In most cases, the full medicinal value of herbs is in their internal complexity. Single herbs contain dozens of natural chemical constituents working synergistically. It is why an herb is rarely ever known for just a single function. Since all body parts and most disease symptoms are interrelated, it is wise to use a combination of herbs which can affect each part of the problem. Also, used in their whole form, herbs, like foods, nourish the body with little danger of toxicity.
Herbs have rejuvenative qualities entirely missed by standardization.
No lab test can begin to quantify all that whole natural plants have to offer us. Yet, quality and consistency are a major concern in ascertaining herbal effectiveness. Somehow, herbalists and herbal product suppliers must integrate herbal traditions, ethical commitment, FDA regulations and consumer concerns. We can't let ourselves forget that the activity of herbs is due not only to their biochemical properties, but also to their unique, wholistic effects, and most importantly, to their interactions with the human body. Linda Rector Page is a Featured Speaker at MarketPlace '98 in San Antonio, Texas.