Dosages for Herbal Tinctures for Internal Use
The dosages given for Artemis Herbs are for an average sized, generally healthy adult of between 18 to 70 years. These dosages should always be reviewed in the context of the age, weight and general health of the person taking the tinctures. Here are a few pointers to consider regarding dosage.
- Children
- We do not recommend that you treat children less than two years of age without the supervision of a qualified herbal practitioner. Click onto National Institute of Medical Herbalists website for a list of practitioners in your area.
- We have indicated which herbs are suitable for children in the Children's product list.
- Dosages for children are as follows:
- A child of 4 years can take approximately one quarter of an adult dose
- A child of 6 years can take approximately one third of an adult dose.
- A child of 10 years can take approximately one half of an adult dosage.
- A child of 14 years can take approximately three quarters of an adult dose.
- Older People
- Older people (approximately those over 70 years) should consider taking three quarters of a younger adult dosage. This will, to a large extent, be dependent upon general health, weight and any other medication being taken. Certainly frail people of any age can consider starting at a lower dosage.
- Kidney and Liver Disease
- Those with kidney or liver disease should seek professional advice, as conditions affecting these organs can also reduce excretion of medicines. Thus dosages will need to be altered. People in this category are advised to see a medical herbalist for treatment.
- Skin problems such as Eczema and Psoriasis
- Sometimes a temporary worsening can occur when taking herbs to treat these conditions. Should this happen, try reducing the dose by half and ensure you drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day. Seek professional advice if the situation does not improve within a few days. Gradually resume normal dosage once the condition starts to improve.
- Pregnant and Breast-Feeding Women
- Pregnant and breast-feeding women are always advised to seek professional guidance before taking herbal medicines. Any medicine is best avoided in the first three months of pregnancy. The product notes do give information on contra-indications in pregnancy and breast-feeding.
- Orthodox Medication
- Remember that if you are taking any orthodox medicines, you need to check that there will not be a problem with herb/drug interactions. There is a section on this web site on herb/drug interactions, plus a link to a site that specialises in this area. Your local pharmacist or NIMH herbalist can also advise you. If in doubt, speak to a NIMH herbalist.
- The Dropper
- 20 drops constitutes approximately 1ml. So, for example, where the dosage is 20 drops three times daily, this translates to a dosage of 3ml a day. In this case a 50ml bottle would last 17 days. Some tinctures can have a thicker viscosity (e.g. Hawthorn Berries and Flowers) and the dropper may not be effective. In this case remove the dropper and consume an equivalent measure of tincture.
- Number of Remedies to Take
- Finally, we advise you to only take one or two herbal tinctures at any one time. The more herbal medicines you are taking, the harder it can be to fathom out which products are working well. Some herbs can also potentiate each other; this can be a very useful effect, but is best left in the hands of a herbalist skilled in polypharmacy (the use of many herbs used in one herbal prescription) who will deliberately work with lower doses of more herbs to produce a synergistic effect. Similarly, some herbs may act in an opposing way, cancelling each other out.
To look at this item click here.
Related topics: