The Public Herbarium

dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) leaves and flowers

Your Friendly Guide to Avoiding Beginner Pitfalls

Welcome to herbalism—where you’ll make mistakes, learn from them, and become wiser for it. Every experienced herbalist has fumbled, failed, and face-palmed their way through the learning process. The good news? You can avoid many common mistakes by learning from others who’ve already made them.

This guide walks you through the most frequent errors beginners make, why they happen, and—most importantly—how to fix them or avoid them altogether. Think of this as your herbal safety net.

Mistake #1: “This Looks Close Enough!” (Plant Misidentification)

What happens: You think you’ve found plantain, but it’s actually a toxic lookalike. Plant misidentification is the most dangerous mistake in herbalism.

Why this happens: Over-confidence, relying on single features, using apps as only ID tool, excitement overriding caution.

The danger: Poisonous plants grow everywhere. In NZ, hemlock (deadly), foxglove (deadly), and tutu (deadly) are common.

How to fix it:

Mistake #2: Too Many Herbs in One Formula

What happens: You read that 10 herbs help sleep, so you mix them all. Result: Expensive, muddy-tasting medicine where you can’t tell what’s working.

Why this happens: More seems better. It’s not.

How to fix it:

Real-world example:

For sleep: Chamomile (70%) + lemon balm (20%) + peppermint (10%)

Why this works: Each herb has a clear role. You can tell which is doing what. If one causes problems, you know which to remove.

Why 10-herb formulas fail: Can’t troubleshoot. Can’t identify what’s working. Can’t identify what’s causing side effects. Expensive. Often tastes terrible.

The learning progression:

  1. Week 1-2: Chamomile alone. Learn how it affects you.
  2. Week 3-4: Add lemon balm. Notice the difference.
  3. Week 5-6: Add peppermint. Refine the taste.
  4. Now you understand your formula completely.

Example good formula: Chamomile (70%) + lemon balm (20%) + peppermint (10%) for sleep

Mistake #3: Poor Extraction & Preparation

Common errors:

How to fix it:

Real scenario that goes wrong:

Example scenario: “I made calendula oil from fresh flowers I picked. Three weeks later, the jar had white fuzzy mold growing in it. I had to throw the whole batch away—$15 of olive oil wasted, plus all that time.”

What happened: Fresh plant material contains water. Water + oil + time = perfect environment for bacteria and mold, including potentially deadly botulism.

Fresh vs. dried:

The wilting method (if you MUST use fresh):

  1. Lay fresh herbs on clean cloth
  2. Let wilt 12-24 hours (reduces water content)
  3. Check they’re limp, not crispy
  4. Still risky—fully dried is always safer

Signs your preparation went wrong:

If any of these appear: Discard immediately. Don’t taste, don’t save it, don’t try to salvage it.

Mistake #4: Unsustainable or Contaminated Harvesting

What happens: Over-harvesting damages populations. Harvesting near roads = pesticides/pollution in your medicine.

The 20% rule violation: Taking more than 20% of a plant population damages its recovery.

How to fix it:

NZ-specific: Check nzpcn.org.nz for conservation status before harvesting any native

Mistake #5: Wrong Dosage or Unrealistic Expectations

Too little: “This chamomile isn’t working” (using 1/4 the effective dose)
Too much: “I feel weird” (took 3x recommended dose)
Expecting instant results: Herbs often work gradually over weeks, not minutes

How to fix it:

Dosage examples that make a difference:

Chamomile tea for anxiety:

Valerian tincture for sleep:

Echinacea for immune support:

The “more is better” trap:

Example Scenario: “The bottle said 2-5ml tincture 3x daily. I figured 10ml would work twice as fast. Instead, I got a headache and felt weird. Turns out, more isn’t always better.”

Why more can be worse:

The patience factor:

Acute conditions (respond quickly):

Chronic conditions (need time):

Why herbs aren’t instant:

Mistake #6: Assuming “Natural = Safe”

The myth: If it grows in nature, it must be safe.

The reality: Many of Earth’s deadliest toxins are natural (hemlock, deadly nightshade, death cap mushrooms).

Critical safety errors:

How to fix it:

NZ Poisons Centre: 0800 764 766 (24/7)

Common dangerous drug interactions:

St. John’s Wort: Interacts with birth control pills (reduces effectiveness = pregnancy risk), antidepressants (serotonin syndrome), blood thinners (dangerous), HIV medications, cancer drugs. Induces liver enzymes that break down many medications faster.

Licorice: Interacts with blood pressure medications, diuretics, heart medications. Can cause potassium depletion and dangerous heart rhythms when combined with certain drugs.

Ginkgo: Blood thinning effects. Don’t combine with aspirin, warfarin, or other blood thinners. Avoid before surgery.

Garlic (medicinal doses): Also thins blood. Problematic with anticoagulants or before surgery.

The lesson: “Natural” doesn’t mean “safe” or “non-interacting.” Herbs are medicines. Treat them with appropriate respect and caution.

Mistake #7: Poor Storage & No Labeling

What happens: Mystery jars. Rancid oils. Ineffective dried herbs. Wasted time and money.

How to fix it:

Labeling (non-negotiable):

Storage:

Test before using: Smell, look, taste tiny amount. If questionable, discard.

Your Mistake-Avoiding Action Plan

Week 1: Learn 1-3 plants with 100% certainty. Read safety information. Check contraindications.

Week 2: Make ONE remedy with ONE herb. Label immediately. Store correctly. Take notes.

Week 3: Use remedy consistently. Observe effects. Adjust dose within safe range.

Week 4: Add one new herb OR one new method. Don’t rush.

Ongoing: Join local herbalism groups. Learn from experienced herbalists. Keep detailed notes. Share successes AND failures.

When You Make a Mistake (You Will)

  1. Figure out what went wrong: Moldy? Weak? Wrong plant?
  2. Learn the lesson: What would you do differently?
  3. Write it down: You’ll remember better
  4. Try again: With your new knowledge
  5. Share: Help others avoid the same mistake

Be patient with yourself. Be humble. Be curious. And most of all, be safe.

Quick Safety Checklist

Before using any herb, ask:

  1. ✓ Am I 100% certain of this plant’s identity?
  2. ✓ Did I check contraindications for me specifically?
  3. ✓ Did I check drug interactions?
  4. ✓ Do I know the safe dose?
  5. ✓ Is this herb appropriate for my condition?
  6. ✓ Are my dried herbs completely dry?
  7. ✓ Did I label my preparation completely?
  8. ✓ Am I storing this correctly?
  9. ✓ Did I harvest from a clean location?
  10. ✓ Do I have realistic expectations?

If you answered “no” or “I’m not sure” to ANY question: STOP and get more information first.

Sources & Further Reading

Books:

Safety:

NZ-Specific:

Research:

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always positively identify plants before use. Consult qualified healthcare practitioners before using herbal medicines, especially if you have health conditions, take medications, are pregnant, or are treating children. You are responsible for correct plant identification and safe preparation practices. When in doubt, seek professional guidance.

For medical emergencies, call 111. For poisoning information, contact the National Poisons Centre: 0800 764 766.

Note on Pricing: All prices mentioned in this guide are approximate and based on New Zealand suppliers as of December 2025. Prices vary by supplier, season, and market conditions. We recommend checking current prices with your local suppliers.

The Public Herbarium is built on a foundation of scientific integrity, transparency, and care. Research sources are referenced throughout the site wherever possible. Content creation is assisted by AI tools and carefully reviewed for accuracy.