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Forms and Use of Herbs
| Herbs are available in a variety of forms, including fresh, dried, in tablets or capsules, or bottled in liquid form, see our section Herb Forms for a description of each. You can buy them individually or in mixtures formulated for specific conditions. Whatever type of product you choose, the quality of an herbal preparation; be it in capsule, tablet, tea, tincture, bath, compress, poultice, or ointment form is only as good as the quality of the raw herb from which it was made. Herbal extracts needs further exploring because there are different types of extracts which can sometimes be confusing. Many herbalists believe that standardized extracts are the only ones that should be used by the average consumer. Standardized extracts arose out of the need to create a uniform product for clinical trials. Broadly speaking, there are two types. One is based on identifying and quantifying an extract to a characteristic chemical marker compound. The second, identifies and concentrates one or more as active constituents, making it closer to the level of a chemical isolate. This means that other naturally occurring constituents are displaced at the expense of one or a number of compounds. Per a recent article on this matter, those who support standardized extracts believe that they represent a trend towards higher technological refinement. They believe that they will provide a more consistent, stronger and a more effective product backed by chemical analysis to confirm the presence and ratio quantity of one or a number of characteristic plant constituents. They further assert that this will increase consumer confidence and that this is ultimately good for greater acceptance of herbs by the medical establishment and the mainstream. As herbal medicine extends further into the mainstream, science and industry must not forget that there is an as yet unrecognized profession of highly qualified and experienced clinical herbalists. The American Herbalists Guild founded in 1989, represents the emerging herbalist profession. There is much more to this debate than can be covered here but keep in mind that you must ask questions even when purchasing organic or wild-crafted whole herbs or extracts. The use of fertilizers and pesticides can greatly alter the quality of the resulting herbal product. Any manufacturer should be able to tell you how their products are grown and processed. Generally, herbs fall into two categories: wild-grown and farm-grown. A wild-grown herb is one that grows naturally, without human intervention. As a result of natural selection, plants tend to be found in places with conditions that optimize their growth. For example, horsetail grows best in moist, swampy areas, while arnica thrives at high altitudes in alpine meadows. The process of gathering herbs from their natural habitats is called wild-crafting. The disadvantage of wild-grown herbs is that there is no guarantee the plants haven't been exposed to chemicals and pesticides. Herbs harvested from a meadow, for example, may have been exposed to chemical drift from a crop-dusted farm nearby. Exhaust fumes from passing traffic may have settled invisibly on plants growing near a country road. Water-loving plants, like horsetail, may be rooted in the bank of a polluted stream. Because of the possibility of contamination, unless you are very sure of the source of wild-crafted herbs, organic herbs grown commercially may be a better choice. Organic farm-grown herbs are becoming increasingly available, as more and more herb farms are being established. With careful management, organic herb farms can provide a steady supply of quality herbs to the consumer. Administering Herbal Treatment These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
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| Last updated: 02/27/2010 |
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