About the history of Herbal Products

Using the strictest definitions, an herb is a plant with a soft stem that dies down to the ground after flowering. However, the term "herb" is usually applied much more liberally to mean any plant of which part or all has been used to flavour food, supplement nutrition or treat medical illnesses. In 1985, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of the world's population relies primarily on herbs for it's healthcare needs.

The first written record of herbs dates back more than 5,000 years to the Sumerians who described medicinal uses of such plants as laurel, caraway and thyme. The earliest book on herbal remedies is a Chinese listing of 365 medicinal plants and their applications, and dates back to 2700 BC. In 1000 BC, the Egyptians used garlic, opium, castor oil, mint and other herbs as medicine. The Romans and Greeks also valued plants for their medicinal benefits and records of their medical practices provided inspiration for later Western medical learning.

During the Middle Ages, herbs continued to be important in medicine, and they reached new heights in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries when several books on herbs, commonly called herbals, were published. For the first time some were written in English and in languages other than Latin or Greek. Since then, however, the use of herbs as therapeutic products has slowly diminished.

The introduction in the 17th century of active chemical drugs and the rapid development of sciences such as chemistry in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the dominance of chemical therapy in the 20th century. Synthetic chemicals seemed to be the way of the future.

Healthcare providers and consumers still interested in herbal medicine rapidly became disillusioned with herbal products because they could not rely on the products to be effective on an ongoing basis. It became obvious that there was little or no consistency in manufacturing or quality control testing, and products did not necessarily contain appropriate amounts of the therapeutic ingredients. By the 1960's, consumers were again beginning to consider herbal medicines and naturopathy and homeopathy to complement traditional chemical therapy. The belief that botanical remedies were "naturally" superior to man-made drugs helped to promote their use in the general public. However, quality control was still a problem, and there was no guarantee that the herb named on the bottle was the same as the herb contained within.

In recent years, manufacturers and suppliers have made great advances in laboratory and manufacturing technology; manufacturers are now able to determine necessary levels of active ingredients in herbal products and to manufacture products consistently with these levels. In addition, ongoing quality control testing of raw materials and finished products ensures that the appropriate levels are met. Products manufactured in this scientific manner are considered "standardized" and can be relied upon for safety and effectiveness. If in doubt, look on the label for the word "standardized" or ask a pharmacist.