Teapotheca vs. NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Herbs at a Glance is a free series of short fact sheets from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It’s one of the most trustworthy places to check what research says about a popular herb, and we recommend it. Teapotheca is built for a different job: helping you make things at home.
At a glance
| Feature | Teapotheca | NCCIH Herbs at a Glance |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Home herbalists who make things | Checking what research says about an herb |
| Herbs | 134, and growing | 56 fact sheets |
| What each entry covers | Botanical detail, safety notes, preparation, growing guides, TCM cross-references, and linked recipes | Common names, what the science says, side effects and cautions, and further resources |
| Recipes | 45 tested recipes, each linked to its herbs | Not its purpose |
| Find herbs by | How you feel, plant part, preparation method, or flavor | A–Z list |
| Personal tools | Herbarium Journal, Brewing Log, Apothecary Shelf, Shopping List (members) | HerbList mobile app for reading the fact sheets |
| Cost | Free library; Full Herbarium $4/month or $36/year | Free, public domain |
Where NCCIH is the better pick
When you want to know what the research actually shows. The fact sheets come from a federal research center, stay focused on evidence, and are free with no account. NCCIH also publishes clear guidance on how herbs can interact with medications. If you take prescription medicine, read the NCCIH sheet for any herb you’re considering, and talk with your healthcare provider.
Where Teapotheca is the better pick
When you’ve decided to make something. Herbs at a Glance tells you what an herb is and what’s known about it. It isn’t meant to tell you how to brew it, what pairs well with it, or how to grow it. Teapotheca covers more herbs, links each one to tested recipes, lets you search by how you feel or what’s on your shelf, and gives you a journal and brewing log to keep track of what works.
Using both
Check NCCIH for the research. Come to Teapotheca to decide what to make, how to make it, and whether you’d make it again.
Details about NCCIH Herbs at a Glance reflect its public website as of September 2026. If something has changed, let us know. Teapotheca is an educational reference, not medical advice.