What is a herbal extract?

 As a Naturopath, a large part of what we study is herbal medicine.  Herbal medicine has been used for millennia to aid in sickness.  While the traditional use of some herbs has changed greatly over that time, there is now scientific evidence for increasing numbers of herbal medicines and their use. 

Herbal Extracts

Herbal extracts are made from specific parts of the plant being mixed with a specific solvent (usually ethanol or glycerine).  Some herbs such as astragalus, have an ethanol content of 23% to extract the constituents within the herb, while Calendula has an ethanol content of 90%.  This differs depending on the type of constituent being extracted and whether it is most soluble in water or ethanol.  These factors are considered by a naturopath, to ensure that the product we are prescribing is most beneficial for the exact need that we want it for.   

Reliable herbal extract companies complete testing of their products at raw plant stage and when the product is complete to ensure their products contain exactly what they should.  Unreliable brands may use filler herbs or substitute the species of the herb. 

What to look for in a product

When you are buying herbal medicines you need to be aware of many different factors.  Countries have different regulatory requirements for herbs and if buying off the internet from another country, you need to ensure that you understand the regulatory requirements for that country.  In some countries herbal medicines are not regulated at all, meaning that you do not really know what is in them.  There may be no testing or auditing to ensure that the product they are saying is included is actually in there, and furthermore, if there are other excipients or ingredients in the product that are not displayed on the label. 

In Australia we have the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) which regulates products that claim to have therapeutic uses.  The majority of herbal medicines are under the ‘Listed’ category as these are considered to be lower risk.  These products are not all assessed prior to being sold, however the companies need to certify that they comply with regulations and have evidence the product does what it says it should.  These products can be randomly reviewed by the TGA to ensure they fulfill all necessary requirements.

What to check on the label

Let’s use Echinacea as an example

®    Plant Species

Echinacea is the genus and includes multiple species of echinacea.  Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea are the two species most commonly used and tested for upper respiratory infections.  If the species is not on the label, you have no way of knowing if they are the species used, and as such whether this product will have any beneficial effects for that purpose.

®    Part Used

The root contains different constituents to the leaf or flower.  If the evidence for the plant is performed using the root, that does not mean that a preparation using the flower will have the same effect.

®    Therapeutic Dosage

For therapeutic effects there is a dosage range that is needed to be consumed to achieve the desired outcomes.  If the label does not have how much of the plant is included in each dosage, how are you to know how much to take to gain beneficial effects?  This can lead to either underdosing or overdosing, which can mean you’re wasting your money, or you could be consuming dangerous amounts of the product. Herbal extracts can be dangerous if not taken responsibly and with practitioner guidance.

®    Constituent Standardisation

For some herbs, enough studies have been conducted to say that to gain a specific benefit from the product, it needs to contain a precise amount of a particular constituent.  This can be shown in the form of standardisation.  In some species of Echinacea, the Alkylamide compound is known to have immunomodulatory (and many other) effects, and as such is often standardised in products.

Taking a herbal extract

Let’s be honest, they usually don’t taste nice.  Depending on the herbs used the taste varies greatly.  Some are incredibly bitter, while others may just taste like dirt, and a good quality echinacea will have your mouth swimming in extra saliva and tingles for a minute or so afterwards, while others taste quite nice, even a little sweet. 

I always warn my patients about the taste, and I find that if the worst is expected then what they get is usually not that bad.  While liquid herbal extracts are amazing, as we can individually create them for our patients’ exact needs, there are times when they are not well tolerated, and we move on to finding a suitable alternative.

When to take a herbal extract

This will completely depend on what the extract is.  Your practitioner will give you instructions of when and how to take your herbal extract.  This may be before, during or after specific meals, before bed, after symptoms occur, acutely for 5 days or for supporting long term health conditions.  Some herbs are not tolerated long term while others have a small weekly dosage range that should never be raised, or should not be taken for two weeks prior to an operation.  

The main message

Herbal products come in different shapes and sizes from all around the world.  Purchasing a product that your best friend said helped her hair shine, does not mean that this is the correct product for you.  Finding the reason behind your symptoms is the best way to make sure you are taking a product that is best suited to you.  There are also dangers of interactions between medications and other nutritional supplements that are not always outlined when buying off the shelf.  When you come to see a Naturopath, we put all the pieces together and ensure that you get a product of the highest quality best suited to you and your needs that will be both beneficial and safe.