While many students are downing their second cup of coffee, Jeff Fullerton begins his morning by ingesting nearly a thousand milligrams of herbal supplements.

Fullerton, a junior in English education from Algonquin, has found through trial-and-error exactly what herbal doses are most beneficial for his needs.

It is very important to do research before taking herbs, he said. Different people have different needs, and you need to know what dosage is right for you.

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Fullerton began using and reading about herbal products when a friend, who worked at a health and nutrition store, suggested ginseng as a way to perk up. He began taking other herbs last year but has been an avid user of ginseng for about three years.

Ginseng, a derivative of the root of a variety of ginseng plants, is used to stimulate both physical and mental activity. It also improves concentration and prevents fatigue.

Those varieties of ginseng, and other herbs in natural forms, can be mixed according to recipe or taken in pill form. Most people, including Fullerton, prefer the convenience of the pill form.

Now that I’m a student with busy schedule, I find that I don’t have enough time to mix herbs myself, he said. I’ve had to experiment with different amounts to see what is good for me. I discovered that more isn’t always better.

But extensive herb research is needed before choosing either method.

A 1996 Consumer Reports article featured 10 brands of ginseng supplements with differing amounts of ginsenosides in each brand. Ginsenosides are the active ingredients of ginseng root, and brands with lower amounts are essentially a waste of money.

Other research can reveal potential hazards with herb usage, although many people assume herbs are safe because they are natural. Sara Anderson, director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics and a licensed dietitian for 22 years, warns against misusing and abusing herbs for that reason.

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There are more than 500 herbs on the U.S. market right now, she said. One of the riskiest is coltsfoot. You wouldn’t know that unless you’ve researched it.

Teas brewed with coltsfoot herbs are used to treat the persistent cough associated with diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema. However, it also shrinks tissues, prevents fluid secretion and interferes with iron absorption.

Anderson suggests Herbs of Choice and The Honest Herbal, two books by author Tyler E. Varro, for help when deciding to investigate herbs. These books provide research on herbs, and the history of herbs as well.

The use of herbs as medicine is an ancient practice, but it is quite new to the United States. The Egyptians began using herbal remedies in 1500 B.C. The Chinese began to prefer herbs to conventional medicine by the Chinese by 2800 B.C. Herbal medicine came to the United States only 100 years ago.

Out of the $4 billion Americans spend on vitamin supplements, $1.5 billion is spent on herbs annually. And this number is growing 15 to 20 percent each year.

Rene Cook, supplement manager of the Neighborhood Co-op, 104 E. Jackson St., says many local consumers find herbs at the store. She agrees that the herbal industry is growing at a fast rate, and believes that it is due to modern farming practices.

Ideally you would get enough nutrients from our food, she said, but our soil is depleted, so our nutritional value is depleted. We must replace them with natural, organic products.

Cook turned to herbs in 1973 when doctors told her that her gallbladder needed to be removed. After a change in diet, coupled with herbal additions, Cook’s gallbladder remains healthy today.

Instead of putting her complete trust in medical doctors, Cook encourages taking responsibility for one’s own healing. She also stresses the importance of self-education.

You have to know your limits as a self-healer, Cook said. No one herb or supplement is for everyone. We’re all different with different bodies.

And while Fullerton agrees everyone may not be the same, he advocates investigating herbs as an alternative to medicine.

Herbs have helped me to feel more balanced, he said. While herbs may not be for everyone, they’ve definitely had a positive effect on my body.