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If
you have a hard time finding the herbs you
need or just prefer to shop from home, use
these ordering tips from Sharol Tilgner,
N.D., a naturopath in Pleasant Hill, Ore.,
and Eric Yarnell, N.D., a Seattle-based
naturopath, to get the best-quality
products.
Watch for Red Flags. Be alert as you
search herb catalogs and websites. If a
company boasts miracle cures or products
that heal every disease you've ever heard
of, pass it by. Likewise, be cautious of any
company that sells only one kind of product,
like anti-cancer formulas. These companies
are most apt to be a sham, Tilgner and
Yarnell say.
Know What to Look For. Buy from a
company that includes on its product labels
Latin and common names of herbs, the
strength of each herb (this appears as a
ratio on liquids and as milligrams on
capsules), and any warnings. Call the
company for this information if the website
or catalog doesn't show the label.
Start with These Great Companies. To get
high-quality liquid extracts, bulk herbs,
and capsules sent to your house, Tilgner and
Yarnell suggest these three companies:
Frontier Natural Brands (800-786-1388;
www.frontierherb.com);
Herbalist & Alchemist (800-611-8235;
www.herbalist-alchemist.com); and
Herb Pharm (800-348-4372;
www.herbpharm.com).
Or log on to
www.ahpa.org/companies.htm, the
website of the American Herbal Products
Association (AHPA). This trade organization
sets quality standards for its members that
the FDA may soon require of all herb
companies. The AHPA website offers links to
companies that conform to its standards.
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