Wisdom of Healing

When it comes to using herbs and nutritional supplements to support health and prevent or care for an illness, there is one feature that is unconditionally most important, and that is QUALITY! If we are interested in good health, and we invest our money, time and energy into a supplement program, it is imperative that we select the most pure, potent and effective products available to us for the desired results. Choosing products wisely can make all the difference in whether or not we experience optimal health and a considerable improvement in our condition, as confirmed by uplifting vital energy, vitality, inner calm, greater motivation and less pain.

Much of the information found in the following paragraphs, I want to share with all of you who are attempting to get well, but have trouble choosing a program because there are so many choices. There are thousands of books and tens of thousand of articles out there to explain to us that Ginkgo may help improve your memory, and elderberry is a powerful herb used to fight viruses for more than a thousand years. What these articles usually don’t share with the reader is that if we choose an inferior quality product; grown in poor soil, harvested before the peak of ripeness, then processed with dry-cleaner fluid, it may not work well, and it may even contribute to our problems. In 35 years of reading articles and books on holistic health, herbs and nutrition, I have never found one source that explains how to make the best choices by using only the highest quality products available. Wouldn’t this help to explain why a half dozen friends take Saw palmetto for their prostate health and some find results, while others don’t see any results? Here is the information that it took me years to gather, often through trial and error, offered to you so that your journey to vibrant health will be an easier, gentler one.

We will begin by discussing herbal products, but much of this information may be applied to other nutritional supplements and foods, which we will discuss in more detail in future posts.

Most people do not realize that there are a wide variety of choices in how a product was grown, formulated, processed (powdered, extracted, etc) and offered (capsules, tablets, teas, tinctures, syrups, lozenges, salves, fresh or dried), and each of these choices impacts its ability to be effective.

Let’s begin with the importance of how an herb is grown. It is very important to choose certified organic herbs (or organically grown by a very reputable farm or company), as herbs grown with commercial practices may contain trace amounts of herbicides, fungicides and some of the very toxins that we may be trying to eliminate through the use of herbs, nutritional foods and supplements.

We should always choose certified organic products which have received certification from a reputable organization. Some of the most trusted certifying groups include Oregon Tilth, Northeast Organic Farmers’ Association (NOFA) and Ecocert. There are more than 150 more certification bodies, including the USDA Organic certification program. The superior nutritional value of organically grown produce has been established in numerous studies, and the increase in starch, along with diminished nutrient value of commercial crops may indeed contribute to the dramatic increase in diabetes over the last several decades. Research suggests that organic herbs would likely serve us better, as well.

Harvest of the herb should ideally take place at the peak of ripeness for an ideal nutrient and phytonutrient value, which is more likely assured in organic products from reputable companies. The herbs found in many commercial or low-priced products contain little or none of the plant constituents believed to be some of the active elements, and sometimes they are even the wrong species of plant entirely. (This happened with Scullcap, a delightful stress reducing herb, a few years ago. Many products were found to contain little or no scullcap, but a plant that is known to be potentially toxic to the liver instead. Please read the future article for additional information called: Myths in Herbalism, posted to this site shortly.)

Formulation is an art, a gift really, that only a few are bestowed with. Thousands of years of empirical evidence, as well as some more recent research, show that herbs combined into a synergistically blended formulation have a greater effect on health and wellness than do single herbs. The weight of the individual herbal ingredients used becomes less important in an herbal formulation.

The processing of the herbs is of greatest importance. The majority of herbal products found on grocer, big box store and pharmacy shelves fall into two basic categories; dried powdered herb (often found to be poorly effective) in a capsule or tablet, or chemically extracted herbs. The latter may have been extracted with chemical solvents such as hexane (used to remove grease or oil from floors or mechanical parts), acetone (fingernail polish remover), PERC (dry-cleaning fluid), ethyl acetate, methylene chloride or methanol! If these chemicals sound scary to you, you are not alone. Such solvents are employed regularly in the pharmaceutical industry or in the processing of commercially prepared foods and food ingredients. Research shows that some of these solvents may not be as safe in the body as once believed.

Ironically, these chemically extracted herbs are often referred to as ‘standardized extracts’, and a media campaign over the last decade has touted standardized extracts as being of higher quality. They are certainly a consistently produced product, but of higher quality? You be the judge. Now that you’re a better educated consumer, you will make a more informed choice. (Remember, how and where we spend our money directly impacts the world we live in.) Such chemical solvents may not extract the nutrient profile of the plant as nature has provided for us, and are feared to react with some of the phytonutrients, causing them to work differently (or not to work at all) within the body. Worse yet, trace amounts of these solvents often remain in the finished product. I’m not sure any of us need 44 parts per million of dry-cleaning fluid with our Ginkgo every morning!

