This prevents the patient from knowing what it is that they're taking and prevents them from purchasing them elsewhere. I think a little over the line. But that's just my line. We all have lines and no two are the same. Powdered extracts can be sold in the straight powdered form or put into capsules.
Powdered extracts are basically the herb tea with the water removed.
This is different than herbs that are simply ground up and placed into capsules. I would think that the ground up herbs would be cheaper, but I don't have any experience with that particular delivery system, so I can't anticipate the price on that. High practitioner mark-ups shouldn't be viewed as any ethical problem. I myself mark-up my herbs simply because of the cost of my education to be able to prescribe or write the appropriate formula. There is a world of difference between what someone with a masters degree in Oriental medicine does and what the stock boy at your local GNC does.