Traditional herbal remedies
People have been taking herbal remedies for centuries, but since May 2011 herbal remedies come under special regulations.
Herbal products such as St John’s wort, echinacea and black cohosh need to be registered with the medicines regulator MHRA and can only be sold for the conditions for which they are registered.
The MHRA says the scheme is designed to address problems with poor quality herbal remedies, some of which were found to be adulterated or contained the wrong herb. Some products also failed to provide information about side effects and contra-indications with other medicines or give warnings for pregnant women or people with certain medical conditions.
What Traditional Herbal Registration means
Unlike licensing for mainstream medicines, registration doesn't mean a herbal remedy has been tested and proven to actually work.
It does mean the MHRA is satisfied the product is made to good quality standards with appropriate labelling and a product information leaflet. It also means the herb has been used in traditional remedies for more than 30 years.
Registered products carry a special THR leaf logo.
Research by the MHRA found that many people thought that 'natural' ingredients were safer to take than other medicines. The regulator stresses this is not the case, emphasising that herbal products can have a very potent effect.
Other sources of herbal products
The THR scheme covers products bought in UK shops and from reputable online retailers. As with unregulated internet sites claiming to sell mainstream medicines, the MHRA warns against buying herbal remedies online, unless from a trusted UK retailer.
Registered herbal products
Registration covers individual products and their particular formulations rather than specific herbal ingredients. The following is a list of herbs contained in registered products and the symptoms or conditions covered by their traditional use.
Agnus
castus
Used to help relieve
premenstrual symptoms such
as irritability, mood
swings, breast tenderness,
bloating and menstrual
cramps.
Arnica
(in gel form)
Used for the relief of
symptoms of muscular aches,
pains and stiffness, bruises
and swelling.
Artichoke
Used for the relief of
digestive complaints such as
indigestion, upset stomach,
nausea, feelings of fullness
and flatulence (wind)
particularly when caused by
over indulgence of food and
drink.
Asparagus root
Used to increase the amount
of urine for the purpose of
flushing the urinary tract
to assist in minor urinary
complaints.
Bladderwrack/seaweed
Used as an aid to slimming
as part of a calorie
controlled diet.
Black
cohosh
Used for the relief of
symptoms of backache and
muscular and rheumatic aches
and pains.
Used for the relief of
symptoms associated with the
menopause, such as hot
flushes, night sweats, poor
sleep, temporary mood
changes, irritability,
slightly low mood and mild
anxiety.
Burdock
Used to increase the amount
of urine for the purpose of
flushing the urinary tract
to assist in minor urinary
complaints.
Used to relieve symptoms of discomfort and heaviness in the legs related to minor venous circulatory disturbances and to relieve symptoms of itching and burning associated with haemorrhoids.
Celery seed
Used for the relief of rheumatic aches and pains.
Centaury herb, lovage root and rosemary leaf
Used to help flushing of the urinary tract and to assist in minor urinary complaints associated with cystitis in women only.
Devil's claw
Used for the relief of backache, rheumatic or muscular pain and general aches and pains in muscles and joints.
Used for relief of the symptoms of digestive disorders, such as bloating and flatulence where there is loss of appetite.
Echinacea
Used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections.
Used for the relief of symptoms of minor skin conditions, such as spots, pimples and blemishes.
Elecampane, pleurisy, skunk cabbage, white horehound and lobelia
Used for the relief of cough symptoms.
Feverfew
Used for the prevention of migraine headaches.
Gentian, verbena, sorrel, elder, primula
Used to relieve the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome and tinnitus
Horse chestnut
Used for the relief of symptoms associated with varicose veins, such as tired heavy legs, painful legs, leg cramps and swollen ankles.
Ivy
Used to relieve chesty coughs associated with the common cold.
Lemon balm
Used for the temporary relief of symptoms of mild anxiety, to aid sleep and for mild digestive complaints, such as bloating and flatulence.
Lobelia and squill
Used for relief of coughs, such as chesty coughs and dry, tickly coughs.
Milk thistle
Used to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional over indulgence of food and drink, such as indigestion and upset stomach.
Nettle root and rhizomes
Used to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract discomfort in men who have been told they have an enlarged prostate or BPH.
Norway spruce
Used for relief of coughs, such as chesty coughs and dry, tickly irritating coughs and catarrh.
Parsley herb
Used to increase the amount of urine for the purpose of flushing the urinary tract to assist in minor urinary complaints.
Passion flower
Used for the temporary relief of sleep disturbance.
Used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress such as mild anxiety and to aid sleep.
Pelargonium
Used for relief of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, including the common cold, such as sore throat, cough and blocked or running nose.
Peppermint
Used to relieve discomfort in the gut, such as indigestion, flatulence and stomach cramps.
Red peony
Used for the relief of hot flushes associated with the menopause.
Sage leaf (with other ingredients)
Used to relieve sore throats associated with coughs, colds and flu.
Salvia
Used for the relief of excessive sweating associated with hot flushes in the menopause, including night sweats.
Saw palmetto
Used to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract discomfort in men with an enlarged prostate or BPH.
Squill (bulb of squill plant)
Used for the relief of coughs, such as chesty coughs and cough with catarrh.
Used to relieve the symptoms of slightly low mood and mild anxiety.
Used to relieve the symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, slightly low mood and anxiety.
Valerian
Used for the temporary relief of sleep disturbance including disturbance caused by the symptoms of mild anxiety.
Used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress, such as mild anxiety.
Used for mild digestive complaints such as bloating and flatulence.
Wild indigo root, white cedar tips and leaves (with other ingredients)
Used to relieve symptoms of the common cold, such as cough, catarrh, sore throat, runny or blocked nose.
Professional herbalists
European rules would have blocked the supply of unregistered herbal products, but the UK government is putting a special opt-out in place. This means 'authorised healthcare professionals' can commission unregistered herbal remedies to meet the special needs of their patients.
Herbalists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners will have to join a register run by the Health Professions Council to be permitted to continue to supply unregistered herbal remedies, The legal framework for this is due to be put in place in 2012.