Chemicals and Herbs

Too often herbal extracts are subjected to excessive chemical processing, which renders them deteriorated and incomplete.  You could compare the absurdity of this process to bleached, refined, foam-rubber-like foods that need to be “enriched” after all their nutrients have been stripped out.  Herbs are too complex to be over-processed or have certain constituents isolated; yet it happens all the time.

Not only could the extract not be “complete”, there are often extraneous substances used with the herbal material to fill space in the capsule and to help it flow better.  These could include rice powder, cellulose, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate - sometimes at 50% the weight of the capsule.  Why concentrate an herb if it will be diluted with fillers in the capsule?  In the cases of maltodextrin and magnesium stearate they are chemical, not natural.

Most herbal extracts use harmful solvents like acetone, methanol or denatured alcohol in the extraction process, which leave residues from these solvents in the final product.   This is a far cry from the purity people expect from herbs.  Unfortunately, consumers believe they are getting an all-natural product when it is not true.  This can be especially detrimental to people who are chemically sensitive.

A Natural Alternative

Technology can serve us well in providing naturally extracted, full spectrum types of extracts.  Instead of harsh chemical solvents, new processes are using pure water.  That’s right, H2O.  Using low temperatures and varying pressures of water, effective concentrates are made that are standardized to known markers and active constituents.  It seems a bit unbelievable.  Yet consider that herbal tea is the most ancient form of herbal medicine – an aqueous extract.  With a bit of ingenuity, potent extracts can be made with pure water and dried carefully to preserve that potency.  You are getting a full spectrum of all the known and unknown active constituents in the convenience of a capsule.

Even with the advances in water extraction, sometimes water is not a strong enough solvent.  In these cases, there is still no need for toxic solvents.  A mixture of food-grade alcohol and water, which has been used for centuries as a solvent, is just as effective as commonly used toxic and environmentally detrimental solvents such as acetone and methanol.

The art of careful encapsulation eliminates the need for inactive fillers or excipients (substances used to help herb powder “flow” better).  Using dried, powdered herb as filler is a novel idea, though it should not be.  You should expect and receive the herb, the whole herb and nothing but the herb.

Thanks to Complete Concentrates from Kroeger Herb Products, it is possible to find a naturally extracted, full spectrum extract that matches the chemical structure of the whole plant, just stronger, more potent.  These extracts can ensure exact dosage through standardization, yet offer a concentrate of all the plants’ chemicals.  This process finally takes a traditional approach to standardized herbal extracts.  It is possible to find an extract that has preserved the integrity of the plant and addresses the concerns of the whole person with the help of the whole herb.

The Whole Herb

There are many “popular” herbs that have actually been used for centuries for many kinds of conditions, not just what current labels indicate.  Their varied abilities confirm the need for a full spectrum extract.  Some “hot” herbs today have some historical uses that may surprise you.

St. John’s Wort is popularly known as a “mood enhancer” or “nature’s Prozac”, yet it has been relied upon for its many abilities throughout the ages.  Did you know that it has been used for bedwetting in children, uterine problems, nerve pain, healing and treating wounds?  It was used to expel “demons” in the Middle Ages.  The early healers who named this wondrous herb could never imagine that we think hypericin, one of hundreds of constituents in St. John’s Wort, is the only “active” part of the plant.

Rosemary has been researched extensively for its powerful antioxidant properties.  Historically it has been used for conditions ranging from hair loss to aching joints and rheumatism.  It was burned in sick rooms during the plague to prevent spreading of the disease.  To the surprise of modern researchers who tend to isolate certain constituents for research, the full spectrum extract was far more effective than the individual constituents thought to be responsible for the antioxidant activity!

Ginkgo too has shown to be “greater than the sum its parts”.  Modern research has found that the “total” extract of Ginkgo has more effective pharmacological effects than any of its constituents alone_.  Ginkgo has been used historically to “benefit the brain” as a simple tea sipped on a regular basis.  However, standardized extracts fifty times stronger than the tea are common to the average consumer.  Most of these standardized extracts neglect to ensure the presence of many of the constituents other than one or two that are highly concentrated.

Echinacea is a staple in many medicine cabinets.  Native Americans used echinacea more than any other plant in the treatment of illness and injury.  Its uses ranged from joint pains to the treatment of snakebites.  It was almost always used whole or in a very crude extract.  Daniel Mowrey, a well-known herbalist, believes that the tonic action echinacea has on the immune system can be impaired by highly concentrated extracts that focus on one or two constituents while neglecting others.  These types of extracts, he says, may be too stimulating to the immune system.  An extract that represents all of the constituents in echinacea may be more beneficial to the body.

Herbs have the finesse to target a specific health problem while balancing an entire system.  Herbs can ease a symptom while fiercely protecting us from disease.  We must honor the miracle that exists in every single plant by seriously considering extraction methods that do just that.  Naturally extracted, full spectrum, carrier free dry extracts are the answer.

References:

Murray, M. The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima Publishing, 1992

Glossary of Herbal Extract Terms

In the world of herbal extracts there are many terms which are not traditionally associated with herbs.  To clarify their meanings, here is a list of terms and their definitions relating to herbal extracts and comments.