Standardized Herbs - Better Than Whole Herbs?
Holistic Practitioners Say Healing Herbs Better in Whole Form
Oct 3, 2009
Standardized herbs are available at just about any retail store. However, most consumers don't understand that there's a difference between standardized extracts and whole herb remedies.
Most naturopathic doctors recommend the use of whole herbs as opposed to standardized herbs. What's the difference and why is it important?
Standardized Herbs and the Drug Model of Herbal Medicine
A healing herb in its natural state can vary widely in its chemical makeup. The soil type where the plant grew, the weather while it was growing, when the plant was harvested, how it was processed and stored, and which part of the plant is being used are only a few of the factors that can affect the quality of an herbal product. The same herb plant grown and processed under different conditions can vary widely in the amount of an active healing constituent that's present.
Standardized herbs, on the other hand, are guaranteed to have one or more of the healing constituents in a specific amount. This idea is based on the drug model of herbal medicine.
Under the drug model, scientists try to isolate the one or two compounds in a particular herb that have a certain pharmacological effect. An example of this is producing an extract of St. Johns Wort that contains a certain percentage of hypercerin, which is believed to be the anti-depressant compound in this herb.
Standardized extracts make traditional herbal remedies into "medicines" whose effects can be quantified and measured. The upside is that standardized herbs can be reliably used to treat certain conditions. For example, standardized feverfew extract is very helpful in preventing migraine headaches.
Many pharmaceutical companies are becoming interested in producing standardized extracts in order to claim a share of the natural remedy market, which is growing larger every year. While plants can't be patented, a particular herbal formulation certainly can be. Standardized extracts are more expensive than the whole herb as well.
Why Use a Whole Herb Instead?
A holistic practitioner will often recommend using the whole herb instead of a standardized herbal extract. Whole herbs, whether used as herbal tea remedies, capsules, or tinctures, contain all the healing compounds found in the herb. Sometimes a single herb contains hundreds of these compounds that work together in ways that scientists don't always understand. The combined effects of the compounds found in a whole herb often provide exactly what the body needs to heal itself.
The problem with isolating a single compound is that it may not work as effectively when it's used by itself. Increasing the concentration of one compound may also lead to side effects that aren't seen when using a whole herb.
Another issue is that chemical solvents are often used to extract the desired compound. These solvents include acetone, hexane, benzene, and methyl chloride. Besides the fact that residues of these inorganic solvents may be found in the finished herbal extract, these chemicals also harm the environment.
Traditional herbal therapy has been used for thousands of years around the world. Information about a healing herb has often been passed down through the generations. Even though it's hard to quantify scientifically, just about any long-used herbal remedy has a centuries-long record of safety and effectiveness.
Which is Better?
There are pros and cons for using either standardized extracts or the whole herb. Once consumers understand what the issues are, they can make a more informed choice as to which herbal formulation to use.
Sources:
Are Standardized Herbs Better?
Whole Herbs vs. Standardized Herbal Extracts: Which are Better?
 |
 |
 |