Because there are no labeling requirements to allow for a better comprehension of the product for the consumer as to the processing method(s) used, I will be sharing with you which companies use the various processing methods discussed in this article in the very near future. Please read: Processing Methods Employed by Various Companies, posted to this site very soon.

What we want to look for is an organically grown herbal formulation that has been extracted in some of the following ways:

Supercritical extraction (of full-spectrum herbs)
Alcohol (often called ethanolic) extraction
Water extraction
Alcohol and water (hydro-ethanolic) extraction
Any of the four above may be dried and encapsulated or tableted
Freeze-dried
Cultured (fermented)
Culinary herbs and spices, fresh or dried
Teas
Tincture
Glycerite (alcohol-free tincture)
Salves (petroleum free)
Syrups (without refined sugar or chemical sweeteners)
Dried herbs (in capsules or tablets)*

*I previously discouraged you all from choosing dried herbs (in capsules or tablets), but if the list of superior quality products above is unavailable, dried herbs may be of better quality than chemical solvent extractions.

The following brief descriptions of the various processing methods will help you to understand how very different two products with similar names and similar labels may really be.

Supercritical Extracts – The Supercritical extraction process was first developed by German scientists as they made a new type of hops extract in an attempt to create a better beer! They were successful! They were also successful with creating an extraordinary new herbal extraction process, particularly effective for herbs with a high content of oily compounds. This technology uses carbon dioxide (the same as we exhale with each breath) under very high pressure and at a particular temperature to produce a gentle, easy-to-use, concentrated, potent and effective herbal extract. These concentrates may be as high as 300:1, (or 300 pounds of fresh herb will produce one pound of Supercritical extract,) making them a powerful choice.

Please note: It is important to choose a Supercritical extract that is full-spectrum, meaning that the plant constituents were extracted as nature provided them to us, and not to a chemist’s specifications (differing from nature’s balance). A full-spectrum extract offers the full benefits of the herb, with all the checks and balances to help prevent uncomfortable side effects or side discomforts.

Alcohol (Ethanolic) extract – Pure grain alcohol is used rarely as an extraction menstrum. Very few herbs require pure alcohol, and they are often taken in minute amounts.

Water extracts – A water extract is usually a tea. Sometimes, though, the water extraction (the tea) may be reduced to a syrup or dehydrated to a powder and then encapsulated or tableted. Ideally, this would be done using low heat and significant air movement, as heat may damage the delicate plant constituents.

Alcohol and water (hydro-ethanolic) extract – Most tinctures are hydro-ethanolic extracts and many use only certified organic herbs. Tinctures deliver the herbal extracts into the bloodstream within approximately 90 seconds. Most herbalists suggest the use of tinctures, in part because a small amount is often highly effective. One of the mechanisms believed to be at work here is tasting the herbs. This is believed to have a positive effect within the limbic brain, the part of the brain in charge of emotions, feelings and mood. Many believe that this sets a positive healing response in motion within the entire body, even if the taste of the tincture were very bitter, sour or pungent. (These more strong tasting herbs may be mixed with water or chased with a piece of bread to minimize the unpleasantness of the flavor.)

Any of the four methods described above may then be dried (dehydrated) and encapsulated or tableted – Herbs extracted with one of the four methods above, then dried and either encapsulated or tableted, are likely to be much more beneficial than herbs that are simply dried and encapsulated or extracted with chemical solvents.

Herbal teas, fresh or dried – Herbs may be picked in the garden or the wild, then dried or used fresh. They may also be purchased in bulk or in tea bags to make delicious, refreshing, nutritional and healthful herbal teas. There are a few things that one should know if they are choosing to use herbal teas for health benefits, and not just for sipping a pleasant beverage.

Teas made of roots and barks are ‘most always decocted.
This means that you:
Place the roots / barks into cold water preferably in a glass saucepan.*
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat.
Simmer for twenty minutes.
Let cool for 15-30 minutes or more before consuming.

Leaves, stems and flowers (often referred to as aerial parts) are usually infused. An infusion is made by the following process:
Boil water.
Pour over fresh or dried herbs.*
Place a lid or saucer over the teapot, teacup or mug.
Let steep for 5 to 30 minutes, (most herb teas steep for 20 minutes for optimal benefits).

*Measure the herbs for bulk teas using the following measurements:
Note: Measurements are per cup 8 oz of water.

Decoctions:
1 teaspoon, level to rounded, of dried herbs, or to taste.
1 TBSP, level to rounded, of fresh herbs, or to taste.
Infusions:
1 teaspoon, rounded to heaping, of dried herbs, or to taste.
1 TBSP, rounded to heaping, of fresh herbs, or to taste.

