by Alisa Wrinkle, L.Ac.
Think about a builder who chooses high quality
materials versus one who pays no attention to the choice of his
or her supplies,
or a cook and his choice of ingredients. As herbalists we must
take a careful look at the quality of the materials we use. In
the health of our patients it is much harder to identify the outcome
of using low grade products than it would be in the above mentioned
examples. For some, this has been a rationalization for turning
a blind eye towards the quality of the herbs they use. Many herbal
practitioners feel: if it's cheap and it works, why inquire? Of
course, cost and effectiveness are important considerations. Yet
we must also ask about the quality of our herbs because quality
matters in the long-term health of our patients and the long-term
growth of our profession. In every step of preparing herbal products,
quality plays a key role. The choice of raw materials, the methods
of blending, and the processing of herbal formulas all affect the
quality of the final product.
For a variety of reasons, quality assurance in the field of Chinese herbs
and herbal products has been somewhat overlooked. It is a testimony to
the growing
maturity of our profession that quality issues are now becoming more of a
concern to practitioners and patients as well as to manufacturers and insurance
companies.
Perhaps the most recent noteworthy event in this regard was the publication
of the Compendium of Asian Patent Medicines by the California FDA.
In this study, a random sampling of Asian patent medicines was subjected
to laboratory
tests revealing that while most were safe, some contained pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, and/or had a high heavy metal content. This study was very eye
opening for many herbalists because it revealed a lack of quality control
within Asian
patent medicines. As a result of this study, some came to the conclusion
that all Asian patent medicines should be discontinued. Yet this policy,
if adopted,
would prove to be a great loss to most practicing herbalists. We cannot blindly
assume that just because something is made in Asia that it is of poor quality.
Nor can we assume that being made in America is any kind of quality guarantee.
There are good and bad factories in both Asia and America. Rather, it is
a much better strategy to become more discriminating, more observant and
more
demanding in regards to all herbal products. So, how do we do this? Following
are some suggestions and some information, which can help to discern the
quality of an herbal product.
Research
If you are using an Asian patent remedy, use the Compendium to
see if testing was done on this product. These are available through
the FDA*, and
through the CAAOM*. Also, if you order from Mayway,* the sales staff can
check an item for you over the phone. Please note that the Compendium checked
random samples, testing only one sample for each item listed. While this
is a great start it may not be conclusive. Also the Compendium did
not distinguish between counterfeits and "true" brands, so many counterfeits
are listed by their "stolen" brand names (see below).
Counterfeiting
Due to the popularity and effectiveness of certain Asian brands (particularly
Min Shan Brand of the Lanzhou Fo Ci factory) numerous imitations have
been made and circulate both in Asia and in our own domestic Chinatowns nationwide.
Be sure that the products you buy are not copies, but are the "true" companies'
products. The true Min Shan Brand has a Chinese government license number
for legitimate
manufacturers, as well as FDA compliant labeling which means that all ingredients
are listed and there are no indications on the side panels. Min Shan Brand
should also have an official trademark as well as a four digit Mayway code
number (Mayway is the exclusive distributor for this brand.)
GMP
This acronym refers to "Good Manufacturing Practices." When
a product is certified GMP it means that the factory it was produced
in has
been subject to an objective
quality control investigation and has been certified to be in compliance.
This is an important standard because with a GMP certification you
have an assurance
of quality in everything from the way the factory was built to the sterilization
and hygienic techniques used in that facility. GMP standards vary from country
to country. Australian and Chinese GMP have some of the strictest guidelines
in the world.
Preservatives
It is a rarely known fact in the U.S. that many traditional Chinese
bulk herbs are preserved with sulfites as well as chlorine and
aluminum-phosphate fumigants.
Though there are some herbs that do not require this type of preservation,
many must be preserved in order to prevent spoilage. With the growing use
and commercialization of Chinese herbs worldwide, sheer demand
has required that
herbs be fumigated to accommodate for shipping and storage needs. The sulfites
and chlorine and aluminum-phosphate preservatives have a variety of disadvantages
and can be detrimental to the health of your patients. Unless you order
herbs through a distributor who can control the quality of herbs
before and after
importation, there is no way to be guaranteed that the herbs you receive
and the herbs used in herbal products are free of these harmful
preservatives. The good news is that un-sulfured, chlorine and
aluminum-phosphate free herbs
are available. Un-sulfured herbs are vacuum packed to prevent spoilage.
An outer package is injected with harmless nitrogen which allows
the herbs to
be preserved without subjecting the herbs themselves to harmful preservatives
and fumigants. To be sure you are receiving herbs free of sulfite, chlorine
and aluminum-phosphate, check for vacuum packaging and a declaration on
the sealed package label. Un-sulfured herbs may vary in color and
texture from
what is commonly available. In general, sulfites make herbs appear lighter
in color so sulfite-free herbs may be darker and more natural looking in
some
cases. Also, try tasting the herbs. Herbs with an uncharacteristically
sour taste may be preserved with sulfites. Mayway provides un-sulfured,
chlorine
and aluminum-phosphate free herbs, and uses this type of preservative free
herbs in their Plum Flower Brand products. Min Shan Brand products are
also made using sulfite, chlorine and aluminum phosphate free herbs.
Blending and Processing
Many plant substances have medicinal properties. The question
remains: how do we make these beneficial essences available to
the body?
For example, simply
grinding herbs and consuming them may not be very useful, as mere grinding
may not make the active ingredients available. Also, certain herbs may
lose their active ingredients if ground into a powder through
the evaporation
of essential oils and other active ingredients. How an herb or
herbal product
is formulated and processed is a very important factor in determining
quality and effectiveness. In the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia
there are prescribed
methods of preparation and formulation. In general, traditional Chinese
herbal formulas should be pre-blended and cooked together with
ingredients being
added at the correctly indicated time. This allows the herbs
to have complex synergistic
interactions rendering the final formula more potent than singly extracted
herbs. It is also important that the methods of extraction do not denature
the herbs. Most formulas should be extracted at low temperature to prevent
the loss of active ingredients.
Herbal medicine is still in its infancy in this country. Herbal
practitioners here must serve as both doctor and pharmacist.
By applying our training in
observation and balance to our pharmacology the same way we would to
our patients, we can face this unique challenge and even contribute
to the worldwide growth
and development of our profession.
