Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest and most well-developed healing traditions in human history — and one of the cornerstones of naturopathic practice. At Natura, we use plants as medicine with both a deep respect for traditional knowledge and a grounding in modern clinical evidence. These two perspectives are not in conflict — they are complementary — and together they give us a rich, nuanced understanding of how to use herbs effectively and safely for each individual patient.

How We Use Herbal Medicine

Herbs are not supplements in the conventional sense — they are complex, living medicines containing hundreds of active compounds that work synergistically in ways that isolated pharmaceutical agents often cannot replicate. At Natura, we use botanical medicine in a wide variety of forms:

Tinctures — we have many liquid herbal extracts in-house, allowing us to customize formulations to the specific needs of each patient
Teas and infusions — both prepared in-house and recommended for home use, particularly where gentle, daily herbal support is indicated
Capsules and tablets — standardized herbal preparations for consistent dosing when that is clinically appropriate
Topicals and oils — herbal preparations applied directly to the skin for local therapeutic effects
Herbs as food — one of our favorite expressions of botanical medicine is the use of herbs in everyday eating. Culinary herbs like turmeric, ginger, rosemary, garlic, and thyme are not just flavoring agents — they are genuinely therapeutic foods with well-documented anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and health-supporting properties. We encourage patients to think of their kitchen as an extension of their medicine cabinet, and we weave herbal foods into our nutritional guidance wherever possible. This bridges the world of botanical medicine and food as medicine in a way that is practical, accessible, and deeply naturopathic.

We source high-quality herbs and herbal products through our in-house medicinary and through partnerships with trusted local herb shops when needed.

What Herbal Medicine Can Do

Herbs have applications across virtually every body system and health condition — and you will find botanical medicine woven throughout nearly every page of our site. Some of the most well-established applications include:

Immune support and antimicrobial activity
Anti-inflammatory and pain support
Hormonal balance and endocrine support
Nervous system and adaptogenic support
Digestive and gut health
Cardiovascular and circulatory support
Detoxification and liver support
Respiratory health
Skin health and wound healing

At Natura, botanical medicine is rarely used in isolation — it is one layer of a comprehensive, individualized care plan. But it is a layer we take seriously, prescribe thoughtfully, and have seen make a profound difference for many patients.

clear glass jar with white powder inside

Natura Providers Who Use Herbal Medicine

Dr. Christine White Deeble

Dr. Michael Smith

Dr. Kendra Featherman

Dr. Margaret Coffey

Interested in Herbal Medicine?

Whether you are curious about botanical medicine for the first time or have been using herbs for years and want more individualized guidance, we would love to talk.