People with strong digestive systems can digest the capsule shell but older people and people with low stomach acid secretion and poor digestion may have some difficulty. Tablets are even harder to absorb, because the materials are highly compressed and may have an added binding ingredient. Again, your ability to digest the coating and binders and release the herb will depend on the strength of your digestive system. Tea is a traditional form in many Eastern cultures. It is important to understand that when brewing or steeping tea, the container must be covered otherwise the valuable essential oils will evaporate away.
Form is important.
For example, I may prescribe magnesium to a patient. In the United States, the most bio-available form is magnesium aspartate, and in Canada, it's magnesium citrate. Many patients get confused because they look at the label and while it does contain magnesium, it's magnesium stearate, which only acts as a binder and preservative. Stearate does not improve the absorption of magnesium, and might even interfere with the absorption of the real magnesium. This kind of information on the label is very important to understand.