Welcome to our range of Traditional Herbal Remedies

Higher Nature is delighted to be able to provide an outstanding range of traditional herbal medicinal products. This is in response to a review of European Medicines Law, which states that many of our most popular and efficacious herbs have to be licensed in order to keep them on the shelves. In reality, very few manufacturers are able to fulfil the strict criteria needed to register herbs, but Higher Nature is one of the few able to offer these prized products.

The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) became law on 30th April 2011. After that date, many of our traditional and best-known herbs have had to be medically licensed, and given a Traditional Herbal Registration (THR), a process that Higher Nature has willingly undertaken in order to comply and to maintain and enhance its product range. The licensing process also provides reassurance to the consumer of the products’ safety and quality. All products that are licensed will carry the THR leaf symbol and/or an eight-digit licence registration number on every pack.

The licences have to be issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a Government Agency set up to ensure medicines and medicinal products work. They have very strict guidelines on quality and good manufacturing practices in order to issue these licences. This Directive will ensure that less ethical manufacturers will now not be able to sell products that have the incorrect dosage strength stated on the label, provide the wrong herb, use ingredients contaminated with heavy metals or solvents, or produce products that contain microbial contamination, as has happened in the past.

In order to help you through the maze, we have compiled some typical questions and answers:-

So, what exactly is a traditional herbal medicinal product?

As you probably know, many plants contain substances that can actually be very beneficial to health and are able to relieve symptoms of some common medical complaints. Therefore, whilst herbs are “natural” the fact that they can effect health changes means that they could also be potentially harmful if used in the wrong way of for the wrong health condition. Medicines that are made from these substances are known as “herbal medicinal products”.

Why are they called traditional?

This is because in order for a licence to be granted, the herb has to have been used for a minimum of 30 years, including at least 15 years in the EU for its particular medical condition. Proof of this must have been correctly documented over the 30-year period. In actual fact, many of these herbs have evidence of traditional use over many hundreds of years.

Why did the EU adopt specific legislation for some of these herbs?

They have licensed specific herbs because many herbal products have been sold without any quality or safety checks. As we have explained, the fact that certain substances can have effects on health, previously there have been no controls and many herbs have been sold as unlicensed herbal medicines for many years. There was no way for the consumer to know whether a particular product was safe for them to use or how it might interact with any medication they were also being prescribed.

So what are the benefits for me?

There are many:-

• MHRA stringent standards certified on all products
• Quality of manufacture guaranteed
• Product safety assured with detailed consumer information in-pack
• Peace of mind for both consumers and healthcare professionals
• Clarity of product information with all licensed products carrying the THR symbol.

How do I take these products?

All the products have an MHRA approved Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) inside the pack, which gives detailed directions for the patient including when and how to take the product, contra-indications on when the product should not be taken and any interactions with other medication.

Will all herbs have to be licensed under this scheme?

No, there are many that are not and will continue to be sold as food supplements such as garlic and ginger. Many such herbs are used everyday in the kitchen. Herbal products may be classified and placed on the market as food, provided that they do not fulfil the definition of medicinal products and that they do comply with the applicable UK food law. Indeed, there are specific directives to which they have to comply

Wow, it sounds a complicated procedure. Will these traditional herbal medicines be of the same quality as pharmaceutical drugs?

Absolutely. The MHRA who issues these licences also assess conventional licensed medicines in the UK for quality, safety and efficacy.

Download our guides on some of the uses of Traditional Herbal Medicines