Things to remember when choosing an herbal products

Call the manufacturer of the product(s) you are considering and see if they match up to this strict test of quality and integrity:

❏ If the herb comes in a capsule are the capsules preservative-free? (Make sure they are not synthetic materials, petroleum by-products, or plastic.)

❏ Are herbs free of all synthetic ingredients including dyes, artificial sweeteners, and other chemical additives? (Don’t we get enough chemicals in our daily lives without deliberately taking them with our daily herbs?)

❏ Does the bottle clearly state ALL ingredients and or additives? Does the label list the ingredients used as a base to bond the herbs into a tablet form? (Since the FDA does not require this disclosure on herb labels, those who volunteer this information on the label probably have nothing to hide.)

❏ If a preservative must be used to preserve freshness, is the source of the additive or preservative from a vegetable or fruit source? (You are again looking for hidden chemicals and synthetic materials with this question.)

❏ Does the manufacturer quarantine the bulk herbs for two to three days? (Any raw products left out to the elements can be spoiled or contaminated.)

❏ Are the herbs unsprayed? (It is customary in some countries to spray certain herbs and not so in others. Choose the manufacturer who knows this and gets the unsprayed herbs from the correct countries, or who tests all their herbs for any pesticides or chemical contamination.)

❏ Are the herbs you are considering more expensive than many others? (Unfortunately, cost is a factor in good herbs, just as cost is a factor in the quality of most products. Cutting costs at the cash register usually means cheating your body of the best herbal products.)

❏ Does the company use the most medicinal parts or the whole herb in their product? (Again, labels do not need to mention if the flower, stem, or root is used in a particular encapsulated herb, although there may be no value at all depending on which part is used. Another example is the age of a plant. Aloe vera, for instance, needs to be at least four years old to have any medicinal value. For greedy, impatient, or ignorant reasons, many manufactures will bottle and sell immature, and impotent plants because legally, they can.)

❏ Does the manufacturer test the “fingerprint” of each batch of herb they acquire to ensure it is what they ordered? (Many herbs look alike in bulk form. One large herb manufacturer told me that they once received cocoa bean from their supplier and was told it was pau d’arco. Visually the differences in the bulk herb were nil. The manufacturer’s first quality-control check quickly uncovered the mistake and the shipment was sent back. Make sure the manufacturer has the quality equipment to undertake these types of tests.)

❏ Are the encapsulated herbs made without the use of high heat? (Heat damages enzymes, evaporates potent essential oils, and decreases an herb’s value. Exception: concentrated tablets made from infusions or decoctions, liquid herbs, and extracts.)

❏ Are the herbs guaranteed pure? (There is a big difference between 100 percent refund guarantee and guaranteed 100 percent pure. It is more valuable to know that you are getting what you think you’re getting than to get something that is questionable and have it not work or make you sick! Would you rather have a purity guarantee or would you rather just take your chances and have to get your money back on a terrible product?)

❏ Does the manufacturer run themselves to pharmaceutical standards? (Are outside doors sealed against dust, do workers wear masks, gloves, and sterile clothes, are herbs quarantined, are strict quality-control tests taken before, during, and after processing, are herbs packaged tightly in sealed containers, etc.? If a company does not know what the typical pharmaceutical standards are, then the answer is probably “no.”)

❏ Is the manufacturing plant open to visitors or inspectors? (If no, why not?)

❏ Does the manufacturer have an investment of some sort in research and development? (A team of scientists, doctors, nutritionists, pharmocognosist, and researchers indicates that the manufacturer is dedicated to quality and integrity and has an interest in your health and not just their bottom line.) If you get a straightforward “yes” answer to all of these questions, then good for you, you’ve found yourself a quality company. Now let’s get on with a couple of things that will help your quality herbs work even better for you!