Why Product Descriptions Are Only Appearing Now?

Since the creation of Nordiska Örter, you may have noticed that my products, dried herbs, teas, tinctures, etc. didn’t include detailed descriptions neither on the website nor on the product labels. That was a conscious choice.

It’s not that I didn’t want to share knowledge or the traditional uses of plants, but rather that I wanted to protect my work by respecting the legal framework around herbal products. In Europe, the line between what can be said about a plant and what becomes a medical claim is extremely thin. And the law is very clear: you cannot promise therapeutic effects without supporting clinical studies.

Why I didn’t write anything before

Since launching Nordiska Örter, I have chosen not to write anything about the properties of herbs. I wanted to make sure I didn’t cross the fine line between educational herbal information and illegal medical claims.

The European law indicates that a plant or product is presented as something that can treat, prevent, or diagnose a disease, it automatically becomes a medicinal product.
And to make such a claim, one must provide solid scientific evidence through clinical trials, more precisely double-blind studies that prove the effect, dosage, and safety.

As a small producer, this is of course far beyond my reach and that’s perfectly fine. My role is not to create medicine, but to grow and share high-quality herbs that people can use for their own well-being in traditional, natural, and local ways.

Why do I feel ready to do it now?

Over the past two years, many of you have asked me:

“How do I use this tea or this tincture?”
“What is this tincture for?”
“I like your herbs but do not know how to use them or for which purpose.”

Even though many of you already know how to use herbs, or are taking courses to learn, others need a bit more guidance to use the products with confidence. I realised to go further in helping you I needed to take this step. 

After three years of working professionally with plants, learning, growing, foraging, drying, and transforming them and connecting with all of you, I finally feel the desire, need, and confidence to start writing these descriptions.

So what does the law say?

Navigating herbalism and European law is not an easy world. In the EU, the way you can speak about a plant depends on the legal category of the product:

European monographs

To help herbal producers and practitioners navigate these rules, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published a set of herbal monographs.

These monographs outline what can and cannot be said about each plant, based on available scientific data and traditional use.

They distinguish two main categories:

Well-established use: This applies when an active ingredient has been used for more than 10 years and its efficacy and safety are well established. In these cases, marketing authorization can be based on existing scientific literature instead of new clinical studies.

Traditional use: This refers to plants that have a long history of traditional use but lack full scientific proof. You can talk about their traditional, cultural, or historical uses, as long as it is clear that this information is educational, not medical.

That's why, you will now also find always find a note with product descriptions stating that all information shared is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace medical advice or treatment. This is the legal disclaimer that herbalists and producers are required to include a reminder that the knowledge shared here is meant to educate, inspire, and guide, not to diagnose or treat. And that’s the truth: I’m not here to diagnose or treat anyone. My work is about growing and offering local herbs in different forms, helping people live more connected to their local land and the natural world around them.

The European monographs are also very helpful to find information about safety and reported side effects, which helps ensure that the information shared is both accurate and responsible.

In practice, what can I say or not say about herbs?

In addition of all stated above, I cannot make specific statements about the effects of a product unless it has been clinically tested. However, I can share what is traditionally known about the herbs it contains.

Here are some examples of how the same message can be expressed legally and respectfully:

A product like this dried nettle: Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves are traditionally used in infusions to support vitality. Nettle is naturally rich in minerals, making it a highly valued plant in European traditions.

Calendula salve: Nourishing balm made from locally grown calendula flowers. Appreciated for its softening and soothing qualities, it helps protect and comfort dry or sensitive skin.

In conclusion

Adding the product descriptions isn’t just a technical update, it’s a natural evolution of my work. It’s my way of sharing more knowledge with you, while staying honest and within the law.

Thanks to these European monographs, and your trust, I can now offer you more guidance about how to use the herbs clearly and safely. Because in the end, my purpose remains the same: to live local and natural, and reconnect people with local plants.