Brief Descriptions About Herbal, Ayurveda, Natural and Organic Products in Medicines
Herbal medicines refer to medicines that are prepared from plants for their medicinal value. These plants can be grown naturally, using either chemical or organic means. No chemical pesticides, fertilizers or preservatives are used for making these organic medicines or their ingredients.
Herbal Products :: Herbal products are made of plant extracts, plant roots, leaves, etc and used as per their properties. The word herbal is derived from the mediaeval Latin liber herbalis. Herbal products are free of chemicals. However, pesticides may have been used in their growing.
Ayurveda Products :: Ayurveda is medicinal science which includes use of herbs as well as heavy metals like gold, silver, copper, tin, mercury, sulphur, animal extracts, etc. Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit word Āyurveda which means ‘life-knowledge’; Are they completely natural? Ayurveda products may contain toxic levels of metals, etc.
Natural Products :: Natural products are made from plants and minerals that occur in nature and have not been produced in a laboratory and are not man made. However, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, etc might have been used to enhance their growth. Generally speaking, a product claiming to be natural is free of common chemicals such as artificial fragrances, colorants, preservatives, and other synthetic additives. To understand if a product is natural, check its detailed ingredient list. There is no regulation on the word ‘natural’. A product being claimed as natural may have as low as 1% natural ingredients.
Organic Products :: Organic products are also made from natural ingredients but they are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program, organic is “a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”
Generally, organic products do not contain any genetically modified ingredients or petrochemicals. Unless required by law, organic products do not undergo any animal testing and are minimallly processed. Check for certifications on the product to know if it’s organic. Labelled ‘made with organic ingredients’, it implies the product is made with at least 70% organic ingredients.
Difference between Herbal & Ayurvedic ::
Herbal medicine is science of medicine that uses plants and their extracts for curing ailments whereas ayurveda is a centuries old Hindu science of therapeutics that involves the use of medicinal plant extracts along with metal extractions, massages, etc. Herbal medicine does not use massages and metals.
Difference between Herbal & Organic ::
Herbal medicines refer to medicines that are prepared from plants for their medicinal value. These plants can be grown naturally, using either chemical or organic means. No chemical pesticides, fertilizers or preservatives are used for making these organic medicines or their ingredients.
Difference between Herbal & Natural ::
Herbal products are obtained from herbs while natural product are the ones which are obtained from plants, animal or from soil.
:: Disclaimer ::
The sole purpose of these posts is to provide information about the tradition of health care & ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.
