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MEDICINAL HERBS -
THE MIRACLES and the PROBLEMS
by Lynn Hinderliter, CN,
LDN
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I made my first herbal extract
when I was 11 or so, over 55 years ago! I think my interest in
herbal medicines must originate from the childhood years I spent
with what would then have been called a "peasant" family in
Sweden. I remember with pleasure and affection the walks my
Swedish Foster Mother and I took in the woods, gathering
rosehips for a winter syrup, strange mushrooms, chamomile for
tea and many other wonderful plants.
We have gone in a few short
years from a time when the majority of people thought plant medicinals so much nonsense, past the point where their
importance and valuable health contributions are recognized, to
a time when exorbitant and frequently inaccurate claims are made
for them. Where is the truth? As always,( like the pimple on
one's nose, which is neither as gigantic as one fears nor as
unobtrusive as one might wish) somewhere in between.
These are the three things that
concern me most: false information, false expectations, and
false products.
The explosion of interest in
herbal products has led to a situation where there is a lot of
money to be made, and new "experts" and companies are springing
up right and left. (Where were they when we were fighting the
Government for the imperiled right to use natural medicines?) In
order to find a niche for their products in the crowded market
place, the less principled of them generally resort to one of
the following tactics, which it is helpful to be able to
recognize.
1. They choose a well known
herb, and put a small amount of it in their product in order
to capitalize on the name recognition. The problem with this
approach is that many herbs have to be taken in certain dosages
to be successful. (See also 2, below) An excellent example of
this is the new highly advertised multi which trumpets the
presence of lutein as an incentive to buy. There may be one
petals-worth of marigold (a primary source of natural lutein) in
their formula, but while this may be enough to upset the flower
fairies, it certainly isn't enough to do an eye any good!
Lycopene enhanced multi vitamins may contain as little as 250
mcg of synthetic lycopene, where the effective dose of the
natural substance has been shown to be 15 mg.
In
addition, there is some evidence to suggest that taking herbs at
low levels in situations where they are not really essential
makes them less effective when their specific activity is
required. Let's use the analogy of the screw that needs to be
tightened, when no screwdriver is handy. You grab a kitchen
knife instead. Not only does it not do as good a job on the
screw, but next time you need the knife likely as not the tip is
broken off so you can't use it for its designated task either.
2. They save money by making
use of a part of the herb that does not contain the active
ingredient, (goldenseal herb instead of goldenseal root for
example) or another species of the herb, or even (as is
occasionally and sadly the case) another herb altogether. I do
not need to tell you what the problem is here!
3. They choose one of the
minor herbs which, while not well known, is on the periphery
of medicinal consciousness (and certainly may well prove in the
future, with proper study, to be important. ) They put it in
their formula not because it has proven effects, but simply to
make their product seem unique with the least possible
expenditure.
4. They exaggerate the claims
for major herbs. They make unfounded claims for minor herbs,
which means disappointment for the consumer.
This leaves us at a point where
several undesirable scenarios may develop. There have already
been cases of products being found that not only don't contain
any of the herb they advertise, but also do contain herbs other
than they claim. In the recent case of Plantain, the
substitute herb was actually dangerous.
There is not enough
Echinacea in existence to fill all the bottles being offered
at the moment - remember, you can't go back in time and plant
more of a crop! One recent investigation found two thirds of the
samples they gathered contained NONE of the herb! The same
situation exists for ginseng. There is also the problem of the
misuse of Ephedra,* a truly miraculous herb when used properly
for the conditions it is known to help, but dangerous when over
utilized, as it has been, for weight loss and energy
stimulation.
The logical development of these misrepresentations
is that people who are not getting the results they have been
led to expect will abandon this encouraging trend towards taking
control of their own health.
Another looming and worrisome
problem, and one which leads to a good deal of the #2, above, is
that supplies of the most popular and effective herbs are
becoming limited, some even endangered.
What are the answers?
Prime in my opinion is to become a responsible consumer. When
you put something in your body, you need to know
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that it is
manufactured under conditions of strict conformity to quality
and purity.
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that what the label says is in
there, is in there in the form it states, and in the quantity
and concentration claimed. A good idea is to check your
information, also: what makes this person an expert? Do they
have any financial interest in the claims they are making? Can
you find corroborating evidence elsewhere? Do other experts
agree?
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Not least, does it sound too good to be true - because we
all know about that one! Does it cost a lot of money? Call a
local store and check: much of what is advertised on TV and the
Internet is not "new and unique" as they would have you
believe, but has been on the market for some time, sometimes at
a far more reasonable price - think of what the advertising
costs them, after all!
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Last but not least, is the Company you
are buying from a responsible one? Is it using sources you know
you can trust? Is it protecting the survival of endangered
botanicals both here, and in the Rain Forests.?
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Many times, we
are voting the future with our money, whether we realize it or
not: and in this case we are voting not only for whether we
waste it or spend it wisely, but also for our health versus
illness, for principled professionals versus opportunistic
charlatans, for the advancement of knowledge versus its
distortion.
In the case of herbs, it really
is necessary to be very, very discriminating in your choices. I
hope the above information helps you with your decisions.
Footnote: * On the subject
of Ephedra, which continues to be the object of much
controversy, the last line apparently hasn't been written
yet. Let us hope that reason will prevail, and this useful herb
will be allowed back at strengths which threatren no-one if used
properly.
It does need to be used
responsibly, however: Reuters News Agency quotes the President
of CRN, John Cordaro, as saying "Contraindications to the use of
Ephedra include the presence of coronary thrombosis, heart
disease, diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension, thyroid disease,
impaired cerebral circulation, adrenal tumors, renal impairment,
or enlarged prostate. Persons who are taking monoamine oxidase
inhibitors or ephedrine alkaloid drugs should also avoid
Ephedra. For everyone else, this analysis demonstrates the
safety of the supplement."
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