Herbal Remedies vs. Nutraceuticals

In the last 30-40 years in the United States the nutraceutical industry has become more popular in the marketplace. Nutraceuticals fit a niche in between herbal remedies and pharmaceuticals. Some common examples of nutraceuticals are L-Argenine and Creatine.

 

First of all lets define the spectrum we are discussing so we can clearly see where nutraceuticals might fit into our lives. Below is a range of ingested substances used to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Fortunately not all of us have to contend with osteoporosis but hopefully you get the idea.

 

Food – Macro – i.e. Leafy greens that have alkaline minerals which promote strong bones. Herbal remedies - Micro – i.e. Oyster Shell which is a traditional remedy for strong bones which is rich in calcium. Nutraceutical – Isolated Nutrient - i.e. Calcium, which is the primary mineral of bone structure. Pharmaceutical – All together synthetic compound- i.e. Fosamax which is a drug meant to slow or reverse bone density loss.

 

 

The growing popularity of nutraceuticals has coincided with a larger trend – the proliferation of dietary supplements. Dietary supplements literally means something that is being taken in addition to one's regular diet. This diet is thought to be inadequate or wanting in some way and thus herbal remedies, nutraceuticals or other supplements are used to fill in the gap. Many of us have diets far removed from a natural diet so its appropriate to get healthy levels of antioxidants, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, proteins, etc. through dietary supplements. As we saw in the osteoporosis example, it is ideal to address any deficiencies in a long-term fashion rather get caught in a position where the substantial effect of a pharmaceutical is the only realistic option in order to treat a dramatic imbalance.

 

Nutraceuticals differ from herbal remedies in much the same way as pharmaceuticals differ. It just a matter of degree. Nutraceuticals are isolated ingredients but just not quite as isolated as the pharmaceuticals. In other words, many nutraceuticals contain compounds that were found to exist in plants. For the purposes of manufacturing a particular nutraceutical someone decided that a specific ingredient in this plant compound was the active ingredient - and the only active ingredient. This active ingredient was then isolated and all the other parts of the plant were left out.

 

Isolating a single ingredient imbalances whatever substance you are consuming. Although most of the substances used in nutraceuticals don't have the firepower, so to speak, of a pharmaceutical, they can imbalance the body. You would not want to take the "active ingredient of banana" as a staple of your diet. It is much wiser to just eat bananas on a regular basis so you can get everything that a banana has to offer.

 

In that respect when herbal remedies are taken in a holistic fashion - when it is a whole food concentrate - you are dealing with something that is more balanced and will have a softer and more gentle impact on the body. This allows you to sustain the result over a long period of time. Any time you force things in a particular direction and you do so in a dramatic way, you might be able to attain a dramatic effect but that effect will come at a cost, often giving rise to a series of other difficulties. Be conscious and educated about the nutraceuticals and those compounds that you consume. In general avoid tablets whenever possible. Tablets are formed by pressing components together at high heat and they have to be bound together with various binders (often times these are glues are petroleum based). Also, be careful of the excipients that are used in the process of encapsulating herbs and herbal remedies. Generally try to consume things as close to their natural form as possible or as close to the way they have been made and used over a long history of use. If we stay aware of this as consumers, our choices regarding herbal remedies can go a long way towards facilitating lasting and vibrant health.