Let’s talk about something I see all over herbal social media that grinds my gears.
Posts titled things like “Herbs for Anxiety” or “Plants for Depression,” paired with aesthetically pleasing carousels featuring lavender, lemon balm, St. John’s Wort, and ashwagandha—no context, no nuance, just vibes.
No mention of plant parts.
No preparation methods.
No contraindications, drug interactions, or—most importantly—why any of these herbs are being recommended in the first place.
And while I’m so here for more people getting curious about herbal medicine, this kind of oversimplification is where things can start to go sideways. I’ve seen posts casually recommending St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) for depression with zero mention of the fact that it can interact with dozens of medications.
Meanwhile, herbs like Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)—widely sold as “gentle adaptogens”—have been shown to affect the cytochrome P450 system, the very system your liver uses to process most prescription drugs…
