Insight Type: Clinical Insight

Not all natural medicines are created equal – that’s why SFI Health believes it’s important to consider the specific herbal extract, not just herb names, when choosing a natural medicine.

The Australian complementary medicines industry is worth an estimated $3.5 billion – and it’s expected to grow to $4.6 billion in the next two years. Consumers now have more choice than ever when it comes to natural medicines and herbal products.

Not all products are created equal

It’s important to be aware that not all natural medicines are created equal.  There can be significant variation in natural medicines depending on how they are produced.

With so many products to choose from, it can be difficult to understand just how these products differ particularly since many products use ingredients sourced from the same plant or herb.   

However, there are a few things you should take into consideration to help you choose the most suitable natural medicine. That’s where understanding herbal extracts plays a crucial role.

What is a standardised extract?

Extraction is the process of drawing out the particular compounds in a plant or herb that are believed to be responsible for the medicinal properties.  And that extraction process can be complicated.  While this complexity is what can be behind the benefits of natural medicines, it can make consistency more difficult.

A standardised extract can help reduce this product variability. Standardisation means that specified compounds (or ‘markers’) of an herbal ingredient are measured to a specified concentration or amount and the same rigorous manufacturing process and specification is adhered to for every single batch.

The manufacturing process is tightly controlled because it can affect the specification or profile of the ingredient. When dealing with specific extracts, like those found in SFI Health products, this control would also encompass everything from where the plant is grown and harvested to the storage and manufacture of the product.

And it’s these specific standardised extracts that can be used in clinical trials to help ensure that the product’s effect on a particular therapeutic benefit can be consistently expected to be delivered each time.

Why is it important?

The extraction process can greatly impact the reliability of a natural medicine.  So products containing ingredients from the same herb or plant won’t necessarily have the same consistent profile of compounds and therefore may not have the same effect.

It’s also important to choose products that contain the same specific standardised extracts used in clinical trials, so you can be more confident that the product you buy can deliver the same reliable health outcomes.

Although this concept may surprise you, it’s something you probably encounter quite frequently, even on a daily basis, particularly when it comes to choosing a drink.

Are all cups of coffee the same?  Does it matter where the coffee beans were grown, when it was grinded, and how it was brewed?  How about wine?  Does it matter what kind of grape you use, where it’s grown, how it’s cultivated, processed, and stored?  Or course it does. It’s those specific methods that separate the fine wines from the cask wines.

So while there are many natural products on the market labelled as containing St. John’s Wort or Black Cohosh for example, you should check whether they contain the specific extract that was used in clinical trials.  It is those products that can back their claims with the clinical evidence that has been demonstrated by the specific extract – like SFI Health products.

How do I know if an extract is specific and high quality?

When you’re choosing a natural medicine product, you should consider whether it has a specific extract or whether that specific extract has been tested in studies, but that isn’t always easy.

Different standardisation processes can also be used to extract the beneficial medicinal compounds from plants and herbs.

Furthermore, it’s not always obvious whether the ingredient in a particular natural product is the specific extract used in clinical trials or if it is a generic version.  Some products are clearly indicated on the label but others are less specific. 

So what do you do?  You can choose products belonging to brands that have a long history in the natural medicine industry and are renowned for producing quality, scientifically-validated products.  Also consider speaking to a health care professional who can help you to understand the differences between products.

At SFI Health, our plant extracts are manufactured using a standardised process we refer to as ‘the source to patient journey’. This is a rigorous scientific process that helps ensure quality and batch consistency every time to produce a specific finished product.  

SFI Health medicines also contain the specific extracts that have been tested in clinical trials.   So the medicine you find in SFI Health products is the same medicine that has been used in clinical trials, which is one of the reasons you can feel confident about its effectiveness.  

Find out how to select a reliable natural medicine with these top tips

How to find a reliable natural healthcare product

Searching for a natural medicine can seem overwhelming. With a huge number of natural medicines available, many with similar uses and claims, how do you find one that’s reliable and can deliver the health outcomes you’re looking for?

Consider the evidence

Clinical trials can help to demonstrate a natural medicine’s possible effects in an objective and scientific manner. A history of  traditional use may exist for a particular herb or plant – but that doesn’t mean that it is has been tested in clinical studies to  demonstrate those health outcomes. Furthermore, natural medicines using the same ingredient can vary due to the differences in the growth, cultivation, extraction and production processes. For this reason it is important to check if the product itself, has been tested in clinical trials to help ensure reliable health outcomes.

While many of the modern uses of herbs are based on traditional or ancient medicines, there are many important factors when it comes to finding a natural medicine that you can rely on. 

Top tips for researching natural health products:

1. Check whether the product claims are referenced to published clinical papers

• A referenced claim will often have a reference or footnote number next to it, to indicate there is substantiation for the claim
• Usually the published paper will be listed at the bottom of a page, with the author, scientific journal name and publication date
• Look for reputable scientific journals available through databases such as PubMed with links to full-text from PubMed Central® and publisher websites.

2. Ensure that the research is specific to your particular product or brand – and not just the generic plant or ingredient

• For example, the SFI Health product KeenMind, uses a specific extract of Bacopa monnieri called CDRI 08. The clinical evidence for KeenMind is based on 6 clinical trials using that particular extract (CDRI 08), as opposed to using generic data on any Bacopa monnieri preparation.

3. Quality AND Quantity  

• When it comes to the evidence itself, look for randomised controlled clinical trials and large observational studies. Note that ‘marketing research’ studies do not equate to rigorous scientific support.

Understand the process

Not all natural medicines are created equal; they can be highly complex and can have multiple active compounds which may individually and/or collectively be responsible for their health outcomes. Following strict quality control processes to help ensure a consistent amount and composition of active compounds is essential from batch to batch.

• The composition of a plant can vary considerably depending on where it’s grown, how it’s cultivated, when and how it’s harvested – just like the grapes in different wines, or the coffee beans in your coffee that makes it taste different.
• The particular extract from each plant can also vary depending on the extraction and manufacturing process. These differences can have a significant impact on the properties of the finished product.
• Check for strict quality control processes from source to patient to help ensure batch-to-batch consistency and reliability.

Be specific or proprietary

Specific or proprietary natural medicines are carefully made according to strict quality control processes that are often patented or unique to that product. This helps ensure not only a consistent natural medicine from batch to batch, but most importantly consistency with the medicine tested in clinical studies that demonstrates health outcomes.  

Specific or proprietary natural medicines sometimes have a trademarked or proprietary name. For example the Panax ginseng in Ginsana is known as G115® and the Hedera helix in Prospan is known as EA 575. This helps ensure the product is consistent between batches and that they contain the natural medicine tested in clinical studies to demonstrate health outcomes.

• Look for products that state they contain specific or proprietary extracts that have been tested in clinical studies.

Confirm your need

What are you hoping to achieve from taking a natural medicine? Have you spoken to a healthcare professional?

They may have specific recommendations, and can help you better understand your health concern and any relevant issues in taking a natural healthcare product.

• If you think that a natural  health product  is right for you then make sure you are aware of the dosing, duration of use tolerability and precautions or interactions with other medicines
• Follow the directions of use as – some products may take a few months before an effect becomes apparent

Remember, natural healthcare products can support your health in a number of ways – it is always helpful to make sure you’ve done your research!