As the head of the wellness coach team at FindItHealth.com, I aim to provide in-depth research on how long herbs stay in our system. The duration of action of herbs depends on their mode of consumption in the form of tea, tincture, capsule, or extract.

The research team at FindItHealth.com has found that on average, the effects of natural herbs last for a few hours to days as they are metabolized by the various body organs. However, some herbs, such as St.John’s wort or valerian root may accumulate in body tissues and exert long-lasting effects. These herbs are all still under intense study to find out how they affect the body.

How Long Does Herbal Medicine Stay In Your System?

Although it depends majorly on the herb itself and your kidney function, the effect of herbal supplements typically subside 24 hours after its intake. Each herb is unique in its beneficial qualities and the same is true for its negative effects.

It is strictly advised to consult with your health care provider before taking any herbal medicine and dietary supplements.

A few types of herbal teas and their medical properties are listed below: 

Caffeine

Contained in black and green tea, caffeine can be a powerful stimulant that stays in your body ranging from hours to days. The negative symptoms, which may be helpful in the case of students, of caffeine include sleep prevention, jitters, and elevation of anxiety. For people who enjoy black and green tea but want to avoid caffeine, decaffeinated forms of these teas are available.

Nicotine

Cigarettes alone do not contain nicotine rather teas such as horsetail and lobelia also contain nicotine which remains in your system for a long time. The bloodstream absorbs this chemical within minutes where it can stay for days. 

Alkaloid

Much like nicotine, alkaloids are dangerous chemicals that are quickly absorbed into the blood minutes after tea intake and may remain there for long periods of time. For instance, comfrey tea contains an alkaloid that can cause liver damage and kidney stones.  

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is part of traditional Indian medicine. This herb has many adaptogenic properties and does not leave the system until after 2 to 3 days.

Ashwagandha helps people with their medical conditions such as anxiety and inflammation.

As long as the dosage is right, it can be taken for a long time without any adverse effects.

How Long Does It Take An Herbal Extract To Work?

The time taken for the herbal medicine to take effect depends on the active ingredients and their potency. Also factoring in the physical state of the extract, different herbal medicines tend to vary in this aspect but you can expect them to start working within a few minutes to hours.

Liquid Herbal Extracts:

Liquid herbal extracts such as kava have high bioavailability which means that they are absorbed quickly and begin to work immediately. The relaxing effect of kava can be felt 10 to 20 minutes after drinking it. Bitters target the digestive system at around the same time. 

Rhodiola Rosea

Being an adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola rosea allows our body to regulate stress levels and cope better. This tea takes effect 30 minutes after intake and remains in your body for 4 to 6 hours upon consumption.

K2/Spice 

K2 can be felt working within minutes of intake and may persist for hours. These effects include feeling relaxed and happy. However, negative symptoms include elevated heart rate and paranoia. 

Tonic Herbs 

These herbs are slower as compared to liquid herbal extracts but they have a long-lasting impact which is why they are taken long term.

FindItHealth.com: Frequently Asked Questions

The research team at FindItHealth.com answers some of the most frequently asked questions from our readers below:

How Long Does Herbal Medicine Stay In Your System?

Herbal ingredients are quickly metabolized by our body organs and do not stay more than 24 hours in our system. However, some herbs like valerian root may accumulate within the body for weeks at a time.

How Long Does It Take An Herbal Extract To Work?

Medicinal herbs take considerable time to start exerting any noticeable change as the herbal preparations usually work subtly and gradually. You can expect an herbal extract to work after a few minutes to hours depending on dosage, potency, method of administration, and your unique metabolism.

Conclusion

The research team at FindItHealth.com concludes that herbal supplements used for various health conditions do not have long-lasting effects on the body and the active ingredients contained within them are quickly metabolized. 

Herbal Medicine should be used after consulting a qualified health practitioner to avoid any adverse reactions. If you have any health concerns for which conventional medicine has proven to be ineffective, herbal medicine can be used without the risk of any negative side effects.