppy. Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a chemotherapy drug that was initially isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. The drug used to slow the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Galanthamine, is isolated from the common snowdrop.

Using a trusted source for guidance on preparing and dosing a new plant medicine is imperative, and the process should be gradual as you adjust to its effects. Start low and go slow.

Food is Medicine

I like to begin the introduction to plant medicine in the simplest and most accessible way. Suppose you are interested in starting a plant medicine regimen, but the options are overwhelming. In that case, my best recommendation is to begin with well-known herbs and spices ingested in the same way our ancestors would – as food.

Start with a leafy, green salad every day or as often as possible. A simple green salad might include leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. Just those ingredients deliver an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and hydration. Adding hemp hearts increases our iron intake and provides omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Next, we add orange slices, which are rich in Vitamin C and help make iron bioavailable, as well as boost our immune system.

Then we make our own dressing from:

• Olive oil (good quality): heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, Vitamins E & K, and beneficial antioxidants
• Apple cider vinegar: probiotics, trace minerals
• Sea salt: supports digestion and electrolyte levels
• Black pepper: aids digestion, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and enhanced nutrient absorption
• Garlic powder: antiviral, immune-boosting, antioxidant properties, supports cardiovascular health, and regulates blood sugar

If you purchase these ingredients from a source known for high-quality products, you will be well on your way to building your own apothecary shelf. Look at you, dabbling in plant medicine!

Love you to your roots,
Elizabeth