Teas are usually drunk in 4 or more five to eight ounce servings per day for maximum benefits.

Culinary herbs and spices, fresh or dried – Herbs and spices may be used in food preparation, contributing to good health. Using cinnamon in baking and adding thyme, oregano, garlic and basil to many Italian dishes are good examples. For maximum benefits, we certainly want to choose organic herbs and spices, purchase in small quantities to ensure freshness, and always store in glass jars with tight fitting lids. Ideally, we should choose the herb as whole as possible, and crush, grind, slice or use whole as needed for the recipe.

Freeze-dried – Freeze-drying removes the water from the herbs in a vacuum at very cold temperatures. This process provides a full-spectrum of the herbs’ constituents, without compromising the nutritional value and phytonutrient content, providing a very concentrated (often as high as 200:1 concentrates) dried herb for use in foods, teas, capsules or tablets. These products are considered to be quite potent and very supportive of good health.

Cultured (fermented) – This newer technology in western herbalism is actually an ancient food processing technique used by people throughout the world for more than 6000 years. Fermentation uses beneficial microorganisms to transform foods to superfoods. Considered pre-digested, these fermented herbs and foods have increased nutrient value, support detoxification, digestion and immune health. The importance of fermented whole foods in the diet has been established by food science researchers in the past decade, once again proving the ancient wisdom of our ancestors.

Because of concerns about candida (yeast) overgrowth, cultured foods have been seriously misunderstood for about the last twenty-five years. Please read: The Power of Fermentation, posted to this site soon, for a greater understanding about the importance of fermented foods in the diet to support digestive and immune health.

Tincture – There are many excellent tincture companies in North America and Europe, both large and small. Tinctures are predominantly hydro-ethanolic extracts, (see above). Tinctures are generally used in small amounts (10-60 drops, 1/3 dropper-2 droppers respectively), usually 2-4 times daily, but some may be used 30 drops (one dropper) as often as once every hour or even once every 15 minutes. Some people feel concerned about the alcohol content in the tincture. There are approximately 80 (thirty drop) servings in a one ounce bottle of tincture (comparable to one shot of alcohol), which would usually be used over the course of 20 to 40 days. Unless we have a condition where zero alcohol is imperative, then tinctures would not pose a problem. In fact, there is more alcohol in a ripe banana than in a dropper of tincture!

Glycerite (alcohol-free tincture) – Glycerites are most often produced as hydro-ethanolic extracts which have had the alcohol and water removed, then vegetable glycerine added. They are generally sweet to the taste and are easily used by children or anyone who may prefer to avoid alcohol.

Salves (petroleum free) – As a topical or trans-dermal application, salves have the ability to deliver the herbal formulation into the bloodstream without the use of the digestive processes. Salves have been applied to the skin for thousands of years, whether on achy joints, dry itchy areas, sprains, strains, cuts, burns, acne and the like, to provide some relief.

Syrups (without refined sugar or chemical sweeteners) – Syrups can be a pleasant way to consume herbs. We immediately think of cough syrups, but syrups may also be used for nourishing, detoxifying and energy lifting formulas, as well. Children, elders and many of us will enjoy the gentle, sweet flavor and the soothing, protective coating of the throat that syrups provide.

Dried herbs (in capsules or tablets) – Some herbs, such as organic ginger, are shown to be quite effective when used in powder form. With most herbs, however, a clean pure extract is likely to be our best value, and the best approach to our wellness plan. Freshly dried herbs are likely to be more useful than older (dried out) products. (You may try checking the expiration date on a product.)

As you can see, there are so many choices that the average consumer likely has no idea what they are really purchasing, and how effective the product might be. For 35 years now, I have bought, grown and used herbs, foods and supplements to heal myself from a variety of discomforts and auto-immune conditions. My rule of thumb has always been to seek out the very best options available to me in the region where I was living. This took effort, but since I am only given one body in this life, I have always found it important to support it in every way that I can.

Another consideration when seeking out an herbal product is the form of the finished product. For about three decades, there has been a myth floating through the supplements industry. This myth implies that capsules are better than tablets, and liquids are better than both tablets and capsules. Although both of these statements are sometimes accurate, the processing methods above make much more of an impact on whether or not a product may be effective and supportive of overall health or not.

One of the greatest misunderstandings when choosing an herbal product is the comparison of the milligrams (mgs), micrograms (mcg) or IU’s. These simply measure weight, not the potency of a product. For example, 400 mgs of a Supercritical extract or a freeze-dried herb will be considerably more potent than 400 mgs of fresh or powdered herb. We need to begin to look at herbs and nutritional products in a whole new way, and stop trying to compare apples to zucchini squash! When it comes to our health, compromising on quality may not be a wise option! Without our health, we can’t fully enjoy anything else we may have.

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