06/10/2026
The biggest driver behind the rise of misunderstanding around herbs is the influencer culture surrounding them. Social media has created an environment where anyone with a following can suddenly become a “wellness expert” or “herbal expert” often with little understanding of plant energetics, formulation, dosage, quality, preparation methods, constitution, contraindications, or the deeper patterns happening in the body.
Unfortunately, this has exacerbated a credibility issue herbalists have been dealing with for a long time. Years ago, people often learned about herbs through health food stores, herbal schools, local herbalists, apprenticeships, or community elders, where real conversations could happen about the plant, the person, the preparation, and appropriate use.
Today, the landscape is very different. The internet particularly marketplaces, viral reels, TikTok trends, and influencer-driven wellness spaces has created a race for clicks, algorithms, affiliate links, and quick claims. Marketing often wins over tradition, experience, and clinical understanding, and flashy promises outperform nuance.
This is one reason some people try herbs and then say, “Herbs don’t work.” And often, the problem isn’t the plant.
Sometimes the wrong herb was chosen. Sometimes the dose was too low. Sometimes the preparation was weak, old, poorly made, or not appropriate for what the person actually needed. Sometimes the herb was chosen because a video said it was “good for anxiety,” “good for hormones,” or “good for inflammation,” without any understanding of the person’s constitution, digestion, tissue state, nervous system, medications, vitality, or the root pattern underneath the symptom.
Many reputable herbalists, herbal companies, and traditional practitioners are investing heavily in education, sourcing, quality, formulation, and teaching people how to use herbs with respect and discernment. The challenge is helping people distinguish between herbalism built on relationship, tradition, study, and experience and “herbal advice” built on social media engagement.
Herbs are not trends. They are not one-size-fits-all. And they are not meant to be reduced to a 30-second reel.
When herbs are used well, they can be incredibly supportive. But they require the right plant, the right preparation, the right dose, the right person, and the right timing.
That is the difference between following herbal trends and practicing herbalism.